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When Eastside Massage opened in the early 1980s, most of its clients were referred by doctors or physical therapists. Now that the idea of therapeutic massage has mainstreamed, the center's clientele is much broader—which isn't to say its reputation for attentive bodywork has diminished. "We're not just for the ladies who lunch," says founder Robin Ehrlich, who has a background both in rehabilitative massage and as the personal therapist of celebrities. The center’s six treatment rooms are homey and simply decorated, with extras like plush robes, spa snacks, and sleek lounges foregone in favor of a more clinical atmosphere where medical intake and physical assessment take the focus instead. The get-down-to-basics set up attracts those in high-stress and high-profile jobs like doctors and technicians from the nearby hospitals. Extra services—reflexology, aromatherapy, heat application—are available at no extra cost. — Kate Jacobs

First-time clients, city fire- and police-department workers, members of the NY Road Runners and Ski Flyers clubs, and city hospital employees all get $5 discounts on treatments. The discount is also extended to senior citizens and students.