While Thailand and Bali receive the majority of wellness attention in Asia, Hong Kong's urban spas are top-notch when it comes to holistic journeys, exclusive experiences, and deep-reaching therapies. Here, we explore six of the city's best new treatments to book right now.
Shanghai pedicure at Mandarin Oriental
Nowhere delivers this quintessential Chinese treatment with as much panache as The Mandarin Barber. Inside private rooms, set behind walls of teak and stained glass, guests slip into deep leather chairs for a foot soak while pedicurist Benjamin Cheung unravels a leather roll of knives, scalpels, blades, and files.
The specialised treatment is as much a hygiene practice as a beauty treatment. Cheung ensures feet are delicately trimmed of hard skin, cuticles are clipped, and heels are buffed to newborn baby-like levels of softness. Suitable for both men and women, toenails are traditionally left bare, but a coat of polish can be applied on request.
Intelligent Movement Retreat at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental
The split-level Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental is the preferred holistic hangout of Hong Kong's fashion set, who come to splash in the indoor swimming pool, steam in the mosaic-clad rasul, and work out at a wide range of daily classes.
The latest addition to the spa's extensive treatment menu, the Intelligent Movement Retreat, has been designed to bring high-fliers gently back down to earth using a combination of exercise, trigger points and targeted massage. The retreat begins with a muscle-loosening 60-minute group yoga class (vinyasa, hatha, and wheel are among the choices) before moving to a shadowy private room for an indulgent yet precise 90-minute massage. The escape ends with a complimentary health snack from the Light and Slim menu at the Spa Cafe.
Life Lived Best Sensorial Journey at The Peninsula
Overlooking Victoria Harbour, The Peninsula Spa was the ideal setting for the swish, seaweed-inspired skincare brand Voya to make a splash on the Hong Kong spa scene. Several treatments have been designed exclusively for The Peninsula, including the gorgeous Life Lived Best Sensorial Journey.
The treatment flows from a breathing ritual, performed while holding a blue lace agate stone (thought to induce calm, encourage compassion and build confidence), to a bespoke 90-minute essential oil massage, before ending with some light stretching and an uplifting singing bowl meditation. Stay in the wellness zone with a plant-based meal at the hotel's Romanesque swimming pool.
Cryotherapy massage at The Ritz-Carlton
Sprawling across the 116th floor of one of the world's tallest hotels, the Spa at The Ritz-Carlton is a tranquil oasis, with facilities that include a dazzling swimming pool and eagle's nest treatment rooms that peer down on the Hong Kong hubbub far below.
While the spa offers a range of traditional Asian therapies – Thai massage, bamboo massage, Chinese foot reflexology – its C-suite guests tend to gravitate towards the 90-minute cryotherapy massage. Using ultra-low temperature tools combined with deep tissue pressure, this dynamic experience has been designed to unlock stubbornly tight muscles, induce relaxation and boost energy. Treatments can also be customised to include sound healing, one-to-one yoga sessions, and work with a PT.
Touch of Thailand at Asaya at Rosewood Hong Kong
From the rooftop swimming pool to the complimentary daily fitness classes – including kickboxing, pilates, kettlebell and meditation – to the extensive pillow and bedding menus, wellness flows throughout every aspect of Rosewood Hong Kong.
For a true urban escape, check into one of the lodges located inside Asaya, the hotel's holistic wellness centre. These large stand-alone villas come with serene living rooms, nightly bath rituals, and private treatment rooms, and they feel more like the kind of accommodation you might find in Thailand or Bali rather than the heart of energetic Hong Kong. Complement your stay with Asaya's new Touch of Thailand massage, which involves 90 minutes of blissful, stretchy Thai massage and warm, muscle-melting herbal poultices.
Joanna Vargas facial at Four Seasons Hong Kong
If guests of Four Seasons aren't doing laps of the best outdoor pool in Hong Kong, immersing themselves in the extensive hydrotherapy facilities, or admiring the Victoria Harbour view from the nail salon, you might find them trying out one of the four exclusive new facials from Joanna Vargas.
The waterfront hotel is the first in the world to offer treatments from a celebrity aesthetician, whose Hollywood clients include Greta Gerwig and Keri Russell. Blending a variety of modalities – LED, microcurrents, radio frequency, oxygen – alongside premium skincare ingredients, such as argan and Swiss apple stem cells, the treatments will leave clients refreshed and red carpet-ready.
Imagine breezing into one of the world’s most exclusive spas for a complimentary treatment. Or sitting down for a consultation with industry-leading practitioners and experts. You’ll feel your best inside and out with a Quintessentially membership – find out more here.
