Takashimaya Spa in New York City
Takashimaya in New York City is a gorgeous Japanese store, with beautiful things to buy like exquisite silk pajamas and orchids, and now it has its first spa.
When you enter Takashimaya at its prestigious Fifth Avenue address, the first thing you notice is the stunning flower arrangements. Gifts, fragrances and clothing are sold throughout the store, a favorite of minimalist designers.
Babor at Takashimaya Spa, sleek, small and something of a secret, is tucked away on the sixth floor. Think steel grey floorings, large mirrors and leather lounges in the waiting area where you’ll be surrounded by flowers. The spa is compact, with just two treatment rooms and no plans to expand.
Surprisingly, the products in the spa are from the German line, Babor, but the treatments themselves have an Asian influence. I experienced the Sea Creation facial ($250), one of the most popular treatments and the most luxurious on offer. It is 80 minutes of bliss and as promised, an “ocean of luxury”. The facial is designed to regenerate the skin, boost cell energy and reverse the natural aging process.
Book a treatment at Babor at Takashimaya and read more about the Sea Creation facial below.
What a $250 Facial Gets You at Takashimaya
An esthetician there explains that the cream used in the moisturizing part of the facial is just like Crème de la Mer. It costs $400 to buy, and plumps up the skin, locking in moisture. My skin definitely looked radiant after this treatment.
A Babor European facial,($150) is good for all skin types. Surface skin cells are removed, followed by extractions if you’d like them. Next, a relaxing facial massage, and a nourishing mask and light moisturizing.
Another favourite is the champagne facial, a regenerating facial with a rare yeast also used in the production of champagne. The treatment is 50 minutes and includes a take home champagne yeast concentrate to continue your treatment for seven more days. The champagne yeast extracts, combined with Chinese herbs are used in the manicure, pedicure ($35 and $75 respectively.
Also new, is the spa’s hot stone hand and foot treatment, to refresh your feet and energy. Warm stones are combined with Asian plant extracts for this service. The Shiatsu foot and hand massage combines the Shiatsu technique to help restore balance and release tension.
Tea at Takashimaya
One of the best treats is to order tea after your spa treatment, from Takashimaya’s lovely Teabox Café. You can order tea service for $18, and choose from 48 different types of tea, including jasmine, mango, peach, ginger, Takashimaya rose or green tea.
Because of the spa's tiny size, make sure you book well in advance. It is special and a perfect way to enjoy tea with friends.
Takashimaya, 693 Fifth Avenue, New York NY 10022, Tel. 800-753 2038
