Wellbeing
Originally published on Tuesday, 7th February 2012
Oskia Boutique Spa
A serene pampering bolthole in the heart of Covent Garden
Oskia Boutique Spa, at Goodvibes, 14-16 Betterton Street, London, WC2H 9BU
Location
Tucked away in a quiet sidestreet off Drury Lane, the entrance to Oskia is inauspicious to say the least: through fitness studio Goodvibes and up a flight of stairs. It’s easy to be wary of spas that sit above fitness centres, as they’re often an afterthought. Oskia Spa, by contrast, is a pleasant surprise. In fact, it’s just shot up there on our list of destination spas.
Vibe
TRelaxed and contemporary with a little bit of zen. Calm is encouraged the minute you enter Goodvibes, as you have to leave your shoes at the door. Upstairs in Oskia, you sit in ‘The Library,’ a chic little room featuring bookshelf wallpaper and felt grey chairs with footstalls. Here you relax during a treatment consultation and marvel at the über-stylish décor while sipping herbal tea.
Treatments
At Oskia, everything on their menu, from facials to massages, is done using their own range of natural products. And we highly recommend renowned therapist Abigail James for a particularly relaxing body massage, topped off with a few minutes of craniosacral therapy, which induce an almost trance-like state, including trippy light flashes. We can’t wait to get our next hit!
Décor
DThe spa sports the kind of faultless interior design we’d love to have at home. The wallpaper decorating the two treatment rooms and The Library is original 1920s and the dark wood furniture, grey chairs, books and knick-knacks channel pure Elle Deco or Wallpaper*. It’s ultimate comfort and style without being too twee, minimalist, or traditional spa.
Upshot
Maybe it was the bizarre flashing light display during the massage, the relaxing feel of The Library, or the charming Abigail James – but we’re feeling a little evangelical about Oskia. Go there, have a couple of treatments… and leave feeling utterly serene.
