By Alison McGill
Last fall, after a multi-year renovation, Park Hyatt Toronto re-opened its doors to reveal a fresh and ultra-luxe reinvention. The favourite Yorkville address closed five years ago to accommodate a massive overhaul helmed by Canadian designer Alessandro Munge of Studio Munge. Every area of the hotel was reimagined, from the stunning front foyer to guest rooms, the new ground level restaurant Joni, and the iconic Library Bar which offers the best views of the city from the top floor of the hotel.
The final stage of the Park Hyatt Toronto’s renaissance was the reopening of the property’s much-loved Stillwater Spa. It was one of the first major luxury spas in the city, and has returned with a fresh, sleek, and very modern vibe. It’s the perfect oasis of selfcare in the city.
“Stillwater Spa is returning as a destination where guests will be nurtured, inspired and find serenity at our urban retreat,” says Kerry Werner, director of Stillwater Spa. “We are thrilled to welcome guests in to experience a reimagined premium and sustainable approach to beauty and wellness.”
The moment you enter Stillwater Spa you are struck by the serene minimalism of it. The entry way sets the tone for what’s ahead with its natural wood floors, white-washed walls and lo-fi décor stylings like the delicate porcelain flowers artfully scattered on the foyer wall. This mood of gentle luxury prevails throughout the labyrinth of quiet relaxation and treatment rooms.
A remarkable thing about the calm and peaceful environment of Stillwater Spa is even when it’s busy, you feel alone in the incredibly tranquil space. On the day I visited, I thought I had Stillwater to myself, but in fact almost all the treatment rooms were full.
Stillwater Spa offers a full range of facial treatments, body rituals and nail services—the menu is succinct and expertly curated. For my visit I chose the Rose Indulgence Body Ritual, a multi-faceted and immersive experience comprised of head-to-toe rose-infused body scrub, followed by a relaxing body massage using an aromatic gel and massage lotion from skincare line Aromatherapy Associates, a divine skin and body care line loved for its incredible organic essential oil blends. My therapist Sam was wonderfully Zen and kept chatting to a minimum so I would fully enjoy my service. The sweet sounds of smooth jazz created some background ambiance during my service; I almost fell asleep during the massage a few times.
Post-session I had a long, luxurious linger in Stillwater Spa’s cozy lounge, enjoying jasmine tea and a spread of traditional tea-time treats like chocolate dipped madeleines and mandarin-flavoured pâte de fruits. After 30-minutes, I floated to the change room, then made my way back to the foyer and out into the world again feeling infinitely calmer in body, spirit, and mind.
Stillwater Spa at Park Hyatt Toronto is currently open Thursday through Sunday from 10am to 7pm.
