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Spa Guide

Spa of the Month: Mandarin Oriental, Miami Beach

Sometimes you get spas that are all-singing, all-dancing with too many spa facilities to count, others are all about the 6-star service treatments. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami is the latter.

With fellow R&R-loving friends who live in Miami, the Mandarin Oriental came highly recommended as ‘the’ go-to spa for the ultimate facial or body treatment – “y’know, the kind that makes you walk out of the room floating”, according to one glowing girlfriend. I didn’t need much convincing…

One look at the spa menu – from personalised high-tech Biologique Recherche facials, to a more LA-like spiritual Kundalini Journey combining aromatherapy, colour, sound and gemstone therapy – and the most difficult decision is choosing just one treatment. Our advice? Leave time for two.

Here’s the lowdown on our Spa of the Month, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami.

SHOP THE ESSENTIALS

Get into Miami mode with a suitcase for spa by day and city by night. Here’s what to pack for The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Miami

The Lowdown

Located on Miami’s Brickell Key, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental is a city spa that transports you to an exotic waterfront sanctuary once you walk through the giant bamboo doors. The décor of muted pastels and marble, Japanese accent prints, and dark wood furnishings makes it feel like you could be somewhere in East Asia. Keep in mind The Mandarin Oriental brand is headquartered in Hong Kong and stays true to its Asian roots. In communal areas, the lighting is low and relaxing, while the luxury spa suites are flooded with natural daylight from the giant floor-to-ceiling windows that give you a postcard view with your massage.

Upgrade to a spa suite and you’ll get a hydrotherapy tub with window view as you sip on your ginger tea. Your therapist will ask if you’d like the curtains closed, or you’d prefer to have your treatment accompanied by views of palm trees and the tranquil waters of Biscayne Bay (no contest). Arrive early for your treatment to take advantage of the heat experiences like sauna and steam – male and female changing rooms have their own zones for privacy.

Mandarin Presidential Spa Suite Serenity Room

THE SIGNATURE

Not a signature as such, but there aren’t many spas globally where you can experience the super-exclusive Biologique Recherche brand, so the Custom Made Facial ($250 for 1 hour) is well worth booking in for. Personalised to your skin after a thorough analysis under a magnifying light, the combination of products and facial techniques are tailor-made for each guest so it feels like you’re getting a dermatologist-meets-facial double whammy.

I pick up tons of useful skincare tips I can include in my daily regime from my super-knowledgeable therapist, Tracy – the cult Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 comes highly recommended for my skin. Thanks to too much sun exposure, my bespoke focus was on pigmentation reduction, but the facial’s lifting and brightening results instantly kicked my post-flight fatigued skin into touch too.

THE EXTRAS

The weather can be temperamental in Miami and there’s no better way to spend a stormy day than checking in for the full or half day programs at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental. If you’re on social media burnout, check out the Digital Wellness Mini Retreat in a spa suite (from $375). Available as an individual or couples experience, the focus is on disconnecting from all your devices (that includes Instagram-ing the extremely dreamy spa suite) to look within yourself with a meditation class, singing bowl session, healthy juice break, digital wellness escape and mindfulness gift to continue your good intentions at home.

Don’t miss The Spa at Mandarin Oriental’s wellness offerings, like yoga, Pilates, Thai Chi and meditation & visualisation – weather permitting, the group classes take place al fresco on the shaded spa lawn so you can take full advantage of the Miami sunshine. Plus, there’s always the hotel infinity pool and private Brickell Beach to relax post-treatment.

CF SPA TIP

Regular travellers should hone in on the ‘Essential Traveler’ spa menu, designed to shoo away jet lag and revive weary bodies. Try the Red Eye Recovery ($250 for 1 hour 20 minutes) featuring brisk dry body brushing, or the Igniting Fire Ritual ($330 for 1 hour 50 minutes), an energetic clearing through the use of singing bowls followed by a soothing hands-on body massage.

THE BEAUTY KIT

You’ll find everything from bespoke Biologique Recherche skincare to Miriam Quevedo haircare to HydraFacial MD facials and more mainstream ESPA body treatments on the spa menu.

Most niche brands are available to buy post-treatment in the spa boutique using the recommendations from your ‘wellness recommendations’ prescription slip. Mine came jotted down with two Biologique Recherche products along with insider recommendations for Florida Keys from my very thoughtful therapist (thanks, Tracy).

NEED TO KNOW

Treatments at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami start from $75 for 20 minutes. Rates at Mandarin Oriental, Miami start from $299 (approx. £230) per room per night on a B&B basis.

Address: 500 Brickell Key Drive, Miami, FL 33131
Contact: +1 (305) 913 8332 / [email protected]

To book The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Miami, visit mandarinoriental.com/miami

See more of our CF spa favourites here

What to Pack

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