27 Sep 2013
London’s historic Café Royal Hotel reveals holistic wellbeing centre
BY Aoife Dowling
Café Royal, which reopened in 2012 as a luxury hotel in the heart of London, has just unveiled its new wellbeing centre.
The Akasha Holistic Wellbeing centre spans 1,200sq m (12,900sq ft) is open to hotel guests and private members.
It features four different areas, corresponding to the four natural elements: spa/water, gym/fire, yoga/air and organic bar/earth.
Spa and wellness specialist 4SeasonsSpa and David Chipperfield Architects worked on the project. The aim was to capture the mood and style of the historic Café Royal.
Facilities include a carrara marble hammam and private hammam, a Finnish sauna in solid hemlock with dome ceiling, a large spa pool as well as private spa pools in the
treatment rooms.
The spa uses restorative music, aromas and gentle lighting and offers a variety of Watsu hydro-experiences and signature Akasha treatments. The spa menu offer a variety of signature treatment using products by skin-care brand Elemental Herbology.
Other features include a 60ft (18m) lap pool, a fully-equipped gym with Kinesis machines, a large aerobics studio and a private training room. Yoga, Tai-Chi and Pilates are offered in the relaxation area.
The Café Royal was once the haunt of London society, with patrons including Oscar Wilde. Its transformation from a venue to a luxury hotel was somewhat fraught as a result of the building's listed status. The hotel is an anchor to a regeneration of this part of London which includes London's second Wholefoods and residential space.
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