Although many hotels in San Francisco have spas, few are quite as opulent as the Remède Spa at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star The St. Regis San Francisco.
The hotel’s lobby is sophisticated and chic, making it easy for stress to start melting away before you’ve even reached the sixth-floor spa. But once you enter the sanctuary, the sense of tranquility is only heightened.
Here are the reasons we hung around the urban oasis long after our service had been completed.
The privacy
The spacious spa takes up two floors of the hotel. The nine treatment rooms are set down quiet, dark hallways that create a calming, personal environment. There are several sumptuous lounges at the 9,000-square-foot spa and, if you’re lucky, you’ll have one all to yourself.
It’s a rare treat to feel as if you’re the only person at a spa, but Remède succeeds in giving each guest a sense of solitude.
The pool
The sixth floor is home to an indoor salt-water infinity pool with gorgeous views of the San Francisco skyline. Relax by the pool with a magazine on a daybed before or after treatments. If you prefer to be active, hop in the warm waters and swim a few laps.
The amenities
The men’s and women’s relaxation lounges are separate, but equally spacious and inviting. The women’s variety offers several different bright and airy rooms. The changing room features wooden lockers, soft sandals and plush robes, while a massive sink area runs along one of the walls with stools and plenty of counter space (with excellent lighting) to sit and apply makeup or blow-dry hair after a service.
White tile adorns every surface, and there is no shortage of towels, lotions and other primping essentials. Within the lounge, there are private cedar wood saunas, a whirlpool and a eucalyptus steam room, which create the ideal atmosphere for tranquility.
The treatments
Remède offers a variety of massages, facials, body therapies and nail services to suit every need. There are also spa rituals, baths and signature massages inspired by the coastal California region.
San Francisco occupies 49 square miles, inspiring the 7×7 Hot Oil Massage, a sensational 75-minute experience that focuses pressure on the seven energy centers along the back. The service uses seven essential oils and is one of the most relaxing and lyrical massages you’ll ever receive. Plus, the linens used on the heated beds are incredibly soft.
Another spa standout is The Beauty Ritual, which involves a luxurious milk bath, gentle body exfoliation, moisturizing wrap and application of nutrient-rich body oil. Choose from three different bath options — a Calistoga mud bath, a floral tea bath with ingredients native to the nearby Yerba Buena Gardens or a mineral-rich Pacific sea salt bath inspired by the local Sutro Baths attraction — for ultimate unwinding.
Superb service
The discrete staff is informed, friendly and welcoming. Glasses of champagne are served after treatments along with delicious handmade chocolate truffles.
Throughout your visit, the massage professionals and skincare experts escort you through the spa and to the pool, ensuring that every need is met.