A wellness oasis in the heart of Victoria Dockside

There are countless reasons to visit Hong Kong. Also known as the Fragrant Harbour, the city is a shopping mecca, an international financial centre and a foodie haven. It is also emerging as the region’s cultural, architectural and artistic centre. Through an expat friend who moved to Hong Kong, I discovered a lesser known side of Hong Kong. Beneath the dense walls of skyscrapers, the hustle and bustle of constant activity and frantic pace lies a wellness culture and consciousness that seeks to cultivate a sense of mindfulness and balance.

I recently traveled to one of my favorite Asian destinations. Asaya It was the only thing on my itinerary. It was my first time visiting a vibrant international city for wellness purposes, but the experience gave me even more reasons to return to Hong Kong again and again.

I arrived on the sixth floor of the Rosewood Hotel in the early afternoon. The Art Deco walnut elevator doors slid open to reveal a spacious wellness oasis away from the hustle and bustle outside. Occupying two floors of the Rosewood Hotel, Assaya Hong is a 40,000-square-foot wellness center designed and built to offer city dwellers and travelers an escape from modern life. Holistic wellness pillars shape the unique character and composition of the entire space. These are emotional balance, fitness and nutrition, physical therapy, skin health, and community.

Short-term Wellness Retreats at Asaya Lodge

During my stay, I enjoyed 48 hours of uninterrupted luxury and relaxation. After lunch, I checked into the Asaya Lodge on the seventh floor. Surrounded by a Zen-inspired rooftop garden, my suite had all the amenities needed for a rejuvenating urban retreat. Healthy snacks and homemade herbal teas were available in the waiting room and wellness bar. Books on mindfulness were also incorporated into the space, providing quiet solitude and an invitation to reduce screen time. Vicky, my wellness coordinator, explained, “Asaya has only two lodges. Guests typically stay for one or two nights and enjoy customized wellness programs and retreats.”

The master suite and bath spa are adjoined by an elegant walk-in closet with steam bath and soaking tub. A door at the back leads to the suite’s private treatment room, which features two massage beds and a cozy counseling corner. “The Lodge has been designed so that guests do not need to leave their room for treatments; the therapist will come to you. This unique facility allows guests to slowly relax and rejuvenate.”

Amenities aside, it was the little touches that made my stay at Asaya Lodge truly unforgettable. My initials were monogrammed on the pillowcases on my bed, as were the fluffy robes draped next to the twin shower. “We heard you do yoga, so we’ve left a mat in your suite for guests who want to do it before their treatments this afternoon or tomorrow morning,” Vicky added.

Dr. Barbara Sturm’s 90-Minute Glow Facial

The rest of the day was reserved for a GlowFacial High Touch Facial. Dr. Barbara Sturm Their treatments and products are known for their scientifically-backed molecular approach, formulated to reduce inflammation at a cellular level. Dr. Sturm explains, “My philosophy is that any skincare routine should be anti-inflammatory, deeply hydrating, nourishing and healing.” [It] “You want products that have the most optimal amount of active ingredients and are free of harsh ingredients. You want to heal your skin, not attack it. Protect your skin, and it will protect you.”

Dr. Sturm is a pioneer of anti-inflammatory treatments for skin care and also created the Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Facial (also known as the Blood Facial or Vampire Facial). At Assaya, we combine facial treatments with clean, effective products from great physicians and non-invasive skin care protocols and techniques. The Glow Facial was designed and developed exclusively for Wellness Oasis by Dr. Sturm himself.

Inspired by the popular Sturmglow treatment, this facial combines the most soothing anti-aging and lymphatic drainage techniques with LED light therapy. The 90-minute skin treatment begins with a thorough skin assessment. During a one-on-one consultation, we identify your current skin concerns and goals. The expert facial therapist decides to focus on hydration and skin rejuvenation, and leads me to the massage bed.

She started with a gentle scalp massage to relax my facial muscles, then applied makeup remover to my face with lymphatic massage strokes, followed by a thorough double cleansing with an enzyme cleanser to gently smoothen my skin. I’m not a huge fan of extractions, but the facial therapist’s skilled hands were light to the touch.

By the time a deeply hydrating face mask was applied to my face, my senses were ready to drift off to sleep. While I dozed off, LED light therapy was utilized to help regenerate my skin. Exposure to this regenerative light stimulated skin cells and prepared the surface for a generous application of Dr. Sturm’s serum. Each ingredient in my personalized skin cocktail was selected by my therapist to deeply hydrate, reduce the appearance of fine lines and protect the skin’s barrier. This was also accompanied by a lifting face massage that applied pressure to specific points on the face.

The skin-nourishing experience was completed with Dr. Sturm’s iconic Glow Drops. These anti-aging heroes are infused with rose extract, hyaluronic acid and purslane to restore radiance and hydration to the skin. After 90 minutes of skincare bliss, my face was lit up with a youthful glow that no amount of makeup could replicate. It was just the beauty prep I needed before a delicious Blue Zone-inspired dinner at Asaya Kitchen.

Asaya Kitchen serves delicious Blue Zone cuisine

I headed to Assaya Kitchen just in time to watch the sun set over the harbor and the hotel’s infinity pool. Known among foodies for its Mediterranean menu and sustainable sourcing ethos, the restaurant was packed for dinner. Tables were filled with a young, stylish, jet-setting crowd. Organic wines and fresh nectar were served as appetizers to dishes showcasing the diversity of olive oil, grains, seafood and local ingredients. Assaya Kitchen’s incredible dishes, including Cantabrian anchovy focaccia buns, zucchini flower and spirulina olive oil spread, seaweed tagliolini and Spanish sea bass, are worth a second visit.

I returned to the lodge that night feeling content, relaxed, and grateful for the opportunity to take a break from work. As soon as I laid my head on the linen sheets and monogrammed pillow, I was transported to dreamland.

Rossano Ferretti’s best hair era

An early morning flight back to Manila was pushed back to a later time for a cut, color, and treatment at the newly opened Rossano Ferretti Hair Spa. Known for his signature Ferretti method, or “invisible” cut, Rossano is a renowned maestro who has styled many celebrities, including Kate Middleton, Reese Witherspoon, Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lawrence. His life-changing $1,500 story had gone viral in the beauty industry, prompting me to extend my trip to Hong Kong by a few hours. I was curious to see how this experience would be different from any hair treatment or cut I’d had before.

I’ve always believed in investing in a good haircut and a trusted stylist. My philosophy is that low-effort treatments allow you to reduce the hassle of daily routine. When I sat down with Luca Benica, Salon Manager at Hair Spa, we discussed the need for haircuts and colours that would minimise styling and retouching. He told me: “At Rossano Ferretti, we focus on the shape and movement of the hair. We never follow trends. Instead, our goal is always to bring out the natural beauty of the hair.”

Luca began by mixing the hair color. “For our hair spa, we only source dyes from the best hair suppliers,” he said. The dye concoction he expertly applied to the roots contained barely a trace of the pungent smell of ammonia. At Rossano Ferretti, hair is considered an extension of skin. “That’s why we only use the highest quality natural ingredients and products,” Luca assured. While the dye was penetrating the hair, a hair mask was also applied to the ends. This unique process significantly reduced the wait time without compromising the result.

Once the coloring and treatment were complete, Luca began demonstrating the Ferretti Methodo Cut. “Now it’s time to dance with your hair,” he declared. Following the hair’s natural shape and subtle movements, Luca created seamless terraces of layers. “We also call this the invisible haircut, because you can’t see where the layers end and begin,” he explains.

For a quick blowout that you can easily do at home, I sprayed a few spritzes of Volumizing Spray on my roots and a drop of Protect & Shine on my ends. I came out of the hair spa with voluminous, shiny, and bouncy hair. Since going to this salon, I’ve been letting my hair down every day and enjoying my best hair look. Method Cut has greatly reduced my need for professional blowouts and hair styling. Still, since showing off my A-list celebrity-like hair cut, I’ve been getting the most compliments on my wavy hair.

I boarded my overnight flight feeling rested and rejuvenated from my wellness experience at Asaya Hong Kong. My skin was smoother, more radiant and visibly hydrated. I barely needed any concealer or foundation powder. My hair had risen from the ponytail grave. As the plane took off for Manila, I decided to add another Dr. Barbara Sturm The Glow Facial and Rossano Ferretti Method Cut to my list of reasons to return to Hong Kong.