WLLW’s Travel Guide: New York City

Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel Central Park

1 Hotel Central Park

1414 Sixth Avenue

New York has no shortage of wellness-forward accommodations. 1 Hotel Central Park (Midtown) is a pioneer in sustainable luxury, offering organic cotton bed linens, hemp mattresses, filtered water taps and LEED-certified design – all just steps from the park. Its living facade, draped with over 36,000 plants, transforms the building into a vertical garden and sets the tone for the nature-infused calm found inside. 

Photo courtesy of 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

60 Furman Street, Brooklyn

Across the river, 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge brings the same comfort-driven ethos to a reclaimed industrial setting. Built with salvaged materials and powered by rainwater and solar systems, it features the Bamford Wellness Spa, a sanctuary for holistic healing with organic treatments, a rooftop pool and uninterrupted views of the skyline and harbor. 

Photo courtesy of Equinox Hotel

Equinox Hotel

33 Hudson Yards

At Equinox Hotel (Hudson Yards), wellness is taken to a new level. This urban retreat boasts a 24-hour, 60,000-square-foot fitness club, cryotherapy, infrared saunas, a rooftop pool and spa treatments designed for the highest level of wellbeing.

Photo courtesy of MADE Hotel

MADE Hotel

44 West 29th Street

Lastly, the MADE Hotel (NoMad) offers shibori-style Frette linens and hand-carved stone sinks. It has a focus on organic decor, biophilic design and the use of natural materials such as hardwood and brass. It also comes at a price point far below its design credentials. 

Photo courtesy of Le Botaniste

Le Botaniste

127 Grand Street

For vegetarian fare, Le Botaniste (SoHo), the first organic, plant-based and carbon-neutral restaurant in New York City, serves bowls, soups and natural wines in a charming, apothecary-inspired space.  

Photo courtesy of abcV

abcV 38 

East 19th Street

At abcV (Flatiron), the emphasis is on food that’s both beautiful and deeply nourishing. Designed to align with the rhythms of wellness, the menu features plant-forward dishes, tonics and elixirs, all served in a luminous, sun-and-moon-inspired interior.

Photo courtesy of Butcher’s Daughter

Butcher’s Daughter

271 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn

An extension of the Nolita original, the Butcher’s Daughter (Williamsburg) styles itself as a ‘vegetable slaughterhouse’, but in reality is a light-filled, plant-based café that serves up cold-pressed juices, gluten-free baked goods, vegetarian brunches and dairy-free mains.  

Photo courtesy of Planted

Planted

333 Smith Street, Brooklyn

Part café, part low-waste plant shops, Planted (Carroll Gardens and Park Slope) are rooted in community and seasonal nourishment. The fully vegan menu is built on whole, minimally processed ingredients sourced from local growers, with dishes that change as the seasons do. 

Photo courtesy of New York City Tourism

Union Square Greenmarket East 17th Street

For seasonal produce, small-batch goods and regional flavors, head to the Union Square Greenmarket – one of the city’s most beloved outdoor markets open all year round. With markets across all boroughs, GrowNYC is the best resource for finding a farmers market close to you. Just bring a tote and follow what's in season. 

Photo courtesy of Rhodora

Rhodora

197 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn

In a leafy corner of Fort Greene, Rhodora is the country’s first zero-waste wine bar. Expect natural wines, conservas, local cheeses and a radically sustainable ethos: no landfill waste, closed-loop delivery systems and compostable packaging, all served by a cross-trained team in a beautifully warm, minimalist space. 

Photo courtesy of Package Free Shop

Package Free Shop

25 Bond Street

NYC is home to a thriving conscious retail scene. Package Free Shop (NoHo) is a zero-waste pop-up offering healthier everyday essentials, from reusable containers to plastic-free swaps – all while directly funding environmental initiatives.

Photo courtesy of Pretty Well Beauty

Pretty Well Beauty

185 Greenwich Street

In beauty, Pretty Well Beauty (Lower Manhattan) curates clean, sustainably sourced skincare, haircare and wellness products from around the world. Founder Jazmin Alvarez has created an inclusive space where all kinds of beauty needs are catered for in a healthy way.  

Photo courtesy of Remedies Herb Shop

Remedies Herb Shop

453 Court Street, Brooklyn

Founded by community herbalist Cheryl Boiko, Remedies (Carroll Gardens) is a warm space dedicated to the healing power of herbs. With shelves lined with organic roots, teas, tinctures and natural skincare, it’s both a shop and an invitation to reconnect with traditional wellness practices.

Photo courtesy of Another Tomorrow

Another Tomorrow

135 Wooster Street

Meanwhile, fashion-forward shoppers will find timeless, responsibly made pieces at Another Tomorrow (SoHo), a B Corp-certified label that champions regenerative wool, organic cotton and full supply chain transparency.

Photo courtesy of Colony

Colony

196 West Broadway

Take some time to visit Colony (Flatiron), a cooperative gallery and showroom supporting independent furniture, textile and object designers. Everything is crafted with an emphasis on enduring materials, handmade techniques and sustainable production. 

Photo courtesy of 50 Norman

50 Norman

50 Norman Avenue, Brooklyn

At 50 Norman (Greenpoint), a trio of Japanese brands come together under one calm, design-forward roof. Dashi Okume offers artisanal soup stocks, while Cibone and House Brooklyn present a rotating edit of homeware, stationery and tableware. 

Photo courtesy of Homecoming

Homecoming

116 Franklin Street, Brooklyn

Homecoming (Greenpoint) blends plants, design and café culture into a single, grounding space. Alongside expertly potted greenery, you’ll find ceramics, incense and natural skincare that reflect a softer, more tactile vision of home life. It's the kind of place that invites pause and perhaps a second cup of coffee. 

Photo courtesy of THE WELL

THE WELL New York

2 East 15th Street

NYC rarely slows down, however restoration can still feel close at hand. The Well NYC is a membership club that blends modern medicine with ancient healing traditions, offering a calm, light-filled retreat focused on holistic wellbeing. Through infrared saunas and hydrotherapy, alongside mindful movement and nutrition, it’s a space designed to help the body reset and the mind soften. 

Photo courtesy of Aire Ancient Baths

Aire Ancient Baths

305 East 61st Street

In a city known for its concrete skyline, a natural connection isn’t actually hard to find. Find deep relaxation in water at Aire Ancient Baths (Upper East Side), a beautifully restored warehouse offering thermal baths inspired by ancient rituals. Soak in their saltwater bath, the Flotarium, which is suspended from the ceiling. 

Photo courtesy of The New York Botanical Garden

Thain Family Forest, The New York Botanical Garden 

2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx

Step away from the city’s constant hum and immerse yourself in the serene beauty of the NY Botanical Garden’s Thain Family Forest, New York’s largest remaining tract of old-growth woodland. The ongoing forest bathing experience – inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku – encourages visitors to slow down and engage the senses.  

Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Grange

Brooklyn Grange

63 Flushing Avenue, Brooklyn

Brooklyn Grange operates the world’s largest rooftop soil farms, cultivating vegetables and greens high above the city skyline. The farms double as event spaces and hubs for education, sustainability and community building. Every initiative is rooted in the belief that greener cities are healthier, more connected places to live.

Photo courtesy of Central Park

Central Park and Prospect Park

Central Park is more than a green lung for the city – it’s a dynamic wellness canvas. The Conservatory Garden Bloom schedule allows you to track the seasons through your favorite flowers. Cherry Hill offers beautiful views of the lake, but comes alive in Spring with the arrival of the cherry blossoms. Seasonal activities such as outdoor yoga and guided meditation classes take place near Sheep Meadow. For a wilder, more immersive experience, check out Prospect Park (Brooklyn). The Lullwater and Nethermead meadows offer open space for reflection, while the Lake draws walkers and birdwatchers alike.

Photo courtesy of Ankhlave Arts Alliance

Ankhlave Arts Alliance

408 B Colonels Row, Governors Island

Sustainability and culture converge at Governors Island, where the Ankhlave Arts Alliance are promoting inclusive design through their annual programming. Their work brings underrepresented voices into the public art conversation, creating space for new narratives in a changing climate. They stand alongside the New York Climate Exchange’s climate campus, which provides education and research as well as technological advances.

Photo courtesy of The Climate Museum

The Climate Museum

New York

The Climate Museum is the first institution in the US dedicated to climate change and justice, with a mission to inspire solutions through art, science and engagement. Held at rotating pop-up locations in SoHo, the museum features free exhibitions, interactive installations and sticker‑wall pledges designed for all ages.

Photo courtesy of Noguchi Museum by Elizabeth Felicella

Noguchi Museum

9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City

In a former photo-engraving factory designed by Isamu Noguchi himself, the Noguchi Museum (Long Island City) offers a serene, meditative experience. Light-filled interiors and tranquil outdoor courtyards frame Noguchi’s sculptures, models and Akari lanterns.  

Photo courtesy of High Line by Timothy Schenck

High Line

A tour of the High Line will show the transformation of an old elevated railway into a green ribbon of imaginative landscape design, with 500 species of plants, 150+ of which are native to the five NYC boroughs. On Tuesday evenings from April through October, join the Amateur Astronomers Association for free stargazing – an extraordinary chance to pause and look skyward amid the city lights.

Photo courtesy of The Shed by Jean Coleman 

The Shed's Bloomberg Building

545 West 30th Street

At The Shed (Hudson Yards), architecture meets performance in a building that physically transforms to house exhibitions and events. It’s designed with sustainability in mind, aiming for LEED Silver certification. The building's most striking feature, a movable outer shell, contributes to its energy efficiency by creating a temperature-controlled space adaptable to different performances.