Treat your loved one to a pamper day for two at The Cellars-Hohenort’s plush Fresh Wellness Spa By Jayne Nankivell
The Mother City has a wealth of luxury spas offering every kind of treatment under the sun, but if you’re searching for the one that ticks all the boxes for a romantic spoil – whatever the occasion – Fresh Wellness Spa at The Cellars-Hohenort should be top of your list.
When it comes to location, this little gem really is a cut above the rest. Housed on the sprawling grounds of The Cellars-Hohenort hotel in the Constantia Valley, it’s a mere 20-minute drive from the CBD, but the lush gardens, fragrant rose bushes and soundtrack of chirping birds have you feeling as if you’ve arrived at a countryside idyll.
The hotel’s historic architecture has plenty of character, so it’s worth taking a leisurely stroll on the manicured lawns before your treatment begins.
Spoilt for choice
Fresh Wellness has a comprehensive treatment menu – everything from facials to massages, as well as hydrotherapy and pamper packages – with a focus on natural and indigenous ingredients which, not unlike the splendid surrounds, stimulate the senses.
The spa interior is intimate and elegant, decorated with mirrors, fresh blooms and glass cabinets displaying the product ranges in stock. I was pleased to spot some of my favourites – German brands Babor and QMS Medicosmetics, as well as locally made TheraVine.
Since this was an anniversary treat, my partner and I chose two of the most popular and luxe experiences: a couple’s rasul and the 5 Senses Signature Massage.
Getting steamy
First up was the rasul, an ancient Arabian bathing ritual that takes place in a steam chamber and involves the application of a salt scrub and mineral-rich mud to cleanse and detoxify the skin.
As the chamber slowly began filling with steam, we gave ourselves a full-body exfoliation, showered off the remaining salt and lathered on the creamy, lightly scented mud. Priming done, we relaxed on the seating area, letting the clouds of steam and intense heat work their magic on our pores.
About half an hour later, we rinsed off the mud – this time making sure that the water temperature was ice cold – to reveal baby-soft skin. Feeling flushed yet refreshed, we made our way to the massage room to be pampered even more.
The 5 Senses Signature Massage is 90-minutes of pure bliss and honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. It more than delivers on its promise of a multi-sensory experience – from the warm pressure of the volcanic stones to the gently rousing sound of the rain sticks. I hardly ever drift off to sleep during a massage and the fact that I did during this one is further testament to just how relaxing it was.
We both left feeling as if every knot and bit of tension had been released from our bodies.
Take a bite
The Cellars-Hohenort is well-known for its much lauded Greenhouse restaurant, with Executive Chef Peter Tempelhoff at the helm, and while dinner there should definitely be on your foodie bucket list, the more casual Conservatory restaurant is ideal for a light lunch or high tea (try the low-carb option) after visiting the spa. We chose a table beside the floor-to-ceiling glass window looking out on to the gardens, and sipped chilled Champagne over a meal of steak and chips. The perfect ending to a memorable day.
Photography: gareth van nelson/hsmimages.co.za, GALLO/GETTYIMAGES
