Spa in the city: The charm of of urban wellness oases
New urban wellness retreats in vibrant cities like London, Vienna, Dubai, New York, and Rome serve as a sanctuary from the frenetic pace of city life and offer a well-deserved break for body and soul.
February 28, 2024
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It is a typically dull Monday morning in London. Gray clouds fill the sky, while the gridlocked traffic in the streets signals the start of another busy day. But when you cross the doorstep of the elegant "Claridge's Hotel", you leave the noise and the crowds behind and enter a different world. There is a hint of cinnamon and cedar wood in the air. The subdued lighting and soft sounds create an atmosphere of tranquility. Welcome to "Claridge's Spa", the latest haven of relaxation in the heart of London. Wellness retreats like these are becoming increasingly popular. They offer a sanctuary of peace and tranquility amid the hustle and bustle of the city and allow guests to celebrate the art of relaxation.
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Claridge's Hotel, which opened in 1812, recently underwent extensive refurbishment. For seven long years, the view of the historic building's façade was obscured by fences and cranes. Large excavators dug deep under the hotel to create space for five subterranean floors. One of these now houses an expansive 650-square-meter spa by internationally acclaimed designer Andre Fu. His "wellness architecture" combines natural materials such as limestone, wood and water with design elements from traditional Japanese temples and Zen gardens in Kyoto.
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The new "Bulgari Hotel" in Rome welcomes guests in a completely different style. After a four-year renovation of the building in the rational architectural style of the Mussolini era, the "Bulgari Spa" now boasts a glittering green onyx pool, a myriad of golden mosaic stones and eight huge columns of arabesque marble. The hotel is located directly opposite the mausoleum of Augustus, the first Roman emperor. It is always busy. But once you plunge into the large pool, you are transported into another world.
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Some hotels spotted this trend even earlier. The lively megacity of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, for example, has successfully offered havens of peace and regeneration for some time now. One of the most beautiful examples is "One&Only The Palm". The luxury hotel has long enchanted visitors with its deliberately romantic style, inspired by the architecture of the Moorish palaces of Andalusia. The best view of the beautifully curved Spanish arches of the hotel's façade can be had from the 850-square-meter palm-fringed pool. A few steps further away is an enchanting inner courtyard. In the evening, the long reflecting pool at its center mirrors the warm candlelight, with subtle notes of oud and incense in the air. This is where the only Guerlain Spa in the United Arab Emirates welcomes its guests. The treatment menu contains three different signature treatments, each designed exclusively for this spa. They were created to help the skin cope with the hot climate and prepare it to withstand intense sunlight.
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The "Lanserhof" has been renowned for its wellness expertise for decades. Its clinic in the center of London offers everything from detox treatments to personalized fitness plans. What is new, however, is its partnership with the Skin Lab. In collaboration with German cell renewal expert Augustinus Bader, the Skin Lab uses state-of-the-art equipment and analysis techniques (such as radio frequency and LED lights) to rejuvenate tired skin and bodies.
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The holistic health and wellness services available in the new, three-story "OYU" building have successfully put Zürich on the spa map. As you arrive on the first floor, the aroma of freshly brewed teas wafts from the "tea studio," intermingling with the smells of the gourmet food being prepared in the vegetarian restaurant's kitchen. On the floor above, massages, yoga, tai chi and meditation provide pure relaxation, while on the top floor, the medical team looks after guests' wellbeing.
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In Germany, the "Rosewood Hotel" and its Asaya Spa is attracting a lot of attention. It is located just a short walk from the lively Marienplatz in Munich. The treatment menu at this oasis of calm includes a "Focus the Mind" massage, which uses a luxury CBD oil blend. Other ingredients such as ginger, black pepper and frankincense calm the mind and soothe tense muscles.
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Vienna's old town also boasts a successful example of an urban retreat. The "Park Hyatt" Hotel occupies a former bank building whose neoclassical façade dating back to 1915 regularly attracts the attention of admirers of fine architecture. The spa, housed in the former bank vaults, is no less breathtaking. Within the walls where money and gold were once safeguarded, a new treasure is now protected: the comfort and wellbeing of the hotel's guests.
This article appeared in the Falstaff TRAVEL issue Winter 2023/24.
