It’s been a bit too long between drinks when it comes to unveiling a new day spa in Sydney, so when Sol Spa opened its doors in November we didn’t exactly need our arm twisted to go and suss out this latest oasis.
I arrived early to stroll through their gardens, ready to get my bliss on and escape the crazed rush of the silly season. There is honestly no greater feeling than walking through the doors of a day spa, and this time was no exception. The soothing space was curated by the team at Evette Moran Interiors, the same gurus behind one of Sydney’s most Instagrammed restaurants—The Botanica, Vaucluse, for example, which sits conveniently just across the courtyard.
With hints of lemongrass wafting through the welcome area, the only thing that could have made the experience any better would have been to be handed a glass of champagne. Which I was. Because they really do things right here. The idea is to indulge, treat and pamper all five of your senses—and that includes taste.
The treatment menu is extensive, combining both holistic and traditional therapies. With everything from massages to facials, body treatments and scrubs, you can even opt for more authentic experiences like the Chi Nei Tsang, a Chinese healing touch therapy that focuses on abdominal massage, or the Shirodhara treatment, where warm oil is gently poured on the third eye to aid in deep relaxation. It’s not just the treatments that are signature to Sol Spa, they also create their own blend of aromatherapy oils with an organic almond oil base combined with scents such as the lemongrass you smell when you arrive, lavender and geranium.
I opted for the Botanica Luxe Package which is three hours of bliss complete with a glass of Veuve and a bento box. Yes, you read that correctly. The team have really thought of everything, combining the best of the Botanica’s farm-to-table philosophy with Sol Spa’s holistic approach to massage. Knowing there was a bento box and cocktail waiting for me at the end, I was more than ready to dive in to three hours of utter bliss.
Beginning with a sea salt exfoliation, followed by a full body massage, if I’m being honest I thought this was as good as it was going to get. But then came the facial. Without a doubt, one of the best facials in Sydney, and it lasts for one decadent hour. Using Mukti Organics skincare filled with active botanicals, vitamins and antioxidants my skin had never been softer. What was even better, was the next day my skin hadn’t broken out, which for someone who experiences the joys of adult breakouts, was a relief.
Next on the agenda is to wander in your robe to the courtyard to sip on your well-deserved cocktail (I had been relaxing for nearly 3 hours at this point so obviously I was famished) and dig in to your bento box designed by The Botanica Vaucluse’s Executive Chef, Perry Hill. Packed with organic seasonal produce you can expect pickled globe artichoke and chickpea fritters, buffalo mozzarella with snow peas, capers and lemon, crisp fried Red Gate Farm quail with kale and sunflower seeds, and roast heirloom carrots with hummus, blood lime, macadamia nuts and feta.
Sol Spa is a little piece of tranquillity tucked away in Vaucluse and one that’s definitely worth the coin.
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Image credit: Supplied.