One&Only Cape Town

It’s easy to forget you’re in the middle of a bustling city at the One&Only’s serene spa sanctuary, which sits alone on a manmade island in the resort’s marina, surrounded by tropical gardens and nestled under the imposing façade of Table Mountain. The 11–treatment room spa, the centerpiece of this brand-new urban resort that has redefined African chic, is operated by Espa and features the same products, service, and treatments that fans of the One&Only empire have come to expect. The menu also offers a number of exclusive local options, like the Essence of Earth and Ocean ($200), which starts with a sea salt scrub, a seaweed wrap, and a head massage before moving on to the main event: a full body massage using warm seashells. But the feature that has fashionable Capetonians in a tizzy is the spa’s Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio, where Bastien Gonzalez (aka “the Prince of Pedicures”) has set up shop and trained a team to employ his signature method of buffing rather than polishing the nails. Treatments, from $45; 888-877-7528; oneandonlyresorts.com.