The 17 best wellness spas in Cape Town

Billed as Cape Town’s leading urban resort, what the One&Only Cape Town may lack in sea views it makes up for in its spacious spa facilities. The spa is located on an island amid the waterways and swimming pools that define this corner of the Waterfront, making it feel like a proper sanctuary from the bustle of the city. Stepping inside you’ll find a dozen treatment rooms – making it one of the larger luxury spas in the city – where you can indulge in a range of bespoke wellness journeys offered by skilled ESPA therapists. But don’t just come for the massage: the spa boasts extensive hydrotherapy facilities, from ice fountains and ‘experience’ showers to thermal suites that’ll have you steamed, sauna’d and soaked into a state of bliss. Of the ‘Only Here’ signature treatments you’ll love the Table Mountain Tonic, which uses indigenous herbs and a full-body poultice massage to ease away tension.

As if you needed another reason to visit the ‘Nellie’? The Librisa Spa at the Mount Nelson Hotel is a glorious inner-city sanctuary, set alongside the hotel’s main pool area and yet wonderfully serene indoors. The spa is contained in a handful of converted Victorian buildings, lending the eight spacious treatment rooms – including two for couples – and guest spaces an airily historic charm. Allow some time beforehand to enjoy the steam bath and Finnish sauna, or take a dip in the dedicated plunge pool. The spa menu is extensive, utilising both local and international products, but the signature Mount Nelson Rose treatment is not to be missed, turning to herb poultices and Rose Petal and Geranium massage oil for full-body relaxation. End your treatment with a quiet moment in the dedicated relaxation lounge.

Ni step with the contemporary reinvention of the Cape Grace Hotel – now under the Fairmont brand – comes the elegant Fairmont Spa at Cape Grace. Offering an indulgent yet holistic approach to wellness, the focus here is on blending natural elements into a menu of treatments inspired by the Western Cape’s rich flora. 

Signature treatments include the Tranquillity full-body massage with cupping therapy, the Purity facial with Gua Sha massage, and the Clarity couples’ experience with body exfoliation and a private steam room. Guests can also enjoy a salt room, sauna, and steam room, alongside a range of treatments for teens and kids.

With premium products from Matsimela Home Spa and Esse Skincare, the Fairmont Spa delivers a delightfully personalised wellness offering that’s ideal for easing into the city after a long journey.

Tucked away beneath The Capital 15 on Orange Hotel, The Grotto Wellness Spa is the definition of a hidden secret. Set slap-bang right in the middle of the city, this sleek little wellness escape is located in something of a labyrinth beneath the chic city hotel.

And this is not just a simple matter of sleek treatment rooms and a menu of wellness experiences. There are those too, of course, but also an underground heated pool for easing away aches and pains, as well as a polar plunge pool for fans of Wim Hof. Saunas and steam rooms complete the hydrotherapy offering as a precursor to one of the spa’s signature treatments. Try the mineral mist Rasul, or indulge in a little me-time in the Serenity Nest. End it all with a bespoke creation from The Grotto Spa Bar.

First, let’s talk about that view. It’s not usually a selling point of a sauna or spa swimming pool, but at The Heavenly Spa by Westin you can soak up the city views as you sweat away your stress or swim out some laps. Thanks to its location on the 19^th-floor of the Westin Hotel, set right alongside Cape Town’s International Convention Centre, incredible views come standard, whether you’re in the sauna, swimming in the pool, or sipping herbal tea in the relaxation space. Of course, you’ll also find luxury treatment rooms and an impressive spa menu here, but – honestly? – start with the sauna.

Though most of the best spas in Cape Town are connected to luxury hotels, the Africology Spa Constantia is a welcome outlier, ensuring day visitors don’t feel overlooked in favour of overnight guests.  The Africology brand – which makes luxury amenities you’ll find in chic hotels and lodges across Africa – is built on the healing power of nature and the key role of scent in natural healing, and that ethos shines through in the menu of massages, facials and body treatments.

Travel can take it out of you, so good to know that Cape Town’s only dedicated airport hotel now offers a wellness spa combining eco-consciousness with indulgent relaxation. 

Verde Vita Spa & Wellness Centre – at Hotel Verde Cape Town Airport – opened in November 2023 and blends the hotel’s sustainability street-cred with a devotion to well-priced wellness.

The spa features an aesthetic inspired by nature’s organic forms, with three intimate treatment rooms – Magnolia, Lavender, and Jasmine – offering spaces for both solo treatments and couples’ relaxation. Alongside a menu of wellness experiences, Verde Vita offers an infrared cabin and locally crafted beechwood massage beds, with a post-treatment Breathing Room designed for tranquillity. Treatments use premium skincare brands such as ESSE and Matsimela, all certified organic or natural.

With its location on the slopes of Table Mountain National Park, just steps from the Atlantic Ocean, The Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa is a true destination for a day of indulgence. It’s unique in its subterranean setup, lending a cocooning atmosphere to the space. An upper-level reception area features a handful of treatment rooms, while downstairs you’ll find a traditional Rasul Chamber and numerous plunge pools. Alongside body wellness treatments, the facials are a standout here, using bespoke Tata Harper and Elemis products. For a unique wellness experience, opt for the al fresco spa gazebo on the mountain slopes.

A brand-new addition to The Winchester hotel, on the Sea Point promenade, the Sanctuary Spa at The Winchester is set in the heritage Arcadia building, adjoining the hotel, with high ceilings and original features imbuing the experience with a sense of grandeur and occasion. Bespoke wallpapers and highly trained therapists only add to the experience, with a menu of signature body and facial treatments. End your wellness escape with lunch in the hotel’s sun-splashed central courtyard.   

In the leafy suburb of Claremont, The Vineyard Hotel is a charming historic property as popular with locals as the English tourists (mostly) who flock here in the summer. The terrace restaurant and wide lawns, with glorious Table Mountain views, make it a must on a fine day. But tucked away in the hotel’s more modern extension you’ll also find the Angsana Spa, which offers a fusion of Asian-inspired therapies, largely focused on natural ingredients, delivered by a team of skilled Angsana Spa therapists trained at Banyan Tree Spa Academies. Alongside a range of individual treatments, spa packages offer well-priced wellness journeys to make a day of it.

Set alongside Palm House Boutique Hotel in the leafy suburb of Wynberg, Açaí Spa offers three single treatment rooms, a couples’ treatment room, an outdoor jacuzzi, and a mani-pedi studio. The treatment menu at Açai Spa features Healing Earth products, known for their holistic, natural approach. Guests can choose from a variety of hand, foot, facial, and body treatments, including the signature Palm Journey – a full-day wellness experience complete with lunch at the Palm Terrace.

A standout feature is the traditional Banya Sauna, made from Nordic pine and set in a peaceful courtyard, offering the perfect space to relax before or after a treatment. Whether staying at the hotel or visiting for the day, Açaí Spa provides a tranquil escape in one of Cape Town’s most charming boutique hotels.

Cape Town boasts the only South African outpost of the Taj brand, and at the J Wellness Circle spa you’ll find an experience that draws heavily on the Ayurvedic philosophies of India. That begins with the subtle décor in this intimate wellness destination, where four treatment suites are complemented by a spacious double-suite complete with a private hammam. A heated indoor pool, sauna and Jacuzzi ensure this is a space where you’ll want to hide out for a few hours. The standout treatment is the Trupti, which combines an Indian head massage with a full-body massage using de-stressing essential oils.

The seafront locale of the Radisson Blu Hotel waterfront makes this a prime spot for lazy brunches and sundowner sips, but the Amani Spa has equally established this popular hotel as a prime wellness destination too. It’s a large spa facility, with 11 treatment rooms and an extensive menu of treatments. But the highlight is what’s available on either side of your treatment, whether it’s time in the heated vitality pool, or steaming in the Grand Rasul. Sessions in the unique Salt Room are said to offer a therapeutic approach to allergy, skin ailments and respiratory conditions.

Cape Town has no shortage of chic urban spa options, but Sanctuary Spa Onyx is one of the best. Here the focus is on inner-city luxury, and there’s a sense of opulent abundance at every turn. Offering a tranquil escape in the heart of the city, the spa is set in the Onyx Hotel at the bottom of the city centre, offering a good range of indulgent treatments designed to rejuvenate the body and mind. The spa features a choice of treatment rooms, a heated indoor pool, and a sauna, making it ideal for a full-day wellness escape in the Mother City.

Steenberg Farm in the Constantia Valley is best known for its wonderful food and wine experiences, but before you indulge look to the farm’s intimate spa for an array of wellness experiences too. The Steenberg Spa is one of the smaller luxury spas in the city but is worth a visit for the focused collection of individual treatments and signature wellness packages. You can also look to upgrade your massage treatment with hot stones or Bellabaci cupping, or opt to enjoy your treatment al fresco in the farm’s scented garden. 

The Cellars-Hohenort is something of a grande dame in the leafy suburb of Constantia, and while the gardens and restaurant are a drawcard for many, the Fresh Wellness Spa is a local secret. Though it doesn’t offer the hydrotherapy facilities of larger hotel spas, it’s a space filled with understated glamour, much like the hotel, and a menu of bespoke wellness treatments. Look for the massages using TheraVine products, harnessing the healing power of grape vine extract.  

For a more contemporary spa option in the Constantia Valley, The Alphen Spa offers a pair of treatment rooms. It’s set alongside The Alphen Boutique Hotel, a chic offering spread across heritage buildings and contemporary extensions. There’s a curated collection of massage and facial treatments but also look out for The Alphen Journey, which allows you to curate your time according to your individual needs. After your treatments, stay for lunch on the hotel terrace overlooking the lush Constantia green belt.