WHILE THE DAY spa has historically been the preserve of women, these days everyone – regardless of their gender – is in on the pampering act.
Self-care sanctuaries, spas are where you can leave daily stresses and strains behind you and – for a price – up your outer beauty and inner-peace. And whether you’re after a restorative deep tissue massage or a bespoke facial, there’s a Sydney day spa guaranteed to cater to your needs.
From dedicated male grooming spaces, to plush 5-star hotels with in-house pampering facilities, read on to get the down-low on the best days spas the Harbour City has to offer.
Image I Crown
CROWN SPA, CROWN TOWERS SYDNEY
After four long years – and an investment of almost $3 billion – the Crown Towers Sydney finally opened its doors a few years back.
Set waterside in the enviable Barangaroo locale the swanky property boasts many wow-worthy features and one of the most noteworthy is its Crown Spa.
Set six floors up, guests who book a treatment of an hour or longer will be able to access the spa’s Aqua Retreat complimentary before their treatment. Amidst the miles of sleek marble (the interior design draws inspiration from the vast waterways around the property) bliss-inducing facilities include a 37-degree Vitality Pool with jacuzzi jets, heated day beds, an Infrared Sauna made of cedar wood, steam room and Swiss experience showers with jets designed to target specific areas of your body.
Once sufficiently tenderised there are seven private treatment rooms on hand where an A to Z of services are on offer. Want to be massaged to heaven and back? Pick from the Blissful Marma Massage (a 90-minute ritual that included massage, chakra balancing AND a signature facial) or the classic Deep Tissue where deep rhythmic massage focused on releasing areas of muscle tension and mobilising fatigued muscles. Perfect for muscular aches and pains, recovery post work out and to alleviate tightness and problem areas. Or, if your face is looking decidedly lacklustre, then treat yourself to a Skin Caviar Lift Facial using fancy La Prairie products.
Post-pampering, head to one of the many in-house eateries within the Crown building for some sustenance. A top pick is acclaimed Japanese Peruvian restaurant, Nobu. Headed by a classically-trained sushi chef, diners can expect a mix of Nobu classics (including the famed Black Cod Miso and Yellowtail Jalapeno) alongside newly created dishes that reflect its Sydney location.
Image I Capella Sydney
AURIGA SPA, CAPELLA SYDNEY
Set in the heart of the CBD and occupying an entire block in the financial district, Capella Sydney is the most recent addition to the city’s luxury hotel crop.
Set in the former Department of Education building – and opened following a pricey $225 million refurb – its slick designer spa is easily one of the most spacious around. Indeed, its world-class health, wellness and spa facilities comprises a 20-metre heated indoor swimming pool (housed in the building’s original art gallery space) with an adjacent large hydrotherapy pool and dry sauna, a fitness centre featuring Technogym equipment and yoga platform, and change rooms with steam, sauna, ice room and experiential showers. And then there’s the actual spa itself.
Auriga Spa doesn’t offer set gender specific treatments, instead the spa’s philosophy is based around cycles of nature and the moon. As such, its bespoke and holistic therapies are engineered to counteract the stresses of modern urban lives, making it perfect for stressed out corporate types.
Pick from a selection of the usual suspects (all administered using products by Synthesis Organics, a plant-based skincare company from Byron Bay) or opt for something that errs on the esoteric, such as the signature two-hour New Moon Renewal and Reflection treatment featuring a scent journey and ‘intention setting ritual’ before a body polish, peel wrap, and massage with bioenergetic oil.
For a relaxing lunch post-pampering, head to the impressive lobby lounge-cum-restaurant, Aperture. Here, in a beautiful glassed-in courtyard lounge with a huge robotic light installation overhead, you can enjoy a selection of fine wines, a sashimi platter, or a good old fashioned burger and fries.
Image I Shangri-La
CHI SPA, SHANGRI-LA SYDNEY
With a position overlooking Sydney’s iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge, the Shangri-La is the embodiment of the age-old adage: ’location location location’. But this lauded hotel doesn’t rest on its wow-worthy views and positioning as the award-winning Chi, The Spa goes to show.
Blending traditional Asian wellness philosophies with local Australian ingredients – and drawing inspiration from the legendary Shangri-La, a place of personal peace, enchantment, and wellbeing – holistic health is at the core of the spa’s ethos and its impressive stable of treatments show this in action.
Need to work on your stress-fuelled hunched shoulders? The lavish 105-minute Mindful Moments ritual begins with guided breathing exercises, before a full body massage, shea butter foot scrub, collagen eye mask and infrared sauna session. Face looking more Elephant Man than Brad Pitt? Add on the Active Mans Facial, which incorporates specialised skincare products for men to deep-cleanse and exfoliate, helping to rebalance the skin and to prevent ingrown hairs.
Each of the six spa suites has its own changing area, a steam shower, and a toilet exclusively for guests’ use before their treatments. Several have the added bonus of an infinity edge spa tubs for a leisurely soak. Speaking of, spa-goers who have booked treatments for over an hour also get full use of the gym, jacuzzi, sauna, sun terrace.
Afterwards it’s time to put the old ‘detox to retox’ mantra into action by getting in the lift and soaring high to Blu Bar on 36. Set 36 levels above The Rocks, and boasting panoramic views of the gleaming sails of the Opera House and right across the bustling Bridge to the sparkling lights of the northern suburbs, this bar is easily one of the best places at which to sink a sundowner in. After wetting your whistle with a premium cocktail or two, head next door to Altitude restaurant.
Recently nabbing a ‘best restaurant’ gong, Altitude serves up the best local produce from both land and sea in its seasonally changing menus. Expect fine dining, savvy sommelier and, of course, jaw-dropping views.
Image I QT Sydney
SPA Q, QT HOTEL
Slickly designed and offering a top-to-toe range of experiences – all geared specifically towards blokes – the urban SpaQ at Sydney’s QT Hotel is a real male grooming Mecca. A go-to for the in-the-know for years (alongside visiting A-listers) SpaQ offers a plethora of skin TLC treatments for the discerning gent.
If you’re picky, opt for the Weekend Warrior. A combination of therapies, this fatigue-fighting sequence kicks off with an invigorating coffee and sea kelp scrub to slough away unwanted dry and flaky skin. Next, a targeted massage helps to reduce tension, knots and tightness. Lastly, a customised facial helps to balance out sensitivities and to lift, firm and help diminish lines and wrinkles. Add to this an inclusive session in the spa’s hammam steam and ice room, and you’ll go from drab to dapper in a flash.
Make a day of it, and channel your inner-“Mad Men”, by adding on a lunch at QT’s New York Little Italy-inspired, Gowings restaurant. Helmed by local celebrity chef, Sean Connolly, you can fuel up in-between treatments. After all, nothing says indulgence like fresh oysters and bubbly, right?
Image I The Langham Sydney
DAY SPA BY CHUAN, THE LANGHAM
Set in the heart of the historic Rocks area, the boutique Langham Sydney not only offers world-class accommodation for travellers visiting fair Sydney, it also offers a killer spa too.
Set across two floors below street level, the subterranean The Day Spa by Chuan pairs good looks with serious wellness credentials.
Spa-goers can take advance of the in-house facilities pre-treatment, facilities which includes a state-of-the-art health club and 20-metre indoor pool (easily one of the prettiest pools in town with its Grecian columns and dreamy star-dappled ceiling). Healing massages, body treatments and facials abound but amongst the treatment offering a standout is the 60 or 90 minute Chuan Harmony massage.
Based upon the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, the full-body oil massage combines acupressure with other techniques aiming to restore balance and to induce a deep sense of calm.
Post-pampering, head to the gentleman’s club-like Observatory Bar. Amidst a moody, luxe decor, this unique cocktail bar offers expertly mixed drinks, a curated wine list and yummy light bites, such as local Pacific oysters, Moreton Bay bug rolls and charcuterie platters.
Image I Face of Man
FACE OF MAN
Australia’s first-ever men’s grooming lounge, Face of Man has been successfully catering to the grooming needs of male Sydneysiders for more than 40 years.
Located behind the iconic Queen Victoria Building, the slick, spacious venue offers a comprehensive array of services tailored specifically to blokes.
With multiple treatment rooms – offering everything from customised facials and massage therapies, to injectables and hair removal – this day spa is a true one-stop-shop for head to toe grooming overhaul.
End your visit with a haircut or hot towel shave via the in-house barbers, lead by head barber, Shafeel, gents can get their locks and beards tended to whilst in ducking in a beer or a glass of scotch at the same time.
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