Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.

Why go here?

Uptown has a reputation for stuffiness (let’s be generous and call it an old-school vibe), but Sage + Sound brings decidedly new energy to its zip code. An airy retreat on an otherwise nondescript stretch of Third Avenue, the spa boasts both a delightfully woo-woo menu of services and an expertly trained staff that seems to have relaxation down to a science. Treatment rooms are spacious and kept at womb-like temperatures. A small retail area has a curated selection of every status skin-care and hair product you’ve been tempted to spend a small fortune on. And nontoxic nail salon Sundays maintains a connected storefront for manicures and pedicures. There are nice spas with small menus of snacks to nibble on after massages. And then there’s Sage + Sound, where the Isle of Us marketplace and café is so good that I would go back just to eat lunch. If I could have the salmon rice bowl every day, I would.

Photo: Courtesy of Sage + Sound

What’s the vibe?

A mystical members’ club, with no actual membership required. The clinical warmth of an upscale therapist’s office, coupled with the chi-chi quiet opulence of a tasteful boutique. This isn’t just about unwinding; it’s a place for spiritual transformation. In addition to its extensive treatment offerings, Sage + Sound also programs a full curriculum of classes, experiences, and workshops in a zone that cofounders Lacey Tisch and Lauren Zucker call “the study.” There’s meditation for calm, a “clearing ritual” that’s designed to “rejuvenate energy fields,” and breathwork and fascia release sessions for clarity and balance. Nonbelievers can get an absurdly luxurious massage and call it a day. But those with goop-ier tendencies will feel especially catered to, and Tisch and Zucker confirm that friendships have formed in their workshops. When Sage + Sound was under construction, Tisch and Zucker buried crystals beneath the floorboards.

Photo: Courtesy of Sage + Sound

The history?

Tisch and Zucker founded Sage + Sound in 2022 to offer a holistic approach to a crowded field, bringing massage therapists, facialists, life coaches, and all manner of expert practitioners under one roof. Whatever your definition of wellness, they want to satisfy it. “We wanted to create a space where our ideas about wellness and other people’s ideas of wellness could be honored in a way that is also elevated,” Tisch says. “Especially after the pandemic, we knew people were looking for a space where they could socialize and be back in community.”

Photo: Courtesy of Sage + Sound

What should you try?

The standards are all hits here. Facials use an exquisite sequence of Biologique Recherche products and high-tech devices (seek out the Platinum Facial to pull out all the stops). Deep-tissue massages are performed with true-to-their-name muscle. But branch out and be rewarded. Experiencing Thai massage—performed while you’re fully clothed and utilizing stretching, pulling, and pressing motions—is like the most intense yoga class you’ve ever been to. Lymphatic drainage massages are chased with a session in a solo sauna for maximum healing and release.

How environmentally friendly is it?

You know a place that offers hypnotherapy is not trading in single-use plastic. The spa was constructed with eco-friendly building materials, and the cafe is stocked with compostable utensils.

Photo: Courtesy of Sage + Sound

What else do we need to know?

Thoughtful touches abound. At Sundays, the nail studio, towels are heated and basins are movable, so they can be thoroughly and squeakily cleaned. Instead of having you slide beneath a thin sheet for your facial, Sage + Sound performs it while you’re wrapped in a cloud-like duvet. It was so luxe and fluffy that it made me seriously reconsider my bedding at home. Good news for the tristate area: Tisch and Zucker are expanding to Connecticut.

Who can go?

Anyone and everyone. Bring your most psychically attuned friend—and an open mind.

Booking details for Sage + Sound