The Four Best Spas in Philadelphia

Philadelphia is a city bursting with art, food and color. The second largest city on the East Coast and the fifth most populous city in the country, the birthplace of America is also one of the most walkable cities in the United States. Between the Old City to Center City, there are tons of art galleries and museums to check out, plenty of shopping, and gorgeous buildings best viewed out in the clear. What that means, however, is that visitors might feel a little sore after a day of pounding the pavement. Which is a perfect excuse to check out one of Philly’s many raved about day spas! From simple pedis to Swedish massages, facials to make-overs for a special date night, or just a detoxifying and thoroughly relaxing massage for travel-worn and airplane-cramped traveler, there are tons of spas to choose from, particularly in Center City and the Old City.

Save your back and feet at Rescue Spa

Amidst the trendy art galleries and retail shopping of Chestnut and Walnut streets is an airy and lofty urban oasis wherein highly qualified aestheticians dole out what regular Philadelphian spa-goers hail as the best facials in the city. The founder and star facialist, Danuta Mieloch, has a pristine resume that spans over 20 years in her native Poland, Paris, and then New York. A "classic rescue facial" session with her and her hand-picked expert staff begins with an in-depth skin analysis and then a totally customized skin treatment using their natural "manual lift" facial massage technique. Beyond the classic, they offer bio-lift facials, microdermabrasion, a "high performance" facial which integrates all of their treatments, back facials, oxygenating facials, and all the other spa offerings like massages, body treatments, hair removal, makeup and laser. A vast number of their clientele are the types who get Rescued regularly, but any trip to Rescue Spa is sure to be a real treat!

Luxury amenities accompany luxury spas at Richel D’Ambra Spa & Salon in the Ritz-Carlton

Luxury lives at the Ritz-Carlton. Shoppers and visitors hoping to take a break from Center City need only take an elevator to the third floor of the Ritz-Carlton for a serene pick-me-up from the talented staff at the Richel D’Ambra Spa & Salon. Here guests start with a complimentary glass of wine or champagne and unwind in their steam room and sauna. Their signature massage combines Swedish, deep tissue, reflexology, aromatherapy and therapeutic massages tailored to each customer’s needs. Their packages combine different treatments to help travel-worn hotel guests (their Exhausted Traveler includes a 30-minute aromatherapy massage, 15-minute foot reflexology, 15-minute scalp massage and a 30-minute facial), or party-hoppers (Happy Hour gets any gal glammed from the inside out, beginning with a facial and massage, finished with a hair style). Be sure to check out their specials for extra savings.

Go all-natural, inside and out at Eviama Life Spa

Eviama is a mind, body and soul experience. Their philosophy stems from a "whole picture" approach, which considers life experience, temperament, self esteem, health inheritance and health investment, environmental influences, and other factors that make up one’s overall well-being. Most places just offer facials and a body scrub, but Eviama not only services one’s holistic self but also keeps an awareness towards the external world by nurturing a sustainable business model – their architecture is renewable and salvaged, and the energy is electric, bought from local non-polluting sources. At Eviama, "toxic" is a dirty word both literally and figuratively. But enough of this hippie-dippy stuff – after all an "inside and out" experience is still "out", which means that even something like the wax for hair removal is tailored to each guest’s skin profile, using a resin-based wax with zinc oxide for sensitive skin, a tea-tree wax for coarse hair, and a honey-based wax for most other skin types. Their body treatments use natural and organic products from trusted producers and even their pedicures are not simply pedicures but rather "PediKarma" which follows Ayurvedic principles to aid all three energies of the body concentrated in the feet through a special foot bath, tridoshic oils and salts, a marma point foot massage and different metals.

Trendy and fresh makeovers and hair styles with the funky chicks at Moko

Moko rocks sustainable style with every spritz of their organic hair spray. Known around Philadelphia for their stellar and unpretentious service and eco-friendly outlook, Moko offers professional beauty and hair styling from their funky and fabulous staff. Their Ayurvedic facials use custom-blended herbal mixtures and tinctures, and their hair products are ammonia and formaldehyde-free. Regularly named in "Best of Philly" for Green Beauty and Best Holistic Spa by Philadelphia Magazine, Moko has also been named in national and local media outlets like Allure Magazine and Daily Candy. Even stepping into the light and airy space, one feels the distinct lack of toxins and chemicals – instead, their boutique swells with the aroma of natural essences and herbs.