The Most Spectacular Urban Spa Hotels For Your Next City Break

Head to downtown Higashiyama, in historic, cultural Kyoto, to find an utterly serene oasis amid the city’s famed temples, shrines and museums, at the recently opened Six Senses – the luxury wellness brand’s first outpost in Japan. Minimalist for your inner peace, the design pays homage to its ancient locale, with art from the Heian era and folklore-inspired touches woven throughout the hotel, melded with contemporary luxuries and comforts. Views from the rooms and suites (opt for one with its own Japanese garden) take in the calming internal courtyard, the cityscape, or the garden of the 16th-century Toyokuni Shrine, which sits opposite. The Six Senses Spa is, of course, a masterpiece and promises holistic wellness: traditional healing methods and innovative modern science coming together with Japanese Zen rituals across an airy, peaceful space, that encompasses traditional bath houses, an indoor swimming pool, Watsu hydrotherapy pool, and treatment rooms.

It is hardly surprising that the city where the most famous ancient bathing rituals originated boasts spectacular spa destinations. The resplendent Bvlgari Hotel Roma – a homecoming for the hospitality brand to the place in which the jewelry house was founded – is particularly notable, having opened in the beautiful Piazza Augusto Imperatore in the city’s historic center. The jewel in its crown is the opulent, arabesque marble-adorned spa, which evokes the ancient Roman baths via the centerpiece columned swimming pool, bathed in warm light from gold and green glass and decorated with dazzling mosaic tiles. There are also eight treatment rooms, with a spa menu designed by Augustinus Bader, and a glorious state-of-the-art Spa Suite centered around a green onyx bath.

Tranquility is rarely a word used to describe New York but, soaring above the very heart of Manhattan, Aman has brought its world-renowned ethos and aesthetic of wellness to the high-octane hum of Fifth Avenue. This divine city sanctuary resides in the Crown Building (formerly the first home of the Museum of Modern Art), which has been exquisitely restored to be imbued with Aman’s ultra-luxurious serenity. So significant is the spa to the proceedings that it spans a capacious three storeys, featuring therapy rooms, treatment suites, saunas, steam rooms, and ‘spa houses’ with their own private outdoor relaxation terraces. And, at the heart of it all, is the magnificent swimming pool, surrounded by daybeds and fire pits, with a panoramic perspective of the picture-perfect skyline.

A recent opening in the Chinese capital, Mandarin Oriental’s second outpost in Beijing takes its inspirations from traditional Hutongs [ancient lanes and alleys], located in the city’s Central Axis. The unique accommodation offering is 42 individual courtyard houses, tranquil in their design, while the signature spa also takes note from the Hutong design, with an approach to wellness that brings together traditional and modern therapies. A beautiful courtyard sanctuary, it features a Qiyuan healing space, tea house, treatment rooms and fitness center, providing the most peaceful of places to unwind after exploring Beijing’s very many wonders.

A sky-high perch and illustrious postcode give an unrivaled, privileged vantage point of a city, which is exactly the USP of Four Seasons Park Lane, where the breathtaking vistas take in many notable London landmarks. At the sleek rooftop Mayfair Spa, the floor-to-ceiling windows in treatment rooms maximize on the hotel’s eminent position – Hyde Park provides an incredible backdrop to an indulgent treatment – while there is also a double-size Sky Suite with 180-degree views, saunas with glass walls for a scenic outlook, and two skylit vitality pools. And if the elevated spot wasn’t enough to whisk you away from the bustle below, the Sahana sound bath sessions offer a deeply soothing and immersive escape from the everyday.

In the heart of Cape Town, with incredible Table Mountain views, Mount Nelson, a Belmond Hotel, is a pastel-pink city stalwart. The Wes Anderson-esque property offers pure escapism from the moment guests arrive – think palm trees, scalloped parasols and candy-striped loungers. The two outdoor swimming pools are an undeniable highlight: The Oasis Pool is one of South Africa’s largest heated pools, while The Cottage Pool is hidden away among the gardens. The Librisa spa sits beside the former, a sanctuary housed across three verdant, Victorian-style homes, where an extensive array of treatments is on offer, along with a plunge pool, steam bath and Finnish sauna, plus a beautiful conservatory to relax in over tea and a delectable snack menu.

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