Cape Town - I’m not a fan of huge retail centres, mainly because of the crowds and frenetic pace they encourage.
I’d put the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town in this category, as even with the balmy harbour environment it’s still quite busy thanks to the massive mall beside it. Which brings me to why I was so surprised with the One and Only Cape Town.
It’s a stone’s throw from said flashy Waterfront, but manages to offer quite a cocooned and serene environment with none of the noise and energy permeating its grounds.
Once you walk through the expansive foyer, with the world’s latest seventh wonder of nature – Table Mountain – serving as a backdrop, you feel like you’re in for a majestic experience.
But as picture perfect as the Cape can be, we know it has a rather severe mood swing come winter and tends to lose a bit of its hospitable charm. Which I reckon is where the Spa at the One and Only comes in.
The hotel proudly calls it the most luxurious spa in the city, and with the 2013 Best in Africa World Spa Award in the bag, it could very well be right. It certainly is both warm and impressive, offering an Afro-Zen theme across 10 treatment rooms, an extensive menu of treatments, an outdoor yoga pavilion, and two Bastien Gonzalez (the famous podiatrist) pedi- and manicure studios.
The 1 000m2 facility is located on a man-made island, which gives you a further sense of seclusion from the adjacent hotel. Though defined as modern, the spa has gone with local African influences meets luxury amenities – such as scenic relaxation rooms, villas for couples treatments, special showers with varied water-treatment settings, steam rooms and saunas, full-service salon and gym area, and my favourite, the heated vitality pools, with submerged loungers to relax on.
As can be expected, the treatments are quite special – let’s just say I felt a little sheepish after falling asleep during my back massage. I also went a little purple when my masseuse told me my face cleansing was overdue and quite necessary.
But I’d like to give special mention to the Bastien Gonzalez pedi and manicure treatments, which my partner said was really good.
There are just 40 specialised practitioners in Bastien Gonzalez studios around the world (the One and Only Cape town is the only location in Africa), making it an exclusive treatment. The application neither uses water nor abrasive filing or cuticle cutting. Instead, sterilised tools take care of callous removal, while a mini- drill and chamois leather will sort out your buffing needs.
Customers can also expect a special nail brightness pearly buffing cream that removes the need for varnish, and a foot and calf or hand and arm massage designed to increase skin elasticity and muscle flexibility.
The Spa reckons this is the treatment used by the Hollywood A-list and is both rare and healthy.
Visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com for more information.
l Minesh Bhagaloo was a guest of the One and Only - Sunday Independent