Spa Review: Extra Hour Spa provides just that (and more)

Relax, recharge and restore at 25hours Hotel One Central.

The first-ever 25hours Hotel in the Middle East has been carving out quite the reputation since opening its doors in December last year. Attracting a creative crowd versed in all things food, art, culture and travel, 25hours Hotel One Central has undoubtedly become the talk of the town. 

With 434 rooms and suites, seamlessly blending nomadic yet contemporary design, and several eclectic dining options (including Dubai’s first authentic Biergarten and Wirtshaus), the hotel has recently ventured into the world of wellness with the opening of its Extra Hour Spa.

Situated on the sixth floor, close to the infinity pool with its unrivalled views over the Museum of the Future, Extra Hour Spa offers a haven of tranquillity, mere steps from the fun and frivolous Monkey Bar.

Extra Hour Spa’s treatments offer everything from 25-minute fixes to full-body therapies that have been carefully designed to attract both the traditional spa enthusiast and more modern-minded souls. The spa is conveniently split across six revitalising zones: The Massage Zone (for an aromatic journey complete with a blend of essential oils), The Body Zone (centred around remodelling and stimulating microcirculation), The Face Zone (where active ingredients are combined with pressure point massage techniques to relax facial muscles and skin), The Organic Zone (where the likes of Facial by Nature, Nature’s Touch and Extra Ancestry Signature await), the aptly named Pressed for Time Zone (for quixotic services – all within 30 minutes or less) and the Mantuary Zone. Phew!

We find ourselves at the latter, a gentleman’s haven where men can book massages aimed to remodel, firm and cleanse. Greeted by playful slogans that read “hello handsome” and “hello oasis”, the welcoming space manages to retain the playfulness of the 25hours brand while fully committing to a somewhat clinical spa experience. Although over-the-top luxury is not necessarily what you might expect from a property such as 25hours Hotel One Central, this new spa does a serviceable job of promoting quick-fix relaxation for in-house guests and residents on the move. 

Led into a small treatment room painted in dazzling white, we were suitably impressed by our 60-minute ‘Deep AA’ body kneads massage. A treatment designed to relieve tight, stressed and aching muscles, using cross muscle fibre massage techniques, stretching and a collection of pepper, rosemary and ginger essential oils. The treatment sends us into an immediate sense of relaxation, perfectly offset by a soundscape of lo-fi Hip-Hop and jazzy percussion beamed through the overhead speakers. It’s a welcome change from the whale calls and ocean sounds found in spa and wellness centres across Dubai, and we can’t help but momentarily interrupt the serenity by reaching for our Shazam app (FYI, the track is You Know How It Goes by Remulak).

In addition to the series of treatments aimed to help you sleep, recharge or detox, the Extra Hour Spa offers guests plenty of reasons to linger pre or post-treatment. The separate male and female spa areas each feature a sauna, steam room and Himalayan salt room, in addition to Dubai’s first outdoor mixed-use sauna on the foliage clad terrace. 

Extra Hour Spa doesn’t limit the R&R just to the spa. The pampering continues at a ladies’ salon run by celebrity hairdresser Wassim Steve and a barber and concept store from Akin, inspired by the classic barbershops of NYC.

With its playful and contemporary reinterpretation of ancient Bedouin traditions and a distinct focus on wellness, it’s clear that only the unexpected is to be expected at 25hours Hotel One Central – and its newly open spa is proof. 

GO: Visit www.extrahourspa.com for bookings and more information.