Spa Review

 

THE DORCHESTER SPA, MAYFAIR

Visited by Claire Brayford

Location: The Dorchester, Park Lane, Mayfair, London. 020 7629 8888. www.thedorchester.com

Facilities: For a hotel with so many A-list patrons, you would expect somewhere exceptional where they can go to pamper themselves - and the Spa at the Dorchester does not disappoint. Even the lobby is incredible– complete with a huge crystal chandelier, an arrangement of single-stem orchids, and glittering silver railings. There is no pool – please, we don’t do splashing and paddling here - but there is a huge steam room, themed shower, and a spa café to enjoy light lunches. There is also the most adorable cream and pink Spatisserie, which serves afternoon tea in teeny-tiny portions. Afterwards, you can indulge in one of the many treatments, which read like a roll-call of the hottest names in beauty, from top facialist Vaishaly, to Kerstin Florian, to Aromatherapy Associates.

Ambience: It. Is. Amazing. You cannot help but feel special from the moment you walk through the door. The focus on luxury is remarkable - from the mother-of-pearl-effect lockers, to the cream leather-seated nail bar complete with wall/cabinet of Essie nail varnishes spot-lit like jewels - even the locker key is a little pearl bracelet for goodness sake. This is spa-ing A-list style. As I chilled in the midnight blue relaxation room – which, incidentally, looks more like an exclusive members club (only the guests wear bathrobes) - I kept peeping over my Vogue in case Cheryl Cole sauntered in, that’s how glitzy it is. But the staff are friendly and very professional.

Treatments Tested: The Signature Massage, £145 for 1 hour 25 minutes.
This treatment began with hot towels on my feet, which always feels delicious, followed by an incredibly intensive yet soothing massage on my back using aromatherapy oils and heated stones. The therapist asked me beforehand if there were any areas to concentrate on and I specified my neck and shoulders and she really got to work on tackling the knots, using the stones to go deep into the muscle. Next she moved onto my legs, working away at the backs of my thighs, moving on to my arms and finally my face. I felt totally relaxed and my back was knot-free for the first time in months. I didn’t have the soothing scalp massage however, but I think that was as a result of the sheer number of knots in my back. Afterwards I was given a delicious fresh juice and tiny sesame seed biscuit – as befitting A-list appetites – and relaxed in the heavenly relaxation room.