Paris Pampering: Top 5 Spas in the City of Light

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Paris Pampering: Top 5 Spas in the City of Light

I’m a firm believer in enjoying life’s finer pleasures, some of which can easily become weekly rituals. A morning yoga class, haute cuisine dining, or watching the sun set behind Notre Dame as day turns to night, are a few of my favorites. But every now and then I like to indulge in a little pampering in the form of personal care. Where better to seek first-class service than in Paris with its five-star selection of spas. On my quest for the best body and skin treatments in the ÎledeFrance, I headed straight for the doors of luxury.

Swimming pool at The Peninsula Spa

Swimming pool at The Peninsula Spa

The Peninsula Spa

New to Paris’s luxury hotel scene is The Peninsula, the first for the Hong Kong-based brand to open in Europe. To become better acquainted with the facilities, I opted for a signature massage, a sumptuous two-hour affair. I was immediately awed by the minimal elegance of the spa, influenced by a contemporary Asian aesthetic. Spanning 1800 sq feet, the spa is comprised of eight treatment rooms, a heated pool, saunas, steam rooms and a fitness center. I would readily have spent the day! The therapists tailor treatments to suit your needs and skin type; prior to the full body massage, I had a quiet consultation with my therapist. The attention to detail was remarkable; I could easily have floated home. After indulging in the sauna and refreshing beneath a tropical rain shower, I felt complete bliss.

Treatments range from 85€ for 30 minutes to 850€ for 3 hours. Open daily 8:00 am to 9:00 pm. 19 Avenue Kléber, 75016. Tel: +33 (0)1 58 12 6 682

The spa at the Mandarin Oriental Paris

The spa at the Mandarin Oriental Paris

Spa at Mandarin Oriental

In 2014 the Spa at Mandarin Oriental was awarded the World Luxury Spa Award. I was destined to find out exactly what merited such an esteemed award. I booked their Signature Spa Therapy, and after 2 hours and 20 minutes of holistic mind-body harmony, I had my answers. The sensory journey took place in one of their seven spacious suites, which included a private sauna and shower. What I found most unique about this treatment was the focus on the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. The blend of essential oils was created especially for me; the focus was on the fire and earth elements. I was left feeling restored and invigorated, and my consultant even advised me on healing foods. This was my first experience with essential oil therapy, but certainly not my last.

Treatments start from 200€ for 50 minutes, to 580€ for 3 hours 20 minutes. Open daily from 9am to 9pm. 251 rue Saint-Honoré, 75001. Tel: +33 (0)1 70 98 73 35

Spa My Blend by Clarins at Le Royal Monceau

Spa My Blend by Clarins at Le Royal Monceau/ Harald GOTTSCHALK

Spa My Blend by Clarins at Le Royal Monceau- Raffles

Located within Le Royal Monceau-Raffles Hotel, this spa is a vision in white conceived by uber designer Philippe Starck. I had no idea what I was in store for at Clarins Spa My Blend, a 1,500 m2 space dedicated to well-being and relaxation. My afternoon of therapeutic bliss began with a dip in a Japanese Watsu pool followed by a taste of their sauna, hammam, laconium and sensorial shower. I chose the Clarins signature treatment The Art of Touch, created in September 2013 exclusively for Le Royal Monceau. This unique three-step treatment included facial and massage. Inspired by Shiatsu, this 90 minutes sensory experience is based on energy through touch. I sat at the detox bar with my herbal tea, with my mind completely clear and every inch of my body revitalized!

Treatments start at 90€ for 30 minutes, to 550€ for 4 hours. Monday to Saturday, 6:30am to 10:00pm; and Sunday, 7:30am to 8:30pm. 37 avenue Hoche, 75008. Tel: +33 (0)1 42 99 88 99

The spa at the Shangri-La hotel Paris

The spa at the Shangri-La hotel Paris

Le Spa – Shangri-La Paris

The Shangri-La spa opened in 2010, occupying the former stables of Prince Roland Bonaparte, Napoleon Bonaparte’s grandnephew. It’s a sublime setting, steeped in history. I was led to one of the two spacious treatment rooms, a haven in itself, and my skin therapist introduced me to their latest tea-based product line, Themae. Their other beauty lines include Carita and Kos Paris. How better to age gracefully than with a good facial, using only the best products? I fell under her spell as she soothed, rubbed, and covered every inch of my face with layer after layer of lavish creams. To end the ritual she applied a moisturizer made of four types of teas. A final tea was sipped by the gorgeous, sunlit pool, while I felt both hydrated and relaxed, and naturally, years younger!

Treatments start at 250€ for 1 hour, to 550€ for 4 hours. Open daily from 10am to 9pm
10 Avenue d’Iéna, 75016. Tel: +33 (0)1 53 67 19 78

Spa Valmont at Le Meurice

Spa Valmont at Le Meurice/ Guillaume de Laubier

Spa Valmont at Le Meurice

Part of the Dorchester Collection, Le Meurice was the first Parisian palace hotel, dating from 1835. Today this elegant hotel presides over the Rue de Rivoli in the first arrondissement- a prime location facing the Tuileries gardens. Spa Valmont, recently renovated by Philippe Starck, is an airy, inviting space in which I immediately felt at home. Curious to try their prestigious Swiss anti-ageing skincare products, I decided to indulge in a facial. After consulting my specialist, she suggested the signature Glaciers Moisturising Vitality Facial and I quickly fell under the spell of the assortment of Valmont masks and creams she applied. I was impressed by how well she knew my skin, and the result of her skillful touch was undeniable, as I left the spa glowing.

Treatments start at 150€ for 1 hour, to 395€ for 3 hours. Open daily from 8am to 9pm, with treatments available from 10am to 8pm. 228 Rue de Rivoli, 75001. Tel: +33 (0)1 44 58 10 77

Lead photo credit : The spa tea lounge at the Peninsula Paris

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Kasia Dietz is a Paris–based, New York–minded travel writer whose work has appeared in Conde Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, National Geographic, France Today and Hemispheres. When not exploring her adopted city or jetting off on an adventure with her husband and son, she's designing namesake handbags or leading fashion tours. Read more about her life and travels on her blog: loveinthecityoflight.com