The ten best spas and day spas in Melbourne

If you’re in need of a little R'n'R amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, you have to check out Sense of Self. It used to be a warehouse so it’s split over two levels. The first floor is home to the massage and mindfulness studio where remedial, relaxation and pregnancy massages can be booked, as well as dry body brushing, Gua Sha facials and more. Then there’s the bathhouse itself. The showers are divine, featuring decadent brass showerheads and tapware. The venue provides body wash, steaming hot water and enough ambience to wash the stress away.

Inhale, exhale – Comma, a spa and bathhouse in Melbourne, is here to relieve the weary and worn. As the name implies, Comma stands for pausing and finding calm in and amongst the clamour of city life. This modern Australian bathhouse believes in a holistic spa experience and offers several signature massage treatments. There's also a private infrared sauna session to light up and awaken the cells, which includes a mineral hot tub and cold pail shower.

This luxury day spa has several treatment suits, a steam room with an ice fountain, a yoga and pilates studio, and a tranquil relaxation lounge that make it a perfect space for escaping from the hectic demands of city life. If you want all-round care, try one of the Relinque treatments like the release package ($465) that includes a luxurious macadamia or volcanic ash exfoliation treatment, warming jet shower, signature Bian massage, nourishing scalp mask and scalp massage and a pH balancing infusion facial. For those who are short on time, there are also several shorter treatments available like the 50-minute deep tissue massage.

Glowing skin is not just a matter of vanity — it is a mirror of your overall health and wellbeing. Whether battling the city's pollution or facing harsh UV rays, investing in your skin is one of the best self-care moves you can make. That is where Shine Skin and Body steps in. The Richmond-based salon offers facials that address several skin issues and aim to help you maintain healthy, hydrated skin throughout the year. Founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Sheridan and Jason Rollard, it specialises in extraction facials, acne treatments and blackhead removals.

If you’re seeking a complete escape into opulence and luxury, then look no further than the Spa at Crown Towers. Treatments by La Prairie and Subtle Energies offer the usual facials and massages, along with other therapies such as the Detox and Adrenal Boost Journey, which begins with a foot ritual and meditation, before ingredients such as tulasi, wild turmeric and Indian lime are applied via an invigorating body scrub, mud wrap and massage. Every treatment longer than one hour is complemented with time in the Aqua Retreat, which consists of a steam room, vitality pool and Swiss shower. The white fluffy bathrobe and a relaxation lounge with snacks and refreshments add that extra bit of wow factor that makes parting with your dollars a little bit easier.

Tucked away in Hawksburn Village on Malvern Road is the very pretty Blanc Spa. While this is not a day spa with extensive facilities, the luxury touch points have certainly been considered. Blanc Spa has a lovely team of skin and body experts, and a spa menu that is surprisingly extensive. The venue offers facial treatments, bespoke massages, deluxe body and bathing experiences and premium beauty services. If you feel like splurging, make a day of it and indulge in the five-hour Mont Blanc for $1000 (it includes a hydro soak, alpine herb exfoliation, detox body wrap, Swedish massage, facial, pedicure, manicure and an artisan lunch).

The dark moody tones of the Chuan Spa invite a sense of relaxation the moment you enter. Try the Chuan Harmony massage ($220), which targets traditional Chinese medicine acupressure points during the treatment. You can also try the Muddy Elements (from $330), a wrap treatment that combines a salt scrub and mud wrap – it’s the complete opposite to Tough Mudder as all you’ll need to do is lie back and let someone else do the dirty work. The Tri-Bathing Ritual is complementary with another treatment and you can sit out on a deck that overlooks the Melbourne skyline while you jump between the saltwater pool to the jacuzzi, heated sauna and river stone snail shower.  

Holism Retreat is all about radical self-kindness and unifying mind, body and breath. So much so that you’ll feel relaxed just reading the menu. Here, it’s all about personalisation and creating the journey you want and need. Upon the advice of Pauline, the owner, we joined the 9am yoga class, followed by breakfast and a refreshing swim in the hotel’s rooftop pool. Then we tried the Reset Ritual ($425, and includes a massage, facial and restorative foot treatment) and added some extra time in the Wellness Light Lounge.

Fitzroy Street is hiding one of the most relaxing spots in the bayside area. The Nourish Spa and Skin Clinic offers the complete pampering experience, from mani-pedis (bubbles optional), waxing and specialised facials to massages, spray tanning, IPL treatments and pamper packages like the Sensory Escape package ($210). On entering a dimly lit treatment room, you'll be asked to jump into a fluffy bathrobe and soak your feet to prepare for a foot scrub. Next is a full body exfoliation with a dry body brushing. The main event is the super relaxing full-body massage using a fragrant essential oil of your choosing. It's a totally luxurious experience.

HÜD is the brainchild of Norwegian beauty Gry Tømte – an émigré who has devoted herself to effective skincare and treatments after suffering the torment of acne in her twenties. As for the treatments – don't expect anything fluffy, they purely focus on clinical skin treatments here. Their specialty is within correcting skin dysfunction and especially treating acne, pigmentation and age management; boasting an on site cosmetic doctor, nurse and naturopath in addition to the team of skin and dermal clinicians.

Despite being in the heart of the city, this spa is quiet and calm, with soft lighting and timber finishes. Make use of the spa’s staff, as they know their stuff. If you’re getting a facial or body treatment, they’ll ask you what you want and suss out any problem areas to work on. Got a few issues you need to be kneaded out of you? The spa will soothe your aching body from head to toe. The massage technique is inspired by Swedish, Balinese and Polynesian styles, and there’s a choice of aromatherapy or certified organic oils.

While the Little Company doesn’t quite qualify for day spa status (the speciality here is facials) it still deserves to be on this list. While you won’t receive soft fluffy robes and slippers, you will be wrapped up under a duvet while your face is attended to. The reception area has refreshments and a casual lounge, and there is also the option to bask under a LED Light whilst listening to a recorded meditation by A Space. At the end of your treatment, you’ll receive expert guidance and personalised product recommendations to help your skin. Facial treatment prices start at $189.