This Uptown day spa, with locations in Metairie and in Mandeville across the lake, was co-founded by locals Karen Adjmi and Jackie Palumbo more than 25 years ago. From the start, the idea was advocating beauty from the inside out, a holistic approach that brings together wellness for mind, body and spirit. Relaxing services include manicure, pedicure, massage, reflexology, spa services and waxing. Products are formulated from botanically derived components whenever possible, all mineral oil free and 100% naturally scented with essential oils. The spa menu is voluminous - there are more than 30 options for waxing alone! and includes the likes of microdermabrasion, cupping and prenatal massage.
Recommended for Spas because: Earthsavers offers a super location for pampering after a day of shopping and strolling Magazine.
Beth's expert tip: Ask about health consultations which can help with everything from intermittent fasting to immune support, detox and skin reboot.
Now that stress-busting massage you need is as close as your smartphone. Soothe, the leader in on-demand massage service turns your hotel room, rented cottage, home or office into a massage studio by using the free Soothe app. Within an hour, 8 am to midnight, a licensed, vetted, professional massage therapist is at the door. He or she, your choice, brings everything necessary for the service, sheets, chill soundtrack, oils/lotions and a sturdy, comfortable massage table. Launched in 2013 by L.A.-based Merlin Kauffman, who created the company while at Harvard Business School, Soothe is in 30 cities, including New Orleans and expanding fast. Here's how it works: just like you order a ride share service, you order a massage, specifying Swedish, deep tissue, sports, prenatal or couples. Pricing starts at $128 and goes up, tip included. No cash is exchanged since your account is linked to a credit card. It's that simple.
Recommended for Spas because: This is the first vetted on-demand massage service available to visitors and locals in New Orleans.
Beth's expert tip: Most therapists welcome an additional gratuity however, it's really up to you.
Hidden away on the mezzanine level of the Hotel Monteleone, Spa Aria is locally owned by New Orleans native Sandy Blum and her partner Cindy Cocke. Spa Aria delivers excellent value with packaged services like the Fulle Monte, a three and a half hour treat that includes a manicure, pedicure, custom facial, and full body massage or reflexology treatment for $305. Ask about bachelorette, honeymoon packages and girlfriends' retreats. Massage is a specialty. If you're not staying at the Royal Street hotel, soak in the old world atmosphere in the classic lobby and have a drink at the Carousel Bar to celebrate your pampering.
Recommended for Spas because: The Hotel Monteleone is a gem and Spa Aria makes it even better.
Beth's expert tip: Daily hours from 9 am to 8 pm is a plus for busy travelers.
If you have wheels, are staying outside of the city, or need a break from the New Orleans hubbub, this small day spa in the heart of Old Metairie fills the bill. Along with the usual facials, massage therapy, nail care and waxing, Serenity offers Hemp-Derived CBD products and Modere's award-winning clean lifestyle beauty and person care, nutrition and household essentials. Ask about organic treatments and anti-oxidant facials. Service is courteous and the setting is soothing. If you're looking for a lunch spot before or after Cafe B by Ralph Brennan on Metairie Road is a popular place with the local crowd.
Recommended for Spas because: Serenity Day Spa offers a well priced option in another area of town.
Beth's expert tip: Check online for seasonal specials.
Walk into the Valencia orange building on St. Claude Avenue and say ahhhhhhhhh. Funky and community-minded, The Healing Center is an umbrella of lots of makers and practitioners, from Asian Bodywork Therapy to acupuncture, to holistic health coaching and massage. There's a hypnotherapist if that's the need, or if it's tonsorial services you need, ask for Adikus at Two Guys Cutting Hair barbershop. Add in a food co-op, performance and art space, reiki and something called conscious connected breathing. Before you leave, check the Island Salvation Botanica on the ground floor for all things voodoo. An added bonus, each therapist sets her or his own fee and the approach is especially caring and personal.
Recommended for Spas because: This Marigny spot offers a range of wellness services for visitors and locals.
Beth's expert tip: Check the bulletin board across from the Food Co-Op in the back of the Healing Center for all kinds of off beat activities.
Waldorf Astoria Spa New Orleans is a swank day spa in the Roosevelt Hotel on the edge of the CBD. Expect high-end treatments with an emphasis on European product lines. Local ingredients are also featured, like the official state fruit of Louisiana, the strawberry. Besides bodywork and facials, hair, nails and makeup services are offered. Before your treatment, you have access to the 2,300-square-foot, fitness center. If you aren't staying at the hotel, add some time into your schedule to have a drink at the Sazerac Bar, a New Orleans icon, and delish half-price pizza from 3-6 pm weekdays during happy hour at Domenica at the hotel's lobby level.
Recommended for Spas because: This gorgeous spa is well situated between the Central Business District and the French Quarter.
Beth's expert tip: Commit to a monthly treatment for access to on-premise fitness and spa amenities on the day of your treatment.
This well-appointed day spa in the French Quarter is a good go-to for busy travelers in need of some pampering. Created and run by veteran licensed massage therapist Richard Borne, Spa Atlantis offers massage, skincare, and nail treatments incorporating well-regarded product lines Dermalogica, 100% Pure, CND Shellac, Get Fresh, and Orleans Home Fragrances. While you're there, get a new 'do, a makeup app and a spray-on tan at the salon located at the front of the day spa. Spa Atlantis caters to busy travelers and last minute appointments are sometimes available. Hours are 10 to 7 everyday but Sunday, when pamper happens from noon to 5.
Recommended for Spas because: The Spa Atlantis French Quarter is within walking distance of most major hotels.
Beth's expert tip: Couples' massage is a special treat.
This Texas-based spa company now boasts more than 80 locations in 21 states, including the Woodhouse Day Spa located just two miles away from the French Quarter on the Canal Street streetcar line, as well as one in the 'burbs in Metairie. The emphasis is on both wellness and beauty here, with more than 70 treatments on the menu and an environment that both soothes and nurtures. Fluffy robes, hot teas and serene lighting set the mood for relaxation. In a city that can wreak havoc on a body from head to toe, Woodhouse Day Spa is the RX to get you back in the game. A
Recommended for Spas because: Accessible and east to get to, Woodhouse is a good fit for travelers.
Beth's expert tip: Woodhouse specializes in girlfriend getaways complete with food and drink.
Always a bastion of ultimate pampering, the Ritz spa just debuted a style refresh and it's better than ever. The transformation of the 25,000 square foot spa includes a new color palette of soft greys and creams in the common areas and all 22 treatment rooms. Beloved services such as the Voodoo Ritual and Southern Ceremony capture the unique essence of New Orleans, while new treatments including the Mississippi Mud Detox and Détente À Deux couples service ignite a sense of discovery. Signature treatments incorporate the flavors and scents of New Orleans, from coffee and praline to southern citrus and absinthe, cypress and moss. Try the magnolia sugar scrub, which leaves the skin polished and glowing, and the four-handed massage, a kind of synchronized swimming on your body, with two therapists lulling you into a state of transcendent bliss.
Recommended for Spas because: The Ritz is a known brand that always delivers.
Beth's expert tip: Ask about treatments that reflect a sense of place, including the Mississippi mud detox.
The Spa at Windsor Court is one of the best retreats in town. Intimate and serene, the 4,500-square-foot spa has 10 treatment rooms, including one wet room and one couple's treatment room, a sauna and salon facilities. Guests can use the outdoor pool at their leisure, order from the special spa menu and sip on cucumber-infused water or a glass of bubbly. Turn back the hands of time with the Method Augustinus Bader, a customized treatment for the face and body that leverages the brand's proprietary TFC8® technology for instant and cumulative results. Ask about body treatments using CBD products.
Recommended for Spas because: In a city like New Orleans, who doesn't need some VIP pampering?
Beth's expert tip: Ask about a 20 percent locals' discount on Monday and Thursday.