Review: Spa at Dolder Grand Zurich — Kate O'Brien Wellness

There are city spas and there's The Spa at Dolder Grand, Zurich and wow, what a magical hideaway it is. With many years spent reviewing spas in all corners of our strange little world (yes I know I'm lucky!) few city spas come close. Not said lightly., I assure you, quite the opposite in fact and my visit genuinely was a highlight of my recent trip to Zurich.

Perched on a hillside only 15-minutes from downtown Zurich (by funicular and tram), the revamped Norman Foster designed Dolder boasts a hugely impressive menu of facilities from golf and ice skating (with a rink on its grounds, pictured) to museum-quality artworks, strewn along the corridors (think Henry Moore and Andy Warhol amongst others). For me however, the pièce de résistance is the 4,000sq metre spa.

The Spa

Interestingly the hotel has a long spa tradition, as it originally opened in 1899 as a hotel and 'curhouse' or traditional European health spa, Every meter of this space is maximised too, with water being a key element, lending a cosseting organic feel with long curved stone walls, massive wooden doors and charcoal black floors. i could have spent the afternoon in the candle-lit meditation maze alone with its hand carved mirrored cupola.. The Japanese-influenced dedicated male and female spa areas include saunas, steam baths and kotatsu footbaths (I can soak my feet while munching on the deliciously sweet ginger and coconut chunks) with the European influenced snow room (very cool in fact - forgive the pun!), outdoor hot tubs, whirlpools, aroma pools and so much more. With 19 treatment (almost all in use when I visited), relaxation pods, a café and the best-stocked spa library I have yet to see (although my latest book Your Middle Years wasn't on the shelves - YET!) you could while away the day - many do, padding around happily in their slippers and soft cosy robes.

Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Facial

Teaming up with results-focused local brand La Prairie, the 90-minute Ice Crystal Facial is so much more than a mere facial (hardly surprising really when at the Dolder!). pure alpine ingredients of Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal in combination with a crystal massage are t

In the hands of my highly capable theapist Maria and La Prairie's magical Ice Crystal flower complex (harnessing the benefits of two alpine plants and one algae chosen for their extraordinary ability to survive and thrive in the icy environment of the high Swiss Alps), my skin was deeply cleansed, massaged, nurtured and completely restored with the finest attention to every detail.

I could go on and on....but suffice to say that although not cheap (see below) if you can, you must. In just 90 minutes my dull weather-beaten skin was completely transformed into a clean, fresh and vibrant glow (honestly!). With another 3 hours solely dedicated to 'me' time (every corner of the female spa area was well used!), my overall experience doesn't seem so pricey I believe, as I hop back on the 3-minute Dolderbahn ride to the outskirts of the city.

Top Tip: Don't dream of forking out for a single treatment if time is tight - the spa is so comfortable and cosseting, take time to enjoy it. You so deserve it!

Room for improvement? Hard to be critical here as my experience was so amazing - from my actual facial to the me-time afterwards, but every client needs to be made aware of the facilities etc in advance so they can maximise their experience in the best possible way - also making their treatment more cost effective.

Will I return? YES YES YES ....Soon please.....

Cost: CHF 250.00 (€233.00)/ 90 mins Facial and CHF 190 (€ 175)/ 60 min massage

My deliciously sweet chunks of ginger and coconut