USP A red-glossed basement den with treatment rooms that transform from a spa by day into private club alcoves by night with flat-screen televisions and resident DJs.

AMBIENCE The salon was in the basement of the uber-cool Gaansevort hotel in the Meatpacking District of New York. The dual purpose of the spa is evident from its industrial chic decor: club-like red glass panels, exposed galvanised pipes overhead, dimmed lighting and photos of androgynous naked couples adorning the walls. The spa has hydrotherapy pools, a steam room, a private hair salon and glamorous design magazines dedeck the waiting area of a well-stocked bar. Even the spa-wear was suitably glamorous, with high-heeled flip flops – and sexy black robes in a dark wood locker room. The spa transforms at night when the treatment rooms become intimate VIP lounges and the pools are covered with Plexiglas to serve as dance space. I suspect that plastic wine glasses may detract from the VIP experience, but this is to protect bare-footed spa users during the day from the risk of broken glass.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE After another day of traipsing around New York in my unsupportive Primark bargain shoes, my war-torn feet were eagerly anticipating the Double Happiness Foot Reflexology treatment. In keeping with the hedonistic appeal of the salon, an unexpected bonus was the not so clinical looking therapist, Robert – all pumped muscle and bandana. The treatment was short – 30 minutes - but very relaxing, albeit not long enough for my brain to switch off from my shopping dilemmas. The treatment included hot towels and Korres body butter being massaged into my lower legs and feet. It took place in the dark, amid a din of overhead pipes, rushing water from the outside pools, and the usual piped music. Some of the treatment was slightly painful, but being a reflexology virgin I wasn’t sure if this was to be expected in a diagnostic routine. However, this was more like a high-spec foot massage, with no commentary or explanation of the treatment either before or afterwards. It felt like Robert knew what he was doing, though. But for an expensive spa in a service-orientated city and a highly-rated hotel, I expected more attention – I was given a glass of water after my treatment, but the receptionist/spa manager answered my questions about the spa in between gossipy breaths on the telephone, and her colleague was unable to tell me what the “healthful” drinks in the brochure actually were.

FOOD The spa brochure claims to provide Japanese inspired food from the hotel restaurant – savoury crab pizza with daikon and fish eggs, for example, and a range of teas and tea cocktails such as the Moji-Tea, a blend of mint tea and white rum - but I didn’t see any evidence of this.

IN CROWD Hotel guests on the pull maybe – but apparently Salma Hayek, Sienna Miller, Mickey Rourke and Cuba Gooding Jr. have all been here, and other West Village residents. But the spa was empty during my visit, apart from a fleeting glance of another semi-clad male client. It's the perfect locale for Sex in the City couples as the star treatment is the couple’s massage with cocktails and coconut foot scrub available in the rooftop cabana of the hotel.

WALLET WATCH The Double Happiness Reflexology Treatment costs $75 (£38); Pillow Talk Massage $400. Cheaper standard treatments including the aptly named bikini waxing options of “Go”, “Going” or “Gone” – from $35 to $85.

NEED TO KNOW G Spa Hotel Gansevoort, 18 Ninth Ave between Gansevoort St and 13th St. (212-660-6733; www.gansevoortspaandlounge.com) Email: spa@gansevoortspaandlounge.com Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-8pm; Sat and Sun 10am-7pm

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