The Spa at Mandarin Oriental

We resisted loving the Spa at the Mandarin. One, it's a chain. Two, it's in a hotel. But our opposition began to waver as soon as we hit the locker rooms, presented here as immaculate, fully stocked, beautifully designed "guest lounges." Then there were the one-of-a-kind amenities—a crystal steam room that evokes Space Mountain (in a good way), a Vichy shower with color therapy—and a full menu of excellent pedis, massages, and body treatments. Factor in a staff so exquisitely attentive we almost forgot we were not, in fact, itinerant European royals, and, needless to say, we surrendered. RUNNER-UP: Bella Santé LAST YEAR: Bella Santé