As a complete spa-buff, I was thrilled when the sprawling Nirvana finally opened its doors in the city. Having tried out both the salon and the spa over the last month, here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect from the swanky facility…

First impressions

The massive double doors lead into a dimly-lit interior where strains of soothing music greet you. The muted colour scheme, wooden flooring, busts of Buddha and gurgling fountains provide the kind of ambience one would expect from a first-rate spa. The reception staff is courteous and if you go with an appointment, like I did, you’ll be whizzed into the pre-treatment area without further ado.

This area, known as a relaxation lounge, is set up with four massive loungers plied with plush blankets, trays of herbal tea ready to be poured and a stack of magazines laid out neatly. The idea is to switch off and channel some serenity that will make the spa treatment all the more effective. Does it work? I have to say that the hypnotic light of the lava lamps, the huge orange-lit Buddha mural looking down on me and the dimly lit space had a strangely hypnotic effect that had me almost dozing off.

What’s on offer?

The facility offers a wide range of salon treatments, including wedding make-up, hairdos, dye jobs, waxing and threading. The spa menu is extensive, and includes a variety of massages (Swedish, hot stone, Thai to name a few), facials, sauna and Jacuzzi, as well as some cutting-edge weight loss treatments using state-of-art machinery that looked right out of a futuristic sci-fi movie.

Staff

There is nothing worse than spa staff that wants to engage you in conversation or chat and giggle amongst themselves when all you want is to be left alone and escape into dreamland. Luckily, both the salon and spa staff that I encountered seemed well trained in spa etiquette and other than a few courteous remarks about the treatment itself, stayed mum. Hani, the Lebanese stylist who oversees the facility, is friendly without being overly-inquisitive as salon personnel often want to be. My only gripe was that there were too many unoccupied girls milling about; this unnecessary crowding of the common areas looks a little messy and takes away from the serenity of the ambience.

Products

Expect OPI and Essie nail colours in the nail spa, both of which have excellent professional-quality product lines. The skin care goodies (which I didn’t try out) include two ranges, both of which offer interesting alternatives to the Dermalogica and Guinot products that are in vogue in most salons of the country. There’s Elemis, the luxury British skincare brand which was recently endorsed by London’s iconic The Ritz as its spa line of choice. Do remember though that the indulgence comes with a hefty price tag attached.

For those with skin conditions, Murad, the US-based brand launched by leading dermatologist Howard Murad, is a good option.

Pricing

Luxury isn’t cheap and a few hours at Nirvana will bring home this unfortunate truth like nothing else. A manicure/pedicure combination will set you back as much as PKR 2,300 while the spa treatments cost, on average, PKR 5,500. Even a basic eyebrow shaping at Nirvana is double the rate of what you will pay at your neighbourhood salon. While one doesn’t mind splurging at the occasional body treatment or facial, the salon prices don’t seem justified considering that other, equally good places, are priced much more competitively.

Who you’re likely to bump into

I don’t know if it’s the location (not very centrally located as it is in DHA Phase 5), the high prices, or just the fact that the place is huge enough to afford privacy, I haven’t run into anyone the couple of times I’ve been to Nirvana. This can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on how you look at it. It’s bad if you’re the sort of person who craves attention all the time and likes to upload selfies with the who’s who you encounter. It’s great if, like me, you want me-time and relaxation without worrying about how you look or enduring the endless waits that busy salons often make you suffer.

What we loved/What we didn’t

I absolutely loved the spaciousness of the place - with separate men’s and women’s sections that house as many as eight treatment rooms each, and a separate floor for the nail spa and salon, Nirvana has never been the fish market that other such places are reduced to during peak hours. As for the treatment itself (I opted for a Swedish massage), it was the stuff decadent dreams are made of. The Filipino therapist worked her magic on my tired muscles methodically and patiently; the temperature was just perfect, the oil smelled great and pretty soon, I had dozed off so relaxing were her expert fingers.

The massage room isn’t sound-proof and at one point an ugly altercation broke out somewhere in the building that jolted me back to reality quite rudely. Luckily, the embarrassed therapist had the offending people shushed quickly but that meant she had to leave the room just as I was getting comfortable and that’s not the most ideal situation.

Food facts

The Nirvana café is housed in the same building and offers a pretty decent menu, with everything from chicken wings to Thai stir fries and some scrumptious desserts. While food is prohibited in the spa area, you can order a drink or a bite to nibble on as you get your nails done.

Who would like it

An average person can’t regularly fork out the small fortune it takes to spend a day at Nirvana so it’ll appeal to those looking for a special something on an occasion such as an anniversary or a birthday. A spa voucher would make for a great Mother’s Day gift.

Final verdict

Nirvana offers a top-notch spa and salon experience, with personalized attention that I loved and well-trained staff who’ll wait on your hand and foot. I can honestly say that the massage I got from the Filipino therapist here was better than what I paid for in the Philippines itself. Just don’t expect it to become your weekly guilty pleasure if you’re on a budget.