My Honest Review of One of NYC’s Most Relaxing Getaways: The QC NY Spa
As a New York native, Governor’s Island holds a special place in my heart. It’s become a family tradition to visit the island at least once a year and recently, more and more exciting attractions have popped up, including the QC NY Spa. When it first opened in 2022, I jumped at the chance to check it out myself that summer. A year later, I returned to explore the spa’s new winter features (like the QCirque of Wonders performances and heated reflection rooms). So, if you’re looking for a quick getaway from the bustling city, here is my honest review of QC NY Spa and why you should consider it. .
First, Some Historical Background
Governor’s Island was formerly an Army and Coast Guard base before it was rebuilt into a public park in 2005. 17 years later, Italian brand QC Terme Spas and Resorts announced that they were going to open their first U.S. location on the island. After five years of planning and restoration work on the three historic army barrack buildings, QC NY Spa opened to the public on March 4, 2022. As stated in the press release, the QC NY Spa has been “refurbished and preserved to maintain the rich history of the local property while bringing it new life.”
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The Booking Process
QC NY Spa offers the option to book your tickets right on their website. First, you pick a dressing room preference (men, women or unspecified) before choosing a date. The rates are relatively cheaper on Tuesdays through Thursdays (ranging from $98 to $106) compared to Fridays through Mondays (when tickets are $118+). Once a date is selected, you can choose between an “entrance wellness experience” or a “birthday promotion.”
The entrance wellness experience offers four packages as listed below:
You can also book a massage and pick the duration of the treatment for an additional cost. The options include:
My group and I decided on the daily entrance and short massage for $100 each. You have to book your massage time between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., and the appointments tend to book up quickly. We actually ended up having to change the date of our visit because our preferred massage times were completely sold out, which is why I recommend booking early.
Traveling to QC NY Spa
Chelsea Candelario
A cool perk that comes with your reservation is you receive a free Ferry ticket with your order. The spa recommends booking your ferry ride at least an hour before your massage appointment, so you have ample time to check in and get changed. The ride itself is less than 20 minutes, so we left around 11 a.m. and had plenty of time to spare before our 12 p.m. massage.
Once we arrived at QC NY Spa things got a bit more complicated. The good news is it’s a jump and a skip away from the ferry entrance. The bad news? There was a long line of people waiting to check in and only one person managing the process. Consider taking an even earlier ferry to account for this.
Another issue we ran into during check-in was a miscommunication about their special wellness birthday perk that was listed on the website. The site states that if you come to QC NY Spa within seven days of your birthday, you get free entry and a gift. However, you can’t redeem this perk online, so you have to let them know in-person. When we told the receptionist this, she said she would have to cancel our existing reservations and that it would take forever to do so. Given that we were now cutting it close to our massage times, we ended up just paying full price and received the gift (aka a branded water bottle). Note: The website now allows you to register the birthday entrance, which I haven’t done yet so I can’t speak to how much smoother the process is now.
The Amenities
Chelsea Candelario
We weren’t going to let this unfortunate miscommunication ruin our day. We completed our check-in and were each given a key to a locker and a wristband for food and drink purchases. As you make your way to the elevators, the space opens up into what looks like a cozy 18th-century style home. There are amazing art fixtures, Italian furniture, open windows and winding walkways you can get lost in (and I’ll explain why this is a good and bad thing later).
When we got to the locker room, the first thing I noticed was a hair drying station featuring Dyson tools. There was even a small basket on the counter filled with attachments to cater to all different hair types (a small detail that I really appreciated as a curly gal).
The locker room also had showers (with complimentary body wash, shampoo and conditioner), a separate bathroom, dressing areas and a beauty station featuring complimentary body lotion and face moisturizer. Within each of our lockers, there was a tote bag filled with a robe, jelly sandals and a towel. You can change into your swimsuit out in the open, but if you prefer more privacy, there’s a dressing corner that's partitioned off from the rest of the space.
The Massage
Chelsea Candelario
As we changed into our swimsuits and robes, it was time for our group to split into twos with one pair preparing for their massages and the other exploring the grounds. My cousin and I made our way to the designated massage floor...or we tried to at least.
See, as first-time visitors, the spa is a bit confusing to navigate. There isn’t much signage that tells you where each of the amenities are located and there are three floors to cover. We weren’t given a map (and there are no directions on the site either), so we ended up walking around until we found an employee who helped us find our way. Once we finally found the massage area, we separated into our rooms and were given a rather short service. Yes, dear readers, our 25-minute massage was cut even shorter due to the long check-in time and maze adventure we went on to find the place.
I’ve had plenty of massages before and this one was OK at best. For a massage that’s only 25 minutes long, it wasn’t an experience that left me feeling particularly rejuvenated. And while I was told to choose a specific area of focus (i.e. just the upper back or legs), my cousin was able to get a full body massage.
The Stunning Skyline Views
Chelsea Candelario
While the massage itself wasn’t the best, the abundant infinity pools outside made up for it. The two large heated pools have seats and lounge chairs in them, along with jets that release bubbles to relax your body, while you take in breathtaking views of the Manhattan skyline.
As you swim through the warm pool, you take in the views and realize the stark contrast between the loud city and the quiet serenity of the spa. It’s a quick ferry ride away, which makes QC NY Spa an ideal spot to escape to for just a few hours. The pool area also includes plenty of places to lounge and eat, so it never felt overcrowded. During the winter, the spa has enclosed heated tunnels and reflection rooms (with heated loungers, blankets, crackling fire sounds and glass reflections) so you can stay warm while still taking in the skyline.
The All-Day Pass Features
Chelsea Candelario
If you want to experience everything QC NY Spa has to offer, the all-day package is the way to go. There are so many amenities that cater to everyone. Aside from the pools, there are sauna rooms, Vichy showers, relaxation rooms, foot baths and steam baths—you name it, they have it. The sauna rooms had various temperatures to choose from and provided different views of the grounds. Some gave you another look at the skyline, while others were less about the views and more about the experience. After sweating and clearing out my pores, we moved on to one of the “relaxing rooms.”
Chelsea Candelario
The rooms all featured a different theme with specific scents, personalities and furniture—from the “Fireplace Room” with comfy rocking chairs to the “Jukebox Club” with leather-crafted chairs and jazz music playing in the background. There was also a room that was decorated in a way that it looked like it was turned entirely upside down.
Some areas even had DIY facials, body scrubs and snacks (like dried fruits and cookies) to really enhance the experience. I also appreciated that every room came with an explanation of what they could offer you. Whether it was to cleanse your skin, detox your body or calm your nerves, detailed instructions were laid out for each area.
The Bistro and Florá Cafe
Chelsea Candelario
We were able to do everything we set out to do and still had time to enjoy a meal (which costs extra, btw). The Bistro offers healthy options to elevate your wellness experience. The extensive menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, desserts and drinks. I went with the egg salad sandwich, while my mom tried the tuna sandwich. The sandwiches cost $24 and come with a bowl of veggie chips and a piece of Venchi chocolate. My mom and I really enjoyed our choices—even though the tuna sandwich surprised me with the addition of grapes in the filling. However, it’s a bit costly for a small sandwich (and I didn’t even add the cost of the drink, which ranges from $5 to $18). The Bistro area also had plenty of seats and tables to enjoy your food from.
I also visited the Florá Cafe, which reminds me of a local café in NYC. Decorated with mostly highchairs and tables, and a full bar, it’s another option to grab a drink and relax. The menu is pretty much the same as the Bistro’s (minus the sandwiches) though coffee is offered in this area. We tried an Aperol Spritz, but the menu also has special cocktails like the QC Bellini.
So, Is It Worth It?
Chelsea Candelario
Yes, yes and yes. Like I said, it’s the perfect escape for a day or even just a few hours. The QC NY Spa has so many things to do for everyone.
Over the last two years, I’ve seen a huge difference in the spa. Previously, I wanted more signs or a map to navigate the areas. Now, there is more signage that makes finding everything easier. Another thing to keep in mind is you want to be strategic when booking your day. I went on a Tuesday, so there were far fewer people there until around 4ish, which is when it started to fill up. When I chatted with the lifeguard, he mentioned that on the weekends, the spa can have over 300+ visitors at a time. Since it’s been open for a while now, I saw more guests the second time around in the pool and sauna areas. However, the relaxing rooms are still fairly empty, which is a plus if you’re wanting to take a breather between treatments.
Chelsea Candelario
There are also special seasonal perks like a fire and light performances by Cirque-tacular during the wintertime. It was a nice bonus to enjoy the heated pools and get an intimate live show with fire artists and stilt walkers. Known as the “Spa of Wonders,” you won’t want to miss these small little shows, which will continue until March 8.
All in all, my group and I agreed that being at the QC NY Spa truly felt like we were on vacation. (Even my 76-year-old grandmother gave it her full stamp of approval.) If you need to step away from the bustling city for a day, visit this swanky destination right on Governor’s Island.
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