The Rosewood Hong Kong was one of the hottest hotel openings of 2019. Now, it has finally unveiled ASAYA. Nestled in the hotel’s sixth and seventh floors, this is not your average hotel spa. The integrative wellness center boasts a full complement of initiatives designed to help guests achieve all their wellbeing goals. From healthy meals and highly effective products to a wealth of activities and practitions, ASAYA really does have it all. And yes, of course, there are heavenly spa treatments, too. We slipped in for a few hours of indulgent pampering to see what all the fuss is about.

ASAYA Kitchen

The heart of any good wellness regime is a good diet and that’s exactly what you’ll find at ASAYA Kitchen, the concept’s dining room. The peaceful, spacious oasis caters to 120 guests in a minimalist, whitewashed setting and dishes up a menu of fresh, healthy dishes that don’t compromise on taste. Helmed by Executive Chef Renaud Marin, the restaurant specializes in Mediterranean and healthy Japanese cuisine bursting with seasonal local ingredients. All dishes are carefully prepared so that they’re nutrient rich delicious, and utterly good for you.

While you’re looking over the menu, order one of the fresh juices or mocktails, which includes everything from kombucha to immunity-boosting smoothies. We started with an incredibly fresh and flavorful semi-dried tomato tartare and a light but piquant sea bream carpaccio. This was followed by grilled octopus which camed highly recommended – and on a bed of perfectly seasoned and grilled vegetables. While the servings were decently sized and the food was filling, the fact that we left the table feeling sated yet comfortable is a testament to the quality of the food here – and that it is, in fact, probably very good for you.

The Facilities

A visit to ASAYA begins with a personal consultation. Then, guests are whisked away to bundle up in fluffy robes and spend some time relaxing in the bathhouse and tranquility lounge. Like the rest of the hotel, everything here has been designed to the highest standards. The changing rooms are fitted with every amenity you could possibly need; the bathhouse has a cozy steam room and elegant hot pool; and fresh brewed tea awaits in the zen-like lounge. There are also several treatment rooms here – for singles and couples – and each one comes with with private bath facilities and a tiny garden.

Integrated Wellness

ASAYA is so much more than a spa. To facilitate a 360-degree wellness concept, the brand has a host of resident practitioners that specialize in everything from emotional balance, physical therapies, nutrition, skin, naturopathy, and even art therapies. I’m in for a session with Terry Burge, one of the resident practitioners who specializes in posture correction. A session with him begins with a detailed analysis of how you hold your body in a relaxed state. Are your shoulders hunched? Does your back curve a little too much? Are your legs straight or slightly bowed?

Terry answers all these questions and if he discovers any problems, provides information and advice in a easygoing, non-judgemental manner. Next, Terry performs a pressure-point analysis to see if there are any sore spots on the body. These are points of tension, and most of the time, you don’t even realize you’re holding stress here and it’s causing you problems, anyway. He quickly pinpoints any problem areas and works to relieve them by manupulating the body. The whole process is rather quick – and surprisingly effective.

Spa Moments

Of course, at its heart, ASAYA is a spa, so there is a full menu of indulgent treatments. Whether you’re after a restorative massage, a skin-saving facial, or a cocooning body treatment, you’ll find it here. Best of all, the spa only uses high-end, effective products. I’m here to try the Sunday Riley Lift facial, but before I do, the therapist does a full analysis on my skin. Unexpectedly, this involves putting my face into a big machine which completes the analysis in less than a minute and feeds the results into a computer. Reassuringly, the results are more or less what I expected. Clearly my skincare routine works.

Sunday Riley is a bit of a cult skincare brand, but for good reason. Their products are genuinely incredible. So it’s no surprise, then, that the facial is a treat. The treatment begins with a double cleanse and exfoliation; then, the therapist applies a hydration cream and an infra-red machine to help the products penetrate the skin. She them massages the skin to encourage collagen production and lifting; it’s so soothing that you will, without a doubt, fall asleep on the table. At the end of the treatment, my skin is glowing and well-moisturized – there’s no need for makeup at dinner tonight.

Note: The author was a guest of Rosewood Hong Kong.

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