Beauty

Say goodbye to water and kale at Galvin & Guerlain Spa in the Waldorf Astoria

Be content inside and out with a meal and massage at the Galvin & Guerlain Spa

The treatment

A new Galvin & Guerlain Spa Experience. I tried the Saturday Deluxe Package, which included a one hour facial or massage in the Guerlain Spa and a three-course seasonal menu in The Pompadour (£149pp) but you could also go for the 90 minute Orchidee Imperiale Treatment, and the five course tasting menu (£235pp, Saturdays only). Or, from Tuesday to Thursday, go for the French Touch Midweek Package, with a one hour facial or massage and lunch or dinner in Brasserie de Luxe (£120pp). All packages include use of the spa facilities and are available until 31 December.

Why go?

Because spa visits make you hungry, and who really wants to be restricted to water and kale?

Our spy says

I usually get extremely low blood sugar after a massage, and snaffle all the snacks (in most spas, usually Granny Smiths) left out in the relaxation room, so it’s good to know that I’ll be getting a proper slap-up feed post treatment.

The suitably glam Gladys is doing my therapy today. We start with a foot bath at one of their custom-made chairs in the manicure area then, once my tootsies have been refreshed, it’s through into the treatment room, which Gladys spritzes with Idylle, a Guerlain perfume I’d chosen earlier.

She performs one of their signature Caledonian Chic massages, which involves a thorough rub-down with forearms and hands. My back is first, and Gladys presses upwards along my spine, circles my scapulas, and uses her arms to lengthen and stretch my muscles, like I’m a piece of pizza dough (see, I’m thinking about food already).

Once I turn over and slide down under the white sheet, she places an eye mask over my peepers and begins to work on the front of my legs, my feet and my surprisingly lumpy arms and hands.

Massages always make my stomach rumble and, indeed, there are some gastric echoes going on down there.

Thankfully, post treatment and body-swerving the relaxation room, I’m soon dressed and upstairs into The Pompadour.

In the beautiful space, with its ornate plasterwork and frescoes, I resist the urge to slump or drool. This package includes the seasonal lunch from new head chef Dan Ashmore, and it’s amazing, from the octopus pre-starter to an entrée of blowtorched scallop, mooli tartare and wasabi, then a main of roast guinea fowl, braised thigh, pink fir apple potatoes and Jerusalem artichoke.

I suppose it doesn’t feel too unhealthy, but then I go and have a gooey centred chocolate fondant with banana ice-cream and honeycomb. Oh well, if you find yourself in the same position, just continue to repeat the mantra; “A little of what you fancy does you good”.

The results

This is definitely the most sybaritic package in town. Perfect if you’re allergic to kale, smoothies and green apples. n

Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian, Princes Street, Edinburgh (0131-222 8836, www. waldorfastoria.com)