Sheva Spa at Hilton Tel Aviv – an authentic luxury Thai spa
Sheva Spa is an authentic Thai spa located at the Hilton Hotel in Tel Aviv. The royal spa is decorated to the finest details with furniture and crafts imported from Thailand and the massage therapists are all Asian. The treatments are unique and pampering, and the atmosphere is like traveling to Thailand to become a queen or a king for one day!
Sheva Spa was established by Naomi Spa (Nam) Horowitz, who was born in Thailand and is responsible for all the details – from the design to the service. Naomi believes that seven is a lucky number so named the spa after it.
Sheva Spa facilities are located in the Hilton Hotel, and as the location suggests, it is luxurious. The surprise is how much the décor takes us to another world – to the kingdom of Thailand. As soon as I passed the entrance door to the spa, the colors changed to the shades of red, purple, beige, gold and silver, and the
décor to a Thai style of dark wooden furniture, golden tablecloths and frames, colorful fabrics and Thai artifacts. On top of this, there are blooming orchids. Thailand appears here in its splendor and it is simply stunning!
All the professional staff members are Asian. They move quietly, with a smile, in matching burgundy, orange and black uniforms, and they all speak English. For a moment I thought I was in a palace in Thailand – no flight needed!
I got the massage in the most beautiful massage room I have ever seen. The room is completely decorated from bottom up with burgundy walls, Thai photos, orchids and in the center – a wide dark wooden bed with a Royal silver cover and a magnificent towel swan. At the entrance to the room is an armchair. The treatment begins with the traditional ritual of washing of the feet.
After a pleasant foot-washing, I settled down on the treatment bed. Beneath the head in the bed I saw bamboo and flowers. When I lied down and placed my head down, I was flooded with the scents of Thailand – wood and herbs, which in a moment took me to distant lands. In the background, fine instrumental Thai music played. Now I had no doubt that the experience here is unique; pampering in all the senses!
The therapist covered my hair with a towel so that I felt wrapped and protected. The treatment combined Thai massage techniques of pressing and stretching, massage oils using coconut oil, hot stones, heated towels and even a slight splash of refreshing mint extract. This massage was full of surprises! The motions of the masseuse were like a dance, like a ritual, hand after hand, gradually touching from caressing to pressing and on to smoothing the body from muscle to muscle and point to point. The treatment bed here is especially wide, allowing the masseuse to climb on the bed and use her body weight during the treatment to create pressure. This is especially effective for large muscles like thighs or the back. The massage was varied and pleasant, relaxing the muscles and calming. I can wholeheartedly recommend it; I crown it as the best massage in Israel!
After the massage, the masseuse showed me the way to the resting area. It is a bright room facing the promenade and the sea where I was served with a personal tray of tea in an iron pitcher and green ceramic cups, with dried fruits.
Sheva Spa has a large and modern fitness room that overlooks the sea. The elegant dressing rooms include separate saunas for men and women – both wet and dry saunas, and makeup corners with large mirrors. There are plenty of towels and toiletries here as well.
What I have experienced is just the tip of the iceberg here. They offer many treatments, including fourhand massage, classic Thai massage, Royal Thai Massage, foot massage, bamboo massage, peeling wrap and even a massage for pregnant women. There are also packages that combine facial treatments, champagne and fruit plates or meals at Hilton’s restaurants.
Sheva Spa provides an exceptional spa experience – luxury Thailand in Israel!
Sheva Spa, Hilton Tel Aviv, www.sheva-spa.co.il, Tel (03) 520-2211, il.info@shevaspa.com
The writer was a guest of the spa.