Chinese massage in New York is the poor man’s spa. For around $25 a half-an-hour, you’re body will be handled vigorously by usually an older Chinese person without even a pretense of interest. Your body, relaxing into the slightly soiled table, will make crinkle sounds on the 1 ply paper and your sinuses will fill with fluid. Ah, relaxation. With so many places and so few regulatory committees, it’s always a chance you’ll come out severely disfigured.
* Update* From the now defunct Gridskipper: I’ve copied this post for Chinese massage parlors. Some may have gone away to call ahead etc.
Whole Body
Wu Lim Services: For a good full body rub down, try out Wu Lim Services on Grand Street. This massage parlor is located in a dimly lit basement with several beds next to each other. The masseurs will work out knots in your back and massage your neck and legs all on top of your clothes. If you prefer you can undress and wear a towel for the massage. $7 for 10 minutes; $11 for 16 minutes; $21 for 31 minutes; $32 for 46 minutes; $42 for 61 minutes.
Best Chinese Tui-Na: Not for the squeamish, Best Chinese Tui Na is an extremely intimate parlor on Lafayette with five beds in an open room. The women masseurs are stronger than you’d imagine so you can request a “medium” or “hard” massage. Like the other parlors, here you can either opt to take the massage with or without clothes, but either way you will be in a room with up to five other clients. $7 for ten minutes to $40 for an hour. (note this parlor may have moved now Bowery and called 88 Chinese Qi Gong Tui-Na on Bowery)
Back
Chinese Natural Therapy Center: Many East Village Streets have hole in the wall shops offering Chinese Massage and Reflexology. Though many of them can’t compare to the Chinatown massage parlors, Chinese Natural Therapy on East 9th Street is excellent. You only have to take off your shirt, as they only do backs. The women use baby oil for the massage and put hot towels on your back when they are done. $1 per minute.
Graceful Services: Fancier than the other picks, Graceful offers a whole slew of massage options from four hands massage (with two masseurs) to hot stone massage to stretching and reflexology. Graceful also has private rooms, a pleasant change from the open layout of most other places. $50 for 45 minutes, $60 for an hour.
Facial
Katy’s Face Spa: Katy’s Face Spa offers two facials, microdermabrasion, and a variety of peel treatments in addition to their massages. This place is a lot classier than the basement massage parlors, and you will always have a private room. $35 for a half hour.
Mezzanine Spa at SoHo Integrative Health: The Mezzanine features both Eastern and Western services, but their Wu Chinese Herbal Facial is one of their best choices. The rooms are all beautiful and Asian-influenced with bamboo and dark lighting.
Foot Massage and Reflexology
New York Day Spa: Though their reflexology treatment is a bit more expensive than the other massages, the spa claims it will a cure number of conditions including “sleep disorders, migraines, chronic back pain, arthritis, digestive and stress-related problems.” That’s quite a claim, but the art of reflexology or “zone method” massage has been helping people with these problems since 1913.
Chinese Qigong Tui-Na Center: The center offers a number of authentic Chinese services, but their foot reflexology is mind numbingly good. The massage here feels amazing but it is also supposed to stimulate all of your body’s organs and improve blood circulation.
Acupuncture
Zhang Clinic: Acupuncture has been known to heal a variety of ailments from allergies to back problems to arthritis. Dr. Zhang is a certified doctor from Shanghai and is trained in both Chinese and Western medicine. His clinic is one of the most reliable places in the city for some needlework.
China Acupuncture: The acupuncturists here are professionally trained and will be able to help you with stress relief and injury recovery. They also make office visits for more than five people. $50 per hour.
