Between the rise of the metrosexual and the fall in the economy, more and more men found their way to the spa, making up 31% of 2008's spa-goers, according to the International Spa Association. Here are places where boys can be boys and still be men, plus a few that offer male-friendly treatments.
Gentlemen's Tonic
(tel. +020/7297-4343; www.gentlemenstonic.com): London's men can get groomed surrounded by wood, leather, marble, and tech toys. While the spa offers traditional services including shaves, massages, facials, manicures, and more, look for more alternative therapies such as Reiki (from £75), energy work used to alleviate chronic problems, pain, and stress. The spa also carries its own line of men's grooming products, Babassu & Bergamot.H2O The Male Spa at Jumeirah Emirates Towers
(tel. +971/4319-8181; www.jumeirah.com): At the Emirates Towers, 80% of guests are male business travelers, says sports and leisure manager Desmond Cawley, so a men-only spa was a natural fit. The more than 30 treatments focus on issues faced by their clientele -- the negative impacts of long-haul travel and late nights and long meetings. Cawley recommends the signature Flotation Pool (60 min., AED330), a private, 1-hour soak in warm salt water accompanied by relaxing tunes. The amount of salt in the water floats the body, and the relaxation is said to be equivalent to 8 hours' sleep. Those looking to combat jet lag should grab a seat at the Oxygen Bar, which Cawley says "will boost the system and improve tissues' oxygenation for better use of energies." The Cosmos active massage chair adds to the experience with 47 different ways of massage. And, if you're like most go-getters, you'll likely be in a rush, so the spa offers a range of 25-minute express massages.i.sawan Residential Spa & Club at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
(tel. +66/2254-1234; http://bangkok.grand.hyatt.com): This spa won the Men's Spa Treatment of the Year Award at the 2007 AsiaSpa Awards, and offers Man Space treatments in each menu category. Renewal Exfoliation (50 min., 2,300 baht) employs a blend of neem, rice bran, and black sticky rice and is good for dry or sun-damaged skin, while the Enrichment Body Wrap (90 min., 3,500 baht) sets to address skin's diminishing elasticity and purify with a blend of green tea and tamarind; the latter removes dead skin cells, softens skin, and evens out skin tone.Nickel Spa for Men
(tel. 212/242-3203; www.nickelspanyc.com): Finance types will feel right at home in this New York City men's spa, housed in a former bank building and outfitted in chrome and glass. Men in pursuit of washboard abs should consider the Love Handle Wrap (60 min., $95), which starts with a body exfoliation, followed by an application of the spa's own Love Handle Gel (part of the Nickel range of products), massaged into the area, and a foot massage.The Refinery (tel. +020/7409-2001; www.the-refinery.com): This London spa dedicated to men offers everything from intimate waxing to targeted massages. Exclusive treatments include the Signature Face and Body Treatment (90 min., £120), which starts with a back cleansing and exfoliation, followed by a back massage, Ayurvedic scalp massage, and a deep-cleaning facial. And, women aren't the only ones who worry about fine lines and wrinkles. The Anti-Ageing Facial (60 min., £120) aims to repair skin at the cellular level and incorporates microdermabrasian, a hand treatment, and a head, neck, and shoulder massage.
SIR Spa
(tel. 773/271-7000: www.sirspa.com): This Chicago spa's owner decided, after finding himself in a high-end spa relaxation room surrounded by 50-year-old women, something had to be done. That something turned into a place where men could get spa services (bodywork, skincare, nail grooming) and products in a "modern and masculine yet neutral and professional" setting ("Our space and design prove you don't need a pool table or football jerseys to show you're a facility for professional men," owner Pete Hillman says.). While you'll find massages and facials, more creative treatments include the In-Grown Hair Treatment (add to any face treatment for $25), which removes and treats ingrown hairs on the face and neck, and the Ab Wrap (30 min., $75), which uses a thermal toning treatment to tighten the abs and get rid of fats and toxins. And, for those who want to spa with their loved one, Date Night ($150Â?$230) includes massages, wine, and a dinner discount at a local restaurant.The Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong
(tel. +852/3196-8888; www.fourseasons.com): His Collection includes a menu of men's treatments. Tea tree and sage give a masculine scent to the Restorative Back and Face (90 min., HKD1,350), a back cleansing, herbal facial, deep neck and shoulder massage, and refining mask.The Spa at the Grove Park Inn Resort (tel. 828/252-2711; www.groveparkinn.com): This Asheville, North Carolina spa won Spa Finders Readers' Choice in 2007 for the best men's spa, as much for its design as for its treatments. Try the Gentlemen's Mountain Stream Foot Treatment (60 min., $100), a warm footbath; grooming of nails, cuticles, and feet; a paraffin dip; pressure-point massage; and warm stones between the toes.
Willow Stream Spa at Fairmont Scottsdale (tel. 866/540-4495; www.fairmont.com): Men can get special treatment with their treatments in the Fairmont Scottsdale's MVP Room, a haven for male guests complete with plasma screens with wireless headsets (for watching TV or listening to your choice of music), sports and business magazines, and the "Bentley" of massage tables. Treatments are performed in the private room, among dark wood, leather, and "Pumping Iron Gray" walls. Treatments include the Customized Gentlemen's Barber Face Treatment (60 min., $169), which addresses men's skin issues such as razor burn, and includes a face, neck, and shoulder massage. The spa also offers sports-inspired treatments, such as the Up to Par Body Experience (60 min., $179), which aims to tone and hydrate sun-exposed skin with an avocado wrap, scalp and hair treatment, and avocado oil massage.
