[title]
There are two types of spa people: the ones who float blissfully from sauna to steam room without a care in the world and the ones who, about halfway through, start wondering what they’re going to eat. At QC New York, that second group finally has a very good answer.
The Italian “spa of wonders” on Governors Island has officially introduced full-service dining at Casa QC Bistro, replacing its original buffet setup with a proper sit-down restaurant. No more grabbing a quick bite between thermal baths: now you can settle in for a full meal, robe and all, and pretend you’re on a very chic European getaway just a few minutes from Lower Manhattan.
The new menu focuses on Italian classics, which makes sense given QC’s roots. First courses include cacio e pepe, spaghetti al pomodoro and spinach-and-cheese ravioli, while mains range from polpette in tomato sauce to half-roasted chicken and even short rib with mashed potatoes if you’re feeling ambitious post-sauna. There are lighter soups and salads, too, but let’s be real: you didn’t come all this way for a side salad.
On the dessert menu, both the tiramisu and gelato are finished tableside, with the latter topped with Fabbri Amarena cherries (a staple of Italian gelaterias since 1905). The refreshed bar menu includes all the Italian hits—Aperol spritzes, Bellinis and Negronis—plus espresso martinis and a selection of botanical mocktails. There’s also traditional Italian hot chocolate, which feels like the correct move after a few hours cycling between hot and cold pools.
“With this new menu, we're inviting guests to linger at the table as long as they do at pools,” said Arianna Zuffada, QC Spa of Wonders’ global chief marketing officer, in an official statement.
And if you somehow still haven’t been, QC New York remains one of the city’s more transportive escapes, with more than 30 wellness experiences (think saunas, steam rooms, waterfalls and waterbeds) and outdoor heated pools overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Go for the soaking, stay for the cacio e pepe—and maybe don’t rush that ferry back.