Exhale Meatpacking seems to be a strange name for a stylish spa on Manhattan’s lower West Side. But there's a good explanation. Not long ago the Meatpacking District bustled with slaughterhouses, packing plants, drug dealing and other adult leisure activities.
Today it’s one of the trendiest sections of the city, teeming with restaurants, clubs, shops and spas like this one in the fashionable Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC on Ninth Avenue and 13th Street.
The Meatpacking District's Most Stylish Hotel
Hotel guests can enjoy the heated rooftop pool and bar, where you drink in the expansive Hudson River views year-round.
But the small, subterranean spa is open to everyone. It's one flight down from the hotel lobby and offers some top-notch treatments and fitness classes, such as Exhale's signature Core Fusion. But the space is a bit odd and in transition. When the hotel first opened it was a club by night, spa by day -- an odd genesis that accounts for the unusual layout and decor.
The spa lobby is cheerfully appointed with burgundy chairs and cozy brown pillows along with bench seating against the wall. Assorted product lines adorn the retail space, and you can find snacks like 18 Rabbits energy bars and dried fruit. While you check in, you will be offered a cool drink or hot tea.
The changing room contains 34 lockers, and the day I went, there were only a handful of other guests, making the space seem even roomier. A eucalyptus steam room is great for opening up your sinuses before or after your treatment. And a planned renovation for the near future will open up more space that is currently being used as a beverage bar and a retail addition.
The treatment “rooms” are literally behind curtains instead of doors, which is definitely unusual for an upscale spa. My therapist, Raul Perez, whose stellar reputation is well-earned, assured me that I wouldn’t hear anything during the Fusion Massage, which was basically a Swedish-styled aromatherapy treatment.
Raul had masterly hands that managed to unlock many knots of tension in my shoulders and lower back. He asked a few times about the pressure, which is a sign of a skilled therapist, and he was responsive to my feedback. But I did detect some sounds outside the treatment area that no amount of New Age-y music could muffle. It was annoying, but fortunately didn’t last too long.
During the treatment, three different oils were used, making this as much of an aromatherapy session as any other moniker. Perez mentioned that while the basic massage was Swedish, it was always customized for each guest.
The Water Lounge is a curious space that belies its strange genesis as a nightclub. Warm soaking pools are available for a dip (bathing suits needed) and nail care is done in the same area, with a wooden plank covering one of the pools. Ample loveseats fill the lounge, which is pleasant, albeit a little damp.
If you’re noise-sensitive, bring ear plugs. While the service was excellent, the space needs an overhaul -- and I'll be back once it gets it.
Exhale Exhale Meatpacking at the Gansevoort Meatpacking NYC:
Type of Spa: hotel spa
18 Ninth Ave. at 13th St., New York, NY 10014
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