Synonymous with the rituals, innovations and luxuries of its founders, the aristocratic Astor family, America’s legendary philanthropists and creators of the bespoke service hotel concept, The St. Regis Bali Resort continues the brand’s hundred-year tradition of going beyond expectation with Remède Spa’s Bloody Mary Ritual, a fresh approach to holistic wellness on the inside and out.
Known for creating trend-setting experiences inspired by St. Regis’ rich history and unparalleled standards of service, the Remède Spa team works diligently to honour its legacy while creating innovative interpretations of classic wellness and beauty experiences. No spa therapy embodies this commitment more than the unique Bloody Mary Ritual, a 2-1/2 hour total body treatment inspired by the resort’s signature cocktail, the Bloody Mary.
In the late 1930s, Fernand Petiot, bartender at the legendary King Cole Bar of The St. Regis New York, began experimenting with a new vodka and tomato juice cocktail. By adding salt, pepper, lemon and Worcestershire sauce he created the iconic drink, so beloved today. Today, each St. Regis hotel and resort proudly serves the original recipe and its own variation of the classic Bloody Mary cocktail, and there’s no better way to enjoy this refreshing libation than from a sumptuous marble bathtub on the semi open-air terrace of Remède’s Golden Moon Spa Suite.
To anticipate the indulgent length of the treatment, your spa adventure begins in the butterfly garden adjacent to the richly appointed reception area, with a glass of iced rosella tea. Designed by Bill Bensley, internationally recognised as Asia’s premier luxury spa designer, Remède’s fanciful theme was inspired by this single line of a beloved Indian poem: “The butterfly takes my soul to the moon.”
Escorted along floating walkways surrounded by minimalist gardens and mirrored butterflies, your gracious therapist leads you into a richly appointed seating area that exudes the ambience of a private residential estate. A monogrammed waffle bathrobe waits in the lighted wardrobe of your spacious en suite, comforting to the touch and a symbol of reassurance that it is okay to indulge in a little self-nurturing. Consistent with all Remède Spa treatments, your ritual continues seated in a finely upholstered arm chair, as your therapist places your feet in a hand hammered bronze bowl filled with perfectly heated water, rose and daisy flower petals and a few drops of pure peppermint essence. Remède’s authentic Balinese foot bath and sea salt scrub helps to set the mood before each treatment begins, washing away the cares of the world outside.
Greeted by sprays of royal blue butterflies dancing above you in a dramatic dome and beside you on soothing, back-lit walls, your robe is traded in for custom-printed butterfly linens and an adjustable massage table that can be ergonomically personalized to fit your body. Utilizing all of the natural ingredients found in the Bloody Mary, each step of the ritual is comprised of vitamin rich products known for their whole-body healing effects. For the one-hour full body massage, choose light, medium or strong pressure as the detoxifying and relaxing treatment provides care from head to toe including a scalp massage and facial acupressure to help relieve deep seated tension and to encourage circulation.
The focus of the massage is not only to relax you, but to render your skin supple to help absorb the nutrients contained in the custom prepared body scrub and wrap mixtures. To polish and exfoliate the skin, a concoction of tomato, pineapple, parsley and wasabi is gently applied on wet and then allowed to dry, allowing the body to absorb precious vitamins before your therapist rubs the dried paste off in circular motions. After a soothing hot shower in the suite’s garden to rinse off the scrub, a mineral-rich Babor clay powder mixed with fresh tomato juice, parsley and vodka is liberally applied before your therapist wraps you in a cocoon of warming sheets. As the clay mixture moisturizes and delivers nutrition, your therapist treats you to another heavenly scalp and facial massage before she draws a hot flower bath enriched with sea salt.
You are gently unwrapped and led again through French doors to the garden, where you rinse under custom designed bronze rain shower taps before sinking effortlessly below a sea of flower petals and rosebuds. The King Cole Bar has prepared the resort’s signature drink and your therapist delivers the Bloody Mary on a monogrammed coaster along with a frozen strawberry dipped in rich semi-sweet dark chocolate. Feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, I feel absolutely no guilt about drinking a Bloody Mary at 3 p.m. on a weekday afternoon as the Bloody Mary epitomises the perfect cocktail: ambrosial, refreshing and chock full of nutritious ingredients; and the Bloody Mary Spa Ritual is an impeccable way to honour the St. Regis’ legacy.
(www.stregisbali.com)
