By Karen Kwan on
Shopping, dining, entertainment, arts and adventure can take their toll (really)! Loosen those tight muscles with a treatment (or two) at a top-notch Toronto spa. But why commute when you can stay at a hotel with an on-site spa?
Toronto’s spa scene is as eclectic as our city. When booking your spa-cation, consider the hotel’s personality, the neighbourhood vibe and the spa’s signature treatments. Here’s your cheat sheet for one very blissful Toronto vacation.
Take a break from shopping on Mink Mile for a day at the luxurious Spa at Four Seasons Toronto.
This spacious haven, decked out in soothing neutral tones in the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, is the luxury urban escape you’ve been dreaming of (after all, it’s in the heart of tony Yorkville, and Cafe Boulud is on level two).
Arrive early to take advantage of the steam room and pool, and then put yourself in the very capable hands of one of the estheticians.
Treat yourself to: the Hydrafacial. Using Omorovicza products, this treatment is inspired by Canada’s natural elements and will leave you glowing!
Don’t miss: the refreshments your aesthetician leaves for you after your treatment, to enjoy as you float out to lounge on the outdoor terrace, the Cloud 9 Oasis.
Once inside the serenity of women-only Sweetgrass Spa, you’ll quickly forget you’re just a short walk away from the bustling crowds thronging downtown Yonge Street’s CF Toronto Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square.
You’ll find Sweetgrass in The Ivy at Verity, a small boutique hotel featuring just four rooms, each with a unique, artsy design and terrace, housed in a stunningly restored 1850s chocolate factory.
Treat yourself to: the signature Rosewater Ice Facial—using the natural healing properties of rosewater, this treatment includes a mask customized to your skin’s needs and a massage using ice globes to eliminate puffiness.
Don’t miss: a dip in the natural fresh water of the spa’s ozone-treated pool.
While there are incredible views of the CN Tower here, you may be in too much of a blissful state after your treatment at Spa myBlend by Clarins at The Ritz-Carlton Toronto, located in the heart of the Entertainment District, to take note of the city’s landmark.
Twenty-three thousand square feet are devoted to the spa, which encompasses 16 treatment rooms, multiple relaxation lounges (including one co-ed sanctuary) and a Champagne Nail Bar.
Treat yourself to: the ultra-personalized My Blend Facial. Clarins’ skincare experts will factor in your lifestyle and stress levels to create a bespoke skincare experience just for you.
Don’t miss: exploring all the spa facilities, including a steam room, dry sauna and an aroma-infused vitality pool (said to help prep your muscles pre-treatment).
Get pampered at Toronto’s first luxury hotel, the historic Omni King Edward Hotel. It is located in the Financial District, where harried commuters get on with their workday in the downtown skyscrapers.
The hotel boasts not only the lavish $6.5-million renovated Crystal Ballroom but also the elegant Mokara Spa, where you’ll be welcomed at check-in with a hot towel infused with one of the spa’s signature aromatherapy blends.
Treat yourself to: Your Majesty’s Body Wrap, a 75-minute treatment that includes a foot soak and scrub, full-body dry brush and warm body oil and wrap.
While that oil nourishes your skin, your scalp and face will get TLC through a massage. Finally, once unwrapped, you’ll get a final application of a soothing, hydrating lotion.
Don’t miss: the dry cedar sauna, eucalyptus-infused steam room and whirlpool. And if you’re feeling peckish, there’s granola, along with fruit-infused water, tea and coffee, in the relaxation lounge.
On the busy thoroughfare of University Avenue, the Shangri-La Hotel Toronto lies a hop, skip, and a jump away from the theatres on King Street West and the eclectic mix of boutiques and casual eateries on Queen Street West. At its entrance, it has a dramatic stainless-steel dragon sculpture, Rising by Zhang Huan.
The hotel’s Miraj Hammam Spa offers a soothing, globally inflected retreat. Its ornate wood carvings and colourful tiles are inspired by Marrakech, Istanbul and Paris.
Treat yourself to: the Revive Salt Scrub, a fatigue-fighting full-body exfoliation. First, you’ll be scrubbed down with an invigorating blend of soothing botanical oils and mineral-rich Himalayan salt, followed by a steam shower and soothing lotion application for baby-soft skin.
Don’t miss: the delectable baklava, grapes and tea post-treatment—these nibbles are the cherry on top of your virtual journey to the Middle East.
At the west end of Yorkville’s Mink Mile, Park Hyatt Toronto regally stands helm with the Royal Ontario Museum across the street and luxury boutiques including Gucci, Burberry and Moncler a stone’s throw away.
Newly renovated, the Midtown hotel’s Stillwater Spa features soothing white walls and light wood finishes. Its treatments are customized to each guest and incorporate organic, plant essence-based products from Aromatherapy Associates.
Treat yourself to: the 60-minute Detox and Revive Body Ritual, designed to wake the body while calming the mind through the use of zesty citrus oils.
Don’t miss: a manicure or pedicure—all of the nail services feature Dazzle Dry, a vegan, cruelty-free award-winning nail system.
Don’t be surprised if you spot a deer or a wild turkey in the lush greenery outside your treatment room at the Spa at The Old Mill. Bordering the west end Bloor West Village neighbourhood, this Tudor-style inn offers relief from the busy downtown core.
Tucked in a residential area, it’s as charming as a Disney fairytale, accessible by subway (Old Mill station) and within walking distance of scenic Humber River.
Treat yourself and your best friend to: the Topaz Together package, which includes side-by-side facials followed by 60-minute Swedish massages.
Don’t miss: 10 minutes in the halotherapy salt chamber, renowned for its stress relief and relaxation benefits.