Caught napping in New York: sleep pods, cabins, hammocks offer respite for the rest-deprived in city that never sleeps
Pay-for-sleep businesses take off in New York, where bad commutes and long hours leave party animals in need of a recharge. Choose from a zero-gravity pod, a wooden cabin, ‘energy pod’ or, soon, a hammock on the roof
New York is a city that never sleeps, but arduous commutes, hellish hours and ultra-competitive jobs mean even the most wired of party animals or most dedicated employees have to recharge their batteries.
Rather than knocking back a coffee or quaffing an energy drink, a growing number of New Yorkers are opting for a quick nap during office hours.
With affluent Americans increasingly health conscious – indulging in fads such as green juice, hothouse yoga and matcha tea – a few pay-for-sleep businesses are now offering customers a little shut-eye on the quiet.
Wake up! It’s time to stop treating sleep deprivation as a badge of honour
Nap York, which opened three months ago in a three-storey building near Penn Station, is one. US$12 buys patrons 30 minutes in a wooden sleep cabin, day or night.
“We wanted to accommodate all the exhausted New Yorkers,” explains Stacy Veloric, the company’s marketing director. “It’s really hard to find peace and quiet within New York City.”
The business opened with seven cabins, but demand quickly exceeded supply and they added 22 more. Soon there will also be hammocks on the roof, where half an hour’s kickback will cost US$15.