Ultimate Moroccan Hamman in London
October 19, 2008
Casa Spa, Paddington, London
A homely spa beneath the Edgware Road offers a hammam and massage experience for a steal
Alice Fishburn
USP Visits are really about stewing in the tiled steam bath, reputedly the only one in London. Helen Murphy, the spa owner, trained in hammam techniques in her native Tunisia. Try them out – though traditionalists can opt for a range of more customary spa treatments including a Bio Oxygen facial.
AMBIENCE Think local rather than luxury. The spa is situated on the Edgware Road and its surroundings and entrance are somewhat shabby. But the gritty exterior fades as you walk down candle-lined stairs to a spacious room at the bottom. This will become your own little grotto for the duration of the treatment.
Inside, there is a raised sofa bed with scattered cushions – perfect for lolling on Roman fashion between treatments and large enough to accommodate a gossiping group if you are on a hen night. Kitsch statues will provide many a talking point while the mosaic walls and candles strike a more traditional note.
Off to one side is the entrance to the hammam. The tiled room can fit seven people although you’d be hard pushed to see any of them once you enter. Clouds of steam completely obscured my therapist when she walked in, adding to the mystery.
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Although you are mere metres from the Edgware Road, the spa manages to create an atmosphere that is more Arabian nights than London traffic. Casa Spa is not the place to go if you are after opulence, glamour or a hint of Hollywood excess. But its relaxed approach is perfect for stressed-out city workers in search of something a little unusual.
QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE Given that my only prior streaming experience involved dumplings, I was determined to make the hammam my first stop. My fear of humidity melted away as I realised that I could relax and, more importantly, breathe. Not even the clunking sound of the steam-making machinery disturbed me.
The full hammam experience includes a series of wraps applied while you stew. First came the honey hair mask. It contains only natural products and smells good enough to eat. Resist the temptation. But what it lacks in taste, it more than makes up for in effect. My hair looked unusually shiny afterwards.
Next up was the olive oil soap (don’t try eating that one either). After a good slathering in the stuff, I slid around my stone slab waiting for my pores to open.
Then the scrubbing began. This is not the sort of exfoliation offered by spas that tip toe around their customers. Prepare yourself for an all-over rubdown with a Moroccan cloth that could easily double as a brillo pad. My therapist’s warning that I could tell it was working when my dead skin peeled off like spaghetti was hardly reassuring. But she was right. I soon got over the shock and my skin felt soft for days afterwards. Tan junkies are recommended to try this out to moisturise the skin before a holiday.
I followed the hammam with a massage, which chased away the last traces of my hectic day. But a range of facials are also on offer if you want to slough the dead skin from your face as well as your body. And I’d recommend a stint in the infrared sauna for anyone suffering from tension or muscle injuries.
Throughout my time, the staff were very relaxed and perfectly content for me to wander from treatment to treatment with the odd rest on the sofa. You may never want to leave.
IN-CROWD No glamorous mums or men in white coats here. Instead you’ll find locals, Londoners in the know and those hankering after a flavour of the bazaar.
FOOD If all that olive oil and honey leaves you hungry for some more substantial fare, you can always opt for the Lebanese Mezze. This is offered up for hen and stag nights and ordered from a local restaurant. More abstemious spa-goers can choose some fruit and a selection of drinks. The obvious choice? Moroccan tea.
WALLET-WATCH The back to basics approach at Casa Spa is reflected in its reasonable prices. For a spa in Central London, it’s a steal. An hour in the Turkish bath will set you back just £45. If you want to add in a massage as well, you’re looking at £60. Hen and stag nights are available for £55 per person. You can choose from a mezze of treatments and kick back on the sofas without feeling rushed.
NEED TO KNOW 439 Edgware Road, London, W2 1TH (0207 724 2030; www.casaspa.co.uk). There is also a branch at 147 Seymour Place, London, W1H 4PB.
Have your say
I have visited the Spa on many occasions and find Helen a wonderful and caring person. i would thoroughly recommend anyone who wants to have proper treatment and a very relaxing atmosphere to visit as soon as possible.The hammam is an expereience not to be missed at a fraction of the price!
Rob
robert cardenas, London, UK
I visited the spa after my mother told me about the treatments she received and she was very pleased with the results. I only went for a facial Helen put in alot of time and effort whilst doing my facial the results were fantastic my skin looked incredibly healthy and smooth. Great place!
maha, wembley,
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