Review: Urban Escape at Sparadise

Sparadise Urban Retreat and Gallery - an organic day spa in the heart of Central.

The Sparadise Urban Retreat and Gallery

Tucked away on a little side street off Wellington Street in the heart of Central, is the second spa from the Sparadise team – the Sparadise Urban Retreat and Gallery. The organic day spa offers a range of products and pampering using only the best, natural and organic ingredients.  We were recently invited to try the new spa and test out the new range of body scrubs and wraps as well as nail treatments from British brand, Sparitual.

When you step out of the lift at Sparadise you are greeted by a large, spacious and very light open plan reception and treatment area. The shelves are carefully stacked with a number of industry leading organic brands such as Eco Tan and John Masters Organics as well as local favourites such as Native Essentials, So Soap and ethical children’s wear brand, Baby Hero.

Split over two floors, the third floor treatment area with it’s bright orange seating, high, white-washed ceilings and muted wood tones, is the perfect place to indulge in a relaxing manicure or foot massage. Sparadise offers a range of treatments including express manis and pedis if you are tight for time, eco friendly treatments for kids and full manicure and pedicures for both women and men. You can select to have regular polish, shellac or the recently launched 100% vegan, Sparitual range.

The space can comfortably accommodate six would work as a great spot to catch up with friends at a sparty.

The first part of my pampering at Sparadise involved a 90 minute Body Indulgence treatment (HK$1,250). The spa has four treatment rooms located on the fourth floor of the spa, including a room for couples, all of which are decorated in muted tones with splashes of colour from carefully selected artwork and accessories.

My treatment began with a gentle exfoliation all over with a Bora Bora white sand and volcanic black sand scrub. Refreshing and relaxing, the scrub was followed by the application of a red earth clay masque infused with ginger root oil to detoxify impurities from the skin. My therapist Donna was really thorough and paid close attention to areas including elbows and knees to slough off the dead skin.

After a quick shower to rinse off the masque, it was then time for a full body massage. Donna checked what pressure I preferred before working her magic on the knots across my neck, shoulders and back. Using Indonesian ginger essential oil, the massage was both relaxing (yes I fell asleep) but also very energising.

Finishing off with warm towels to take away the excess oil, the treatment left my skin incredibly smooth and clean, but without any of the residue that is often the unfortunate by-product of an oil massage. This was a great finishing touch, and one I’ve rarely experienced at other spas.

Following my spa experience, I then sampled the Sparitual Gold manicure (HK$270) and pedicure (HK$380) treatment.

I’m a shellac devotee and rarely use any other type of nail treatment, even though I know it’s not healthy for my nails, but this new Sparitual range has the shine effect of shellac without the nasties. The range was developed in the UK and is 100% vegan, free of DBP, toluene and other chemicals and does not require UV to try each layer. The range includes a good selection of colours including muted shades right through to popping pinks and greens.  

After a thorough manicure and pedicure treatment where my nails were trimmed, shaped and buffed, it was time to apply the polish. It seemed slightly difficult to achieve an even finish, but once the top coat had dried, my nails had a good shine comparable to shellac. Now this range cannot compete with shellac when it comes to how long it lasts. It differs between each person, but my manicure is starting to come away now 5 days later, however this is after spending most of the weekend in the pool.

My toes are fairing much better, and the team at Sparadise said I can expect two weeks from the pedicure. So the trade off for going chemical free will always be durability, but that’s a trade off I can live with.

Sparadise Urban Gallery Retreat is a haven of peace and tranquility a stone’s through from Central. The attention to detail not only on the products, therapists and treatments available but also with the design and finish of the space, ensures that this is a spa that I will revisit again and again. It is refined, relaxed, light and welcoming with a team behind that understand the importance of using good quality, eco-friendly products and delivering great service for every client.

A full treatment list is available here, but Sparadise are running a special September promotion on the Sparitual Gold range:

Sparitual Spa Mani $220 + $50 GOLD

Sparitual Spa Pedi $330 + $50 GOLD

Plus for all first time visitors, receive 50% discount to celebrate the opening of the Urban Retreat Gallery.

Address: 3-4th Floor, 60 Wellington Street, Central T: 2997 2208/2997 2200