Dorit Baxter Day Spa in NYC

Dorit Baxter was one of the original day spas in New York City. It opened back in 1980, when Dorit (pronounced Do-REET) decided that instead of going away for a week or spending a fortune at the posh 5th Avenue palace of Elizabeth Arden, people should have an affordable place to get massage and facials.

That Dorit's spa is still thriving despite many economic downtowns is a testament to her vision. Right now a 55-minute Swedish or deep tissue massage costs just $89, compared to $125 at most reputable NYC day spas and $200 and up at most luxury hotel spas.

Lots of Dorit Baxter's clients are regulars who work nearby, and I would be too, because I don't care how gorgeous the spa is if I don't like my treatment.

I've been there a couple of times and was blown away by the quality of both my therapists -- a female therapist named Mira and a male therapist named Chin, both of whom have been with Dorit a long time, like to do deep work, and get a lot of requests. (Hint: if you want an appointment with them, book ahead.)

Dorit Baxter Day Spa does not have a glamourous entrance. You take an elevator (or walk up) to the third floor of a building on the north side of 57th St. I have a sensitive nose, and when I first walked in I smelled massage oil -- they've been giving massages here for a long time -- and it would be nicer if there was an essential oil nebulizer to send out calming scents of rose geranium. (Knowing Dorit, she probably did this as soon as she read it.)

The front desk is right there when you walk in. The staff is friendly, and tries to manage the traffic in the tiny changing room, which just has two curtained areas, a wall of small lockers, and a place to hang your coat. You might be asked to wait in your day clothes until it clears out. Needless to say, there is no sauna or steam here.

You change into a light-weight brown cotton wrap (or a heavier waffle robe if you have multiple spa treatments) and disposable foam slippers (not my favorite, but I can see the practicality of them). You can either wait on the bench in the hallway right outside the changing room or in the lounge up front, which has comfy sofas, tea, ladyfingers (temptation alert), and a nice view of the action on 57th Street.

You can also watch a videos of treatments on a TV that hangs over the front desk. This is surprisingly relaxing, and also gets you curious about treatments you haven't done yet.

A sheer curtain separates the manicure and pedicure area from the waiting area, and they look very happy and relaxed in there. It actually looks like a nice experience for a reasonable price, starting at $18 for manicures and $39 for pedicures.

Having already had a fabulous deep tissue massage from Mira on another occasion, I came back to try a combination of Tech Neck ($95), which uses hot towels and focuses primarily on the neck, shoulder, and upper back, and the herbal massage ($118), which Dorit developed after a long trip to India.

Dorit wanted me to have a treatment with Chin. I was expecting an Asian man -- a Mr. Chin, I suppose -- and was surprised when a tall black man came to pick me up. "I get that a lot," he said, and explained that Chin is short for a longer African name. It was the beginning of the best massages I've ever had, and also one of the most fun as we talked and laughed quite a bit. I just hope no one was next door!

But first Chin showed me the electric basin filled with hot water and poultices -- bags of gauze filled with gotu kula, a medicinal herb. I was impressed that they don't just buy a pre-made poutice from a spa supply company, but actually take the herbs and make the poultices themselves.

I started on the table face down, and after warming up my muscle tissue a little with his hands, Chin pressed a warm poultice onto my skin. The heat also help warm up the tissue, and the herbs have a range of good qualities, including being anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and an antidote to swelling. It felt best on places like my neck, which also got plenty of good attention as Chin added on 30 minutes of Tech Neck, which uses hot towels and focuses primarily on the neck, shoulder, and upper back. This is a very popular treatment, as so many people sit in front of computers all day.

What I really loved about this massage was that Chin was an experienced therapist who obviously loves his work, especially deep tissue massage, which some therapists find too hard. "I like to work hard," he said. He actually prefers it to doing very light work, which he finds boring. So this is a lesson that it's a good idea to find a therapist who likes to do the kind of treatment you like to get -- and keep going to them.

I also liked that he was able to be a real human being instead of a "spa robot" -- I actually felt like I had been getting massages from him forever. I was in the mood to talk, so he talked, and gave me a great massage while carrying on a conversation (and joking). He even put my foam slippers onto my feet while I was still on the table. Now that's service!

Afterwards I sat and had a cup of tea and thought about my experience. There's no doubt that the facilities aren't the latest, but they're clean and pleasant enough, and that's how Dorit keeps her prices so reasonable. If you're looking for a glamorous place to hang all day, jump in and out of the steam and sauna, and feel like a princess, this is not it.

But regular massage is a must-have in my budget and like many people, I have to watch more closely what I spend these days. So Dorit Baxter Day Spa would be among my top choices if I still lived there in New York City.

Dorit Baxter Day Spa At A Glance:

Type of Spa: day spa and salon
47 West 57th Street, third floor, between 5th and 6th Avenues
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-371-4542
Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa