Whats New On The Spa Scene

Recognising the shift in what people want from a wellness experience, the design at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, London places emphasis on bespoke, meaningful, tailored experiences. This manifests itself in the very quiet, very private, subterranean space, where the number of dressing-gown-wrapped guests crossing paths is choreographed to a blissful minimum. The focused healing happens in two cocooning treatment rooms, one single, one double, where nothing feels rushed or by rote. Cutting-edge tech is woven in symbiotically. The 22-minute micro-treatments on the Binaural Vibroacoustic beds (a deeply relaxing, centering, hands-free vibrational therapy) can be added on to all treatments or used independently for a speedy reset. Brands run the gauntlet from 100 per cent natural and organic Seed to Skin to science-driven Swiss Perfection skincare via CBD-laced sleep drops from OTO, but Asian roots are still very much part of the story. Ming green marble clads the lobby, qi rituals are a Mandarin Oriental mainstay and steaming teas and equally steaming footbaths come as standard.

The brand-new Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing’s commitment to restoration and conservation of the ancient hutong courtyard houses continues in its spa. While the levels of intricacy with the architecture are quite staggering, the attention to detail with wellness is on a par. A tree-shaded courtyard sets the scene: serene, harmonious, Zen. Daylight plays a huge part here, flooding into all the spaces. In the mellow wood-beamed gym and the airy lobby, it creates lattice-shaped cool shadows on the walls and floor. The Qiyuan Healing Space is where guests can focus on balancing their qi through holistic disciplines including yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. In the therapy rooms, the menu leans into Traditional Chinese wellness methodologies and the ancient discipline of aromatherapy. Even those not booked in for a treatment can tap into the calming energy of the place with a refined ceremony in the Tea House. A real retreat from the frenetic pace of Beijing.