| Skoah—Hip Vancouver Spa | |
|
No
whale music.
No
bubbling cherubs.
No
waterfalls.
And
most important: no pretentious attitude.
Skoah
may be a funny name for a spa, but co-owners Chris Scott and Jamie McKeough
are dead serious about giving Vancouver spa-goers a primo experience. After
visiting 30 New York spas (and dozens more in other locales), these
entrepreneurs have come up with a unique vision of contemporary luxury. And it
didn’t include mating Orca music. But this brand-spanking new day spa, in
Vancouver’s oh-so-trendy Yaletown, is already being touted as THE spa to
check out. Yaletown, known for its funky boutiques and trés chic ambience, is
compared by local Vancouverites to New York’s Soho. New Yorkers would be
amused, since the area is more reminiscent of TriBeCa. Sort of. Doesn’t
matter, because Skoah is a reason to appreciate Yaletown regardless of what
it’s compared to.
Start
with the welcoming interior space—spacious, light-drenched and playful with
floor-to-ceiling windows facing the charming brick sidewalk. The motif is
funky minimalist with lime green shelves lining the left side of the entire
length of the vast space. A comfy, contemporary waiting room doubles as the
lounge where you can drink in the cheeky décor. Apothecary jars are filled
with wax fruit and vegetables in wake-up colors of bright green, fire engine
red and lemon yellow.
My
favorite touch (and this was hard, since there are so many cool things to take
in) is the placement of 3 glass vases, each housing a stunning turquoise-hued
Chinese Fighting Fish. Big jars filled with brightly colored gumballs
(watermelon, cherry and orange flavored) line other shelves. And if you’re
lucky, you get to choose one (or two) when you leave. You’ll have fun even
before you start spa-ing.
Under a
year old, Skoah is already known among the cognoscenti for the amazing facials
and footwork (pedicures). But I was ready for a body overhaul (who isn’t?)
and opted for the Melted Muscles ($85) signature massage therapy. All I
remember was this tiny therapist with amazing hands who worked out
travel-tensions, over-stressed neck muscles. The rooms are wonderfully light
(meaning, subdued) and the funky jazz music was not intrusive, albeit it was a
tad too loud. When this happens, dear reader, always request an adjustment
according to your taste.
If I
had the time I would have tried the Sweet Skin ($70) or Facialiscious ($90)
treatments. The former features a lemon cleanser, a wild plum toner, a peach
masque and an apricot moisturizer. Perfect for a fruit lover. The
Facialiscious is serious business—a total overhaul cleansing, exfoliation,
extractions (ugh), massage and moisturizing customized according to skin type.
The products are from Eminence, an organic Hungarian skin care company
debuting its first North American pilot right here.
Another
tempting body treatment is the Wear Your Cake & Eat It Too ($85), with a
carrot vitamin masque, honey and lemon hydrates topped by clove and vanilla
“icing.” To complete the food allegory, a honeydew body lotion is applied
and you’re good to go. Remember, the prices are in Canadian dollars (at the
time of my visit in June 2002), so the value is simply amazing. Almost worth
the schlep cross-country.
And
since your appetite will be thoroughly aroused after your time well-spent
here, float a block away to the fantastic Blue Water Restaurant for an
extraordinary seafood experience. And you don’t even have to wear it first.
Naomi Serviss is an award-winning travel/entertainment writer whose work has been published in The New York Times, Daily News, Newsday, Boston Herald, American Way, Latitudes, Traditions magazines and assorted newsletters and web sites.
Photos Courtesy of Skoah
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