Dope Botanicals
The brainchild of sisters Nakia and Taahirah Stith, Dope Botanicals is what they call an “a ‘plant’ecary” — a hip urban apothecary carrying tinctures, tonics and teas made from organic and ethically foraged herbs. Don’t know where to start? Opt for an herbal consult with the Stiths, or have them make you a custom smoothie or adaptogenic latte — like the stress-reducing, mood-stabilizing “Happy Pill” — at the shop’s blend bar. 257 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Together Old City
This self-proclaimed “method-less” fitness boutique lets instructors-in-residence teach whatever workout they want, however they want, so the mat Pilates, yoga and dance fitness classes look and feel different every time you step into the minimalist space. 138 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Nirvana Wellness Med Spa
Under the direction of founders Taralyn and Joe Freda and medical director Brian Weiss, Nirvana has seen huge growth since opening in August 2020. It’s now a full-blown med spa where you can get treated to a massage, a facial, an acupuncture session, a brow and lash upgrade, or time in the infrared sauna. Other services include medical micro-blading and the new EvolveX body contouring, a three-in-one treatment that blasts fat, tones muscles and tightens skin. 925 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
K.R.T./Q.R.T. Cycling
The cycling groups Kings Rule Together and Queens Rule Together have been on a mission for the past three years to amplify Black ridership in Philly. With 360-and-counting members (here, along with those spanning 12 states and as far afield as Canada, Egypt and France), K.R.T. and Q.R.T., through weekly group rides, free clinics and community events, are closing the sport’s race and gender gaps, one pedal-stroke at a time.
Juniper Muay Thai
Whether you’re an experienced fighter or putting on gloves for the first time, you’ll learn the ins and outs of muay Thai — and be taken seriously every step, punch and kick of the way — by co-owners Joe Logan and George Pitsakis. Bonus: There are classes solely for women and for kids. 2019 South Juniper Street, second floor, Philadelphia, PA 19148
The Wall Cycling Studio
The OG spin, barre and rebounding gym rang in 10 years with a growth spurt: a new space featuring on-site spray tanning, teeth whitening and Botox, from local brands Luminosity and Anne Judge Aesthetics. The Wall may have just ushered in the era of the “fit spa.” 132 Levering Street, Philadelphia, PA 19127
Powerhouse Dance
The beauty of Powerhouse Dance isn’t just that it’s adults-only (classes are geared toward those with some dance experience) or that pricing is pay-as-you-take (what grown-up can commit to full-year tuition?), but that the Cherry Hill Artists in Motion Dance Complex hosts a rotating schedule of classes every week — from heels and hip-hop to ballet and street jazz — that’ll get any “retired” dancer back, confidently, on the floor. 1742 Marlton Pike East, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
ChesLen Preserve
Photograph by Parikha Mehta Tire the kiddos out on a family-and-pet-friendly hike at ChesLen Preserve, where you’ll find much more than just nine miles of unpaved trails. The main attraction is Ollie Owl’s playground — a natural play space with a wooden seesaw, tree stumps perfect for climbing, a log bridge, and a shallow stream that begs little ones to try their luck at stone-skipping. 1199 Cannery Road, Coatesville, PA 19320
and Feel Like a Badass
Flaunt Fitness
After 10 years in business and with a new studio space in the works, Flaunt Fitness remains the place to channel your inner vixen, whether through a pole workout, an inversion workshop, a sultry heels sesh, a twerking party, or one of the many high-energy dance fitness classes. You’ll feel so empowered, you’ll have no shame posting your progress all over IG. 1939 South 17th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
The Well Studio
Marissa Nash has created an oasis for yoga, breathwork and meditation at her SoCal-inspired studio in Fishtown. With three distinct class styles — Process, Embody and Ritual — the studio welcomes any new or seasoned yogi to use a blend of movement and reflection for ultimate grounding. The sweaty stress relief is simply an added (but welcome) bonus. 2620 Martha Street, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Summit Acupuncture
Rumor has it Summit Acupuncture in Callowhill is the place where Philly’s top athletes and fitness trainers go to heal and repair their bodies, and we get why. From an airy, light-filled loft, founder Jason Krantz and his team provide traditional Chinese medicine treatments like acupuncture, cupping and gua sha — plus practical, easily incorporated holistic health advice — that’ll leave you feeling like you finally got a good night’s sleep. 421 North 7th Street, suite 205, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Roger Schwab
This year’s Best Trainer has been coaching for more than 50 years. We watched the 77-year-old do his thing at X-Force, his Center City gym equipped with what are called “eccentric” — or negative — strength-training machines that provide a tough-AF workout. Schwab swears by the science behind X-Force — machines that “stimulate a physiological response by engaging muscles in their full range of motion” by increasing the resistance by 40 percent in the lowering (negative) phase of the rep. Everybody, he believes, should train the same way: “We all have the same muscles in our bodies.” The only thing that varies is intensity. 30 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Salt Spa at The Reeds
There’s a reason the Reeds is Oprah’s Shore hotel of choice: bright coastal rooms, a sundeck plunge pool, complimentary water activities on the bay. But it’s the Salt Spa — complete with a Himalayan salt brine light-inhalation lounge, a tile-studded Turkish bath, a full-service hair, makeup and nail studio (we see you, bridal parties), and serene massages, facials, and flotation therapy — that’ll call to you like a Jersey Shore siren song, especially during the off-season. 9628 3rd Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ 08247
Franklin’s Secret at W Philadelphia Away Spa
Eighty minutes of pure facial bliss: a botanical steam, two masks for exfoliating and soothing, all the face-care works (serum, cleanser, toner, vitamin C eye treatment), a massage with a rose-quartz roller, and a bonus hand and foot coffee-sugar scrub — all enhanced by products from local vegan skin-care brand Franklin & Whitman. It’s Philly’s best-kept beauty secret. Well, until now. 1439 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Rooftop Barre Bounce by Tuck Barre & Yoga
Photograph by Jeff Fusco When spring arrives, Tuck’s Barre Bounce takes center stage. On Saturday mornings, jump your butt off on a mini trampoline while doing ballet-inspired micro movements — all on the roof of a Point Breeze building. High cardio, low impact and killer skyline views? Working up a sweat has never been this much fun. 1300 South 19th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Christa Barfield
Barfield went from a career in health care to fighting local food insecurity through FarmerJawn, her urban farming org that hosts community greenery workshops and a CSA to increase access to organic produce for Philly’s most underserved communities. This year, Barfield launched an educational nonprofit to train future farmers and opened a garden center in Mount Airy so neighbors can plant fruits and veggies in their own backyards.
Soaked Bath Teas
This local line of bath products arose from co-founder Elán Drennon’s desire to provide her and her mother with self-care at the height of the pandemic. Luckily, Soaked’s hand-crafted bath teas provide us that, too, with calming blends featuring chamomile, hibiscus, lavender, honeysuckle and CBD that’ll make you want to waste the day away in the tub.
Lynn Gallagher
If you’re looking for a hands-on, high-touch holistic facialist, Gallagher is a stalwart on the scene. Her 90-minute ritual-focused facials include herbal-infused skin treatments (with customization like gua sha, microdermabrasion, and LED light therapy) that double as intuitive consultations: Do you have tension in your back? Stress? Headaches? Vision blur from staring at a screen? “Skin is the medium” for focusing on the whole picture of health, Gallagher says.
Moon + Arrow
The “apothecary” at Moon + Arrow just keeps getting bigger and better. From shelves lined with Bathing Culture face and body oils to jade rollers and gua sha tools to Los Poblanos salves and soaps to Fiele perfumes — plus beeswax and soy candles that smell like “Catskills,” “Sunday Morning” and “Fern + Moss” — they’ve got pretty much everything for the most blissful Friday night in. 742 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Primp & Play
Mini mani-pedis at Primp&Play / Photograph by Jeff Fusco It’s a genius concept: Mom gets a massage or facial while her little one is entertained with arts and crafts or mini beauty services like chocolate facials and glitter manis. Primp & Play is perfect for spa-day birthday parties, too — and no need to worry about stuffing goodie bags at 2 a.m., because your kid’s besties will make their own lotion, lip gloss or jewelry to take home. 1520 Locust Street, second floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102
Cosmetic acupuncture at Alma Acupuncture
This less-invasive process at new, women-owned outpost Alma Acupuncture works more slowly than Botox (between six and 12 treatments are recommended), but those fine facial needles are worth it, improving complexions by stimulating collagen and elastin production. Plus, you’ll get a holistic health evaluation along with a dose of body acupuncture and facial massage — all with Sabbatical Beauty skin-care products. 1856A Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Glow Lab
These glow pros deliver customized full- and half-body airbrush tans — that are cruelty-free and vitamin-enriched — out of their Cherry Hill boutique and in your own home, thanks to their mobile service. Now you can look slightly sun-kissed or Miami-bronzed without those skin-frying UVA rays. Goodbye for good, baby oil! 921 Haddonfield Road, suite B32B, Cherry Hill , NJ 08002
Sugar Bar Salon
Maybe it’s the way clients are welcomed into a charming waiting room and offered a glass of rosé, or how the hair-removal gurus use the “sugar” (a simple mix of water, lemon juice and, yes, sugar) to produce super-soft fuzz-free skin that lasts weeks longer than waxing ever could. Whatever it is, Sugar Bar Salon’s sugaring — a gentle, all-natural process dating back to the ancient Egyptians — will leave you feeling like a modern, silky-smooth Cleopatra. 214 South 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Lips and Drips by Erica Marie
Nurses Erica Mendez and Erica Hammel opened this posh spa where custom vitamin-and-mineral-packed IV drips give your body a hefty dose of nutrients in less time than it’ll take you to watch an ep of Bridgerton. Pick your pack (immunity, sports recovery, hangover helper, beauty), then sit back while the elixir goes to work. (P.S.: Hammel is also a Botox wizard, if you want to make the most of a visit.) 2342 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Tori McCutcheon
Focusing exclusively on curly hair, McCutcheon’s Salon Tori Did That was a runaway hit when it opened in June 2021. (She books out months in advance, and she’s doing international consultations with clients from Dubai and Paris.) Now, she’s upping her use of more indulgent pampering services, like sea salt scrubs, hydrating and clay detox masks, and a Spa Mist machine, making a session at this salon dreamier than ever — if you can nab a spot. 401 South 2nd Street, studio 7A, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Brand Nail Studio
Swirls of whimsical lavender designs, spring-inspired yin/yangs, bursts of bright highlighter hues, retro flowers and smiley faces, funky croc patterns … your nails are canvases for the artists at Brand Nail Studio, where Lisa Frank meets the cast of Euphoria meets “Hot Girl Summer.” 1008 North 7th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
BE NUE
Forget the DIY Manic Panic dye jobs of your youth. Jennifer Bisicchia Farrell and Kait Gannon, who opened this petite luxury salon in 2021, are turning out rainbow locks in contrasting tones of the same color — making bold shades like flamingo pink, shimmering amethyst and steely blue-gray look totally grown-up. A vibrant crown of emerald green strands just may leave onlookers with a hint of envy. 401 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Reset by Therabody
Hybrid and full-time WFH-ers know all too well about aching backs, stiff necks, tender joints, and being always-on-call. It’s why Reset in Fishtown ups the recovery game from a hand-held massage gun to comprehensive wellness services like cryo, cell-boosting PEMF therapy, compression technology, LED facials, muscle stimulators, sound meditation and more. This just may be the best excuse to sneak away from your desk for an afternoon. 1424 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Collective Strength
This grassroots strength-training community turned barbell gym was founded on accessibility, inclusiveness and joyful movement, especially for groups not typically represented in power lifting. How’d they do it? Through flexible pricing, sliding-scale “Badass Barbell” workshops, size-inclusive equipment, and a future co-op model, so members have a real stake in the biz. 3245 Amber Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
X Training
Husband-and-wife duo John and Killian Daley have created a strength and conditioning gym where the latest workout starts at 8 a.m. But the consistent high-energy vibe, rotation through equipment, and challenging sessions will make roosters of even the sleep-till-noon crew. 1111 West Lancaster Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Inner Light Aura
In the 15 minutes you spend getting your aura (the unique energy you give off) photographed by Sara Silverstein, you’ll feel like you’ve simultaneously affirmed and discovered the kind of person you are. Silverstein dissects the captured psychedelic colors surrounding your portrait and offers insight into your strengths, your aspirations, and how you make others feel. Go forth, you kaleidoscopic goddess.
OVME’s Hydrafacial
There’s something ASMR-esque about seeing a container of dirty liquid that’s basically been vacuumed out of your pores — which is exactly what you’ll get with the HydraFacial at Ovme. Expect celeb-status exfoliating, extracting and cleansing that leaves your skin radiant and sans all that nasty buildup. 925 West Lancaster Avenue, number 140, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Control Lab
This small but mighty strength and conditioning gym offers personal training and circuit-style small-group seshes that move you through equipment like battle ropes, rowers, ski ergs, slam balls and kettlebells. Founder and head trainer Victor Spaulding will activate muscles you didn’t know existed — and that good burn will last for days. 1624 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Amanda White
The founder of Therapy for Women Center uses her platform to improve and support the lives of her therapy clients and her nearly half a million Instagram followers. In sessions and on the app, White works to empower people navigating mental health issues, from eating disorders and addiction to anxiety and trauma. Her debut book, Not Drinking Tonight, helps readers set healthier boundaries — with alcohol, themselves and others — and create lives they don’t have to escape from.
V Marks the Shop
You don’t need to be a vegan to shop at V Marks the Shop. All you need is curiosity — about upping your plant game, yes, but also about all the delectable faux concoctions you’ll find. (Hello, coconut bacon and fig salami!) The South Philly grocer is more than a tiny wonderland of meatless products; it’s also a gateway into that more-considered life you’ve been putting off, figuring it was going to be too “inconvenient.” Check and mate. 1515 McKean Street, Philadelphia, PA 19145
Barry’s Philadelphia
Long before 50 Shades of Grey, Barry’s created its own red room for addictive HIIT workouts that are said to burn up to 1,000 calories in less than an hour (talk about efficient). At the Rittenhouse spot, the team provides an easy-to-learn, ever-changing lineup of intense treadmill sprints and strength-training exercises that are accessible for self-proclaimed non-runners but tough enough to challenge the most athletic among us. 1915-17 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
While Listening to the Rolling Stones
Retro Pilates
Retro Pilates puts a blast-from-the-past spin on traditional reformer Pilates. You’ll lengthen and strengthen on one of six Allegro 2 machines to the sounds of rock, folk and blues music from the Stones era, surrounded by a mid-century modern aesthetic. After your full-body burn, chillax in a bright white-and-red egg chair. 2423 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Nuele
Imagine a world where curly-haired beauties only need two or three products for a successful wash day. Enter Nuele, a scientist-founded, 100 percent natural hair-care company with an award-winning line of serums that imbue your locks with ultra-clean ingredients. No parabens, no sulfates, no bathroom counter overflowing with useless goops.