MYSTERY SHOPPER Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel
Robert De Niro has invested heavily in the Tribeca neighbourhood of New York. Wendy Bosalavage goes undercover at his Japanese-themed Shibui Spa to see if it’s got star potential WENDY BOSALAVAGE » PRESIDENT » AMERICAN LEISURE
T
he Shibui Spa in the Tribeca neighbourhood in down- town Manhattan, is a space for guests of The Greenwich Hotel, although there are a few
appointments for outside visitors. Te owners of the hotel and spa, which opened in 2008, are celebrity Robert De Niro and real estate developers and hoteliers Ira Drucker and Richard Borden of BD Hotels. De Niro has invested heavily in the area since the late 80s and is known as Tribeca’s unofficial mayor. Te 4,500sq ſt (418sq m) spa offers a place
to unwind where you can cleanse the body, mind and heal. Its aesthetic echoes the rustic interiors of the 88-bedroom hotel but with a Japanese theme – thanks to designer Mikio Shingawa – which focuses on the balance between the traditional and modern and nature and city. Incredibly, a 250-year-old authentic Japanese farmhouse was carefully reconstructed to house the spa’s basement
pool without the use of a single nail – by applying an ancient knot-tying technique and using wooden pegs, a craſt which only three people still know today. Te plaster walls come care of another specialised traditional Japanese building application that combines very un-21st century plaster and straw. Shibui is Japanese and refers to “a subtle
and unobtrusive approach”. It is based on a beauty that is low-key and grounded, not too fancy, yet rich. Tis is just how it felt dur- ing my time there. Tere are four distinct treatment rooms including the Japanese bathing room, where services are performed traditionally on tatami mats and ritual and seasonal Japanese baths take place in a black stone soaking tub; and massage rooms which have wooden bars on the ceiling for ashiatsu massages. Te product houses include Ele- mental Herbology, Epicuren, AR457, Red Flower and an organic in-house blend for massage and body work.
THE VISIT
The offer Te offering combines Japanese-inspired treatments, with staple massages and facials plus beauty services. Te price points are in line with a luxury hotel (see below).
Booking
I had to call the hotel to book my treatment as the spa’s direct line wasn’t listed. Te phone rang seven times before someone answered and I was transferred. When I enquired about the different types of treatments, it was clear the receptionist was reading off a menu – she only mentioned massage and body scrubs and said if I wanted a facial they would have to arrange for someone to come in as they did not have anyone on staff. While she said the 50-minute deep tissue
VITAL STATISTICS
Address: 377 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, US Prices: Te 80-minute signature Sake Ki massage was priced at us$280 (€206, £174); the Shibui Relaxer Swedish massage ranges from us$180 (€132, £112) for 50 minutes or us$250 (€184, £155) for 80 minutes; and a 30-minute facial is priced at us$110 (€81, £68) Times: Open 6am to 10pm every day. Te treatment hours are 9am to 9pm. To book: +1 212 941 8900
Te treatment was very impressive but outside noise could be heard during the experience 44 Read Spa Business online
spabusiness.com / digital SPA BUSINESS 1 2011 ©Cybertrek 2011
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