NYC spas we miss

[Manhattan]

I walked by an old spa location today and started thinking about places that I visited pre-Covid.
I can't remember most of their names, but I'm pretty sure they existed. Any Men's spa historians out there?

There were two Yu Ping locations (6th and 14th, 6th and 29th).

Babylon on 6th and 39th.

A tiny place on 25th off 6th? Maybe it was called Moon Boy?

There were two places on one block on Lex around 28th?

A place just off Park Ave, maybe on 38th?

I think I remember a spa on Allen St. but a couple of blocks farther south than Yeah Man

[MattWise2003]

Shangri La when it was upper east

[hrlmguy]

Super Men’s and Living Fresh were my two faves..

[waddington]

The One Spa on 8th... especially with Max

[urbanfetish]

18 hours ago, Manhattan said:

I walked by an old spa location today and started thinking about places that I visited pre-Covid.
I can't remember most of their names, but I'm pretty sure they existed. Any Men's spa historians out there?

There were two Yu Ping locations (6th and 14th, 6th and 29th).

Babylon on 6th and 39th.

A tiny place on 25th off 6th? Maybe it was called Moon Boy?

There were two places on one block on Lex around 28th?

A place just off Park Ave, maybe on 38th?

I think I remember a spa on Allen St. but a couple of blocks farther south than Yeah Man

I remember several of these spas fondly.

Babylon was where I first met August, who moved to 27MS after Babylon closed (or maybe a little before it closed?). 

Moon Boy was indeed the name of the place on 25th off 6th. I remember it being Moon Boy in contrast to Sunny Boy on 27th, before it changed to 27MS and then moved to the other end of the block to its current location.

I don't recall the name of the place on Lex at 28th but I remember my experiences there very well. They advertised on Craigslist. I used to get a massage there and then go across the street to an Indian restaurant for lunch or dinner. I never went to the other spa nearby though. I believe that one opened afterwards (or marketed its itself to the gay community afterwards) and I felt loyal to the first place.

A few more no longer with us:

Top Men Spa (35th and 7th, I believe)

Hero (50th and 9th?)

Grandee (56th and 8th)

28 Mens Spa (28th and 6th)

Alpha Male (west side/midtown - I don't recall the cross streets as I only went once or twice?)

New Yorker on 6th between 30th and 31st.

24 Chelsea Spa on 24th off of 9th Ave (not to be confused with Chelsea Men's Spa on 29th and 6th).

There was a "bodywork" spa in the basement just north of 14th St (not sure if it was 15th , 16th, etc.) and I think they had another location with the same name in HK on 10th Ave?

There was a place on 57th St, maybe between Lex and 3rd? Lots of older, muscular Asian masseurs there. That was probably about 15 years ago. It was one of the first HE type spa I every experienced.

There was one on E 53rd, maybe between 3rd and 2nd Ave? Can't remember the name though.

And there was a spa near Grand Central, not far from the old Shangri La, except this was in an office building. It always felt a little strange to go to this location with so many "legit" workspaces just down the hall.

Edited January 26 by urbanfetish

[JayinHKNYC]

There was a gym 2 or 3 floors below The East Side Club with a massage room and hot masseurs.

[bcamair]

Utopia was on Lex and maybe 72nd.

[Miguel]

3 hours ago, JayinHKNYC said:

There was a gym 2 or 3 floors below The East Side Club with a massage room and hot masseurs.

I use to belong to that gym. Spa 227.  Same owners as eastside club    Found memories 

[Manhattan]

3 hours ago, urbanfetish said:

I remember several of these spas fondly.

Babylon was where I first met August, who moved to 27MS after Babylon closed (or maybe a little before it closed?). 

Moon Boy was indeed the name of the place on 25th off 6th. I remember it being Moon Boy in contrast to Sunny Boy on 27th, before it changed to 27MS and then moved to the other end of the block to its current location.

I don't recall the name of the place on Lex at 28th but I remember my experiences there very well. They advertised on Craigslist. I used to get a massage there and then go across the street to an Indian restaurant for lunch or dinner. I never went to the other spa nearby though. I believe that one opened afterwards (or marketed its itself to the gay community afterwards) and I felt loyal to the first place.

A few more no longer with us:

Top Men Spa (35th and 7th, I believe)

Hero (50th and 9th?)

Grandee (56th and 8th)

28 Mens Spa (28th and 6th)

Alpha Male (west side/midtown - I don't recall the cross streets as I only went once or twice?)

New Yorker on 6th between 30th and 31st.

24 Chelsea Spa on 24th off of 9th Ave (not to be confused with Chelsea Men's Spa on 29th and 6th).

There was a "bodywork" spa in the basement just north of 14th St (not sure if it was 15th , 16th, etc.) and I think they had another location with the same name in HK on 10th Ave?

There was a place on 57th St, maybe between Lex and 3rd? Lots of older, muscular Asian masseurs there. That was probably about 15 years ago. It was one of the first HE type spa I every experienced.

There was one on E 53rd, maybe between 3rd and 2nd Ave? Can't remember the name though.

And there was a spa near Grand Central, not far from the old Shangri La, except this was in an office building. It always felt a little strange to go to this location with so many "legit" workspaces just down the hall.

Quote

 

Yes, I too met August at Babylon. He left and went out on his own for a while before he landed at 27. 

i remember the place on 57th Street! Up a tall flight of stairs. 

[Sixpack]

What about recently closed Paris.  Nicer interior rooms than some other places.

[+ EVdude]

My go to for many years pre-Covid:  Greenhouse on 14th! Tony, Troy, Alan and my fav Owen. Many a fine session by these guys. 

[urbanfetish]

12 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Yes, I too met August at Babylon. He left and went out on his own for a while before he landed at 27. 

i remember the place on 57th Street! Up a tall flight of stairs. 

That's right. I did get some massages at August's apt before he started at 27MS.

Yes, I do remember the huge flight of stairs at that place on 57th St! lol 

[Redwine56]

4 hours ago, EVdude said:

My go to for many years pre-Covid:  Greenhouse on 14th! Tony, Troy, Alan and my fav Owen. Many a fine session by these guys. 

Oh yes!  Tony at Greenhouse was one of my favs.  He knew how to work the erogenous zones so well.  I would pre-cum before turning over.  Many memorable experiences with Tony.  

[Cubscout13]

4 hours ago, EVdude said:

My go to for many years pre-Covid:  Greenhouse on 14th! Tony, Troy, Alan and my fav Owen. Many a fine session by these guys. 

Miss Tony!! He was the best. Wonder if he is still doing massage anywhere?!

[Manhattan]

There was also a men's spa on 8th street, just west of 6th Ave. 

[Sensualnyc]

Does anyone know what is going on with Morning Dew Spa?

[urbanfetish]

On 1/27/2026 at 12:34 AM, Manhattan said:

There was also a men's spa on 8th street, just west of 6th Ave. 

East of 6th Ave, but yes, I remember that one too. (W 8th St ends at 6th Ave.)

And there was one around the corner on 6th Ave between 8th and 9th St. I think it was above a Dunkin, which is also no longer there. 

Edited January 29 by urbanfetish

[JayinHKNYC]

Did Nickel Spa masseurs on 8th and 14th ever go beyond therapeutic only?

[deepplease]

I use to go to Nickel for pedicures with Russian women who did an amazing job , 

I had a few massages they were only therapeutic for me. 

[Manhattan]

Anyone remember a really run down place in the basement on 22nd Street? It was just off Seventh Ave. 

A long time ago. 

[urbanfetish]

34 minutes ago, Manhattan said:

Anyone remember a really run down place in the basement on 22nd Street? It was just off Seventh Ave. 

A long time ago. 

I do recall a basement location that was a long railroad style space - it had a very long hallway down the middle. I don't recall the address but it could be the same one you are talking about. 

[Manhattan]

2 hours ago, urbanfetish said:

I do recall a basement location that was a long railroad style space - it had a very long hallway down the middle. I don't recall the address but it could be the same one you are talking about. 

Do you have any idea how long ago that was? I can't remember. Was it more than 10 years ago?

[KeepItReal]

18 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Do you have any idea how long ago that was? I can't remember. Was it more than 10 years ago?

Why are you living in the past? Follow your own advice...

18 hours ago, Manhattan said:

Gay men - go on a date, get a massage, hire an escort. Have an actual experience with an actual man.  

[Big_Willi]

W Man and Hero Bron are both from Yeah Man

[deepplease]

Hey Man Day Spa.  On W 4 on the west side of 7th Ave.   Closed post pandemic became a nail massage place then became Paris.  
there was a masseur andy slender glasses    He gave an amazing deep tissue    I always did the tub scrub and massage with him.  The place back then needed updating but Andy was great.  Truly skilled and I always left happy