If you enjoyed the elegant drama of Capote vs. The Swans, you likely noticed a silent character – La Côte Basque. Like their real life counterparts, La Côte Basque was where the swans came to dine, but even more importantly, to see-and-be-seen. Famous restaurants like La Côte Basque and The Colony were among the original dining hot spots. Take a deep dive with me as I research some of the most famous restaurants in New York City history.

Whether you call it self-care, spa life, time-out or me-time, bath soaks are real medicine for the soul. If you consider yourself more of a shower person, we urge you to re-consider and come over to the bath side once or twice a week. Here are all the benefits you could be getting from a bath soak.

When between facial appointments, many skincare enthusiasts look for ways to use massage techniques at home, and no one is more qualified to help them than Beata Aleksandrowicz. The massage expert shows us how we can approach skincare with mindful routines. Her approach to wellbeing teaches us to advocate for ourself and take matters into our own hands.

We give you our ultimate list of wellness spaces where New Yorkers come to get away from it all. From the hidden, to the influencer-famous, spa and wellness sanctuaries in New York City provide much-needed respite from noise, pollution, and the never-ending hustle.

Generations of visitors have come upstate for its endless list of things to do. In fact, New York state has a history of being enjoyed as a summer destination since the early 1920s. With upstate’s renewed popularity, and many new hotel openings, finding the perfect vacation spot might seem daunting. Let our guide help you narrow it down.

Calling the founder and president of Benedetta, Julia Faller, a pioneer in the clean beauty industry would be an understatement. As a licensed esthetician and clinician in the 80’s and 90’s, Julia found herself questioning the cosmetic and skincare industries. When no laboratory or even botanical suppliers were willing to accommodate her wish for petrochemical-free ingredients she decided to do it on her own. She accomplished this by going directly to the source of ingredients and marrying science with the natural world. Read our Q & A with the clean skincare trailblazer.

Spa industry giants everywhere know Lydia Sarfati as the seaweed skincare authority – the Repêchage founder has worked her way up from esthetician who loved formulating and creating, to spa owner on Madison Avenue, to running one of the most well-known professional skincare brands. Beauty editors and insiders continue to be impressed by the Repêchage Four Layer Facial. Read our Q & A with the iconic spa beauty innovator.

The year was 1886 and, upon the recommendation of a physician, Otto Osthoff brought his wife Paulina to Elkhart Lake. In attempts to find respite and healing for his wife, Otto began building the haven that stands today - The Osthoff Resort and spa. The romantic sap that I am, I can certainly appreciate that kind of devotion. Explore Elkhart Lake’s healing waters with me.

These Are Not Your Grandmother’s Catskills. Before airplane travel became the norm, New York families sought-out easy and accessible refuge in the Catskill mountains. Then the grandkids stopped going. Today’s upstate continues to reel in a new kind of visitor. It is safe to say that the Catskills are in their heyday again. New and restored hotels sprouting all over Upstate New York have a lot to offer to newcomers and loyal visitors alike. Among the many new retreats, Kenoza Hall is in a class of its own.

New York City might be known for its hustle, not its day spas, but one Italian wellness brand, QC Terme Spas & Resorts, is looking to change that. This past spring, the Italian spa and wellness experts celebrated their first property opening within the United States. The location of choice? New York City’s Governors Island.

From birth we are drawn to one of the most powerful sources of life and tranquility – water. Healing waters and bathing culture has been around for centuries. In countries, like Greece, Turkey, Russia and Italy, bath houses and self-care was a way to ensure citizens remained happy and calm. It was a communal and social activity.

As summer neared the end, I longed to squeeze in a getaway that would shake off the persistent stress of the city and provide me with a wilderness escape. On the agenda was adventure, forest bathing, grounding, sauna time, and swimming in lakes. Staying at the newly opened Eastwind Hotel & Bar in Lake Placid was just the cherry on top.

I believe in the great power of nature, creativity, taking time out to work on yourself, being a good and kind person, but mostly I believe in healing with spas and spirituality—which is why I was drawn to Deborah Hanekamp. A self-described “seeress” and owner of Space by Mama Medicine, a wellness center in New York City, Deborah was recently recognized by VOGUE as one of the fashion set’s favorite healers.

Finding a truly ethical and organic brand is like finding a needle in a haystack. If there is one farm to face skincare brand that should be celebrated this year, it is Pure Mana Hawaii. Nature provides us with all we need to be beautiful and nature is at the core of this brand. From growing, to pressing their own carrier oils, the Founders have their hands in every part of the process.

Whether you are seasoned spa-goer in need of a refresher or a spa virgin, there are certain universal rules to getting the most out of your spa experience. Visiting a spa for the first time can be intimidating. Here is everything you ever wanted to know. Avoid any shyness or mishaps with our must-know spa commandments.

The first time I met Divya Alter was by pure coincidence. An important lunch meeting prompted me to search for a vegan cuisine spot in New York’s East Village. We ended up at Divya’s Kitchen. Once you get out of the street, past other diners and settle in, you realize this is unlike any other place in New York City. It would be a mistake to call Divya’s Kitchen just a restaurant. Upon further investigation, you see a space of healing, learning and community.