Ben works at ResortPass, which means he’s spent a lot of time thinking about what a great day off looks like. His answer, field-tested and personally verified: a massage, followed by a pool, followed by a spritz in hand with something good to eat. A reset that covers the body, the mind, and the appetite, in that order.
He lives in New York and has a dog he takes on aimless walks around whatever neighborhood he decides to explore that day. He thinks Cobble Hill is underrated and Prospect Park is the most genuinely transportive green space in the five boroughs. When the week gets heavy, he’s at Humming Puppy in Flatiron for a soundbath, then journaling on his balcony afterward. He has strong feelings about golden hour at Arlo Williamsburg (yes, there’s a day pass for that).
His New York is specific, opinionated, and very much his own. Here’s where he goes.
The solo day: a loose itinerary with no agenda
Ben’s ideal solo day starts with something for himself and ends somewhere with a view. The version he’s proudest of went like this: a Russian mani at Asya Nail Studio, then a mosey over to Williamsburg to scope skincare at Senti-Senti, then a slice and a beer from L’Industrie, then Domino Park for the sunset. No agenda. No conversation required.
He describes the solo mode as wanting to be “an absolute slug and shell of a human.” What he means, translated: a full reset with no performance necessary. Just the city, the dog if she’s coming, a good meal, and enough time to actually decompress. For a mid-week version of the same impulse, he’ll book a head spa or put in a solid workout with a steam after. Something that resets the body so the mind can follow.
The non-negotiable across all of it: good food. “I could be having the perfect day, but without a great munch or meal, I will slip into oblivion,” he says. No further elaboration needed.
The group day: beach or poolside, no in-between
When Ben’s with friends, the calculus changes. It’s Jacob Riis Beach with bodega snacks, drinks, and music, or it’s a cabana somewhere if nobody wants to make the trek. There’s no middle ground. Either you’re going to the beach or you’re poolside. Both options require snacks.
His underrated neighborhood pick is Cobble Hill: warm, walkable, good stores and restaurants, easy access to the parks, and not yet overrun the way other Brooklyn neighborhoods have gotten. His escape-without-leaving answer is Prospect Park, specifically the middle of it, where the city disappears. “I feel like I’ve actually escaped NYC inside Prospect Park versus others,” he says. Central Park doesn’t do the same thing for him.
Golden hour, for Ben, is best enjoyed as follows: “Taking an evening dip with a cocktail in hand at Arlo Williamsburg is the true GOAT. Something about that view really hits.”
You heard it here first.
Ben’s picks: Top ResortPass properties in New York City
For the spa reset: Intuisse Spa at Maison Hudson
One of the two spa options Ben names by name, and the more hidden of the two. There’s no sign outside. It’s tucked into Maison Hudson, a luxury waterfront residence in the West Village at 401 West Street, with a sauna, hammam steam room, jacuzzi, and relaxation lounge inside. The treatment menu covers massages, advanced facials, and IV therapies using Swiss longevity skincare technology. For a solo reset where you want to feel like you’ve left the city without actually leaving it, this is the one.
For the Williamsburg pool: Arlo Williamsburg
The golden hour spot Ben calls out without being asked. The rooftop pool has sweeping city skyline views, daybeds, cabanas, and poolside food and cocktails from Sungold Restaurant. Day passes include towel service and poolside service. It’s got the energy of a proper pool day with a view that earns the visit, which is exactly what Ben’s describing when he talks about a Spritz in hand and the city spread out below.
For the high-performance reset: The Spa at Equinox Domino
The second property Ben mentions by name, and the one that fits his mid-week reset instinct. Set inside the landmark Domino Sugar Refinery on the Williamsburg waterfront, it’s got a three-lane saltwater lap pool, a co-ed recovery deck with hot tub and cold plunge, and a glass-walled sauna. The setting overlooks the East River and the Manhattan skyline. For a workout followed by a proper steam, this is the full version of what he’s describing.
