Beirut is fast becoming the hot Luxe destination, as Laura Lovett finds...
At the centre of Beirut’s renewal is the Le Gray, an art filled modernist retreat in the downtown heart of the city. The cool, sleek atrium leads down to a spacious, carefully crafted spa in the basement that feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of the streets above. While many hotel spas seem like an afterthought in the design, here at PureGray it is integral to creating a Zen-like ambiance before you even step into your private treatment room.
Padding along in the almost inky darkness only diffused by a few flickering candles, through a teak wood clad corridor, the contemporary urban space immediately soothes the senses. Here even the most fraught mind can actually find the space to breathe and appreciate the moment. Combining the best of both worlds, the spa has a holistic attitude but has a results driven ethos. When it comes to beautification, Beirut is the hallmark. As a hub for cosmetic surgery since the 1960’s women seek out physical perfection and will demand no less from treatments, explaining the exclusive use of Spanish skincare brand Natura Bisse
The massage menu is beyond superlatives. Expert practitioners sense your needs before you can begin to vocalise where you need kneading. Choose from Volcanic Hot Stone Therapy (60/90 minute, $90/$120) and Body Contouring Javanese Massage (60/90 minutes $90/$120) to the incomparable Jet Lag Recovery Massage (45/60 minutes, $65/$65). This is no ordinary rub down. Your aches and pains are therapeutically pummelled away in a deeply invigorating tension releasing hour that for once seems to be longer that your allotted time. But as you’ll learn, time is only a concept for those outside these walls. Here you can actually let your mind go. The massage puts you into a semi meditative state, alert yet relaxed.
The Vitamin C Facial, (75 minutes, $125) a Bisse signature treatment, relieves sun-damaged skin and helps fight the signs of ageing with a light yet effective touch. Collagen production is stimulated with a rolling gentle pinching action, and your skin feels enlivened, revitalised and fresh, like you’ve been airbrushed from within.
Spas have become the luxury add on, that often does no more than temporarily lull you into a false sense of relaxation. Here you feel cocooned, well cared for and like a new you as you step back out from this tranquil sanctuary into the sunshine.
By Laura Lovett
