Bar Service
The stiffest drink you used to be able to get while waiting for a facial was green tea. But these days, many spas are helping guests relax by spiking their pretreatment beverages. The new Canyon Ranch-Miami Beach offers gin martinis made with cucumber and mint, the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay makes Pear-Sage Refresher with vanilla liqueur, and Townhouse Spa in New York City adds white wine or vodka to tea. Of course, turning a treatment into cocktail hour isn’t necessary a good idea. “Drinks act as a diuretic,” says Lisa Sasson, clinical associate professor of nutrition and food studies at New York University, who advises supplementing with liters of water: “Staying hydrated is important for overall well-being -- even more so when you’re having a cocktail.” -CHANTAL MARTINEAU
