Bentley Hotel, Le Kalon Spa, South Kensington - 5 bubbles

Sweet Spy loved pretending to be a Turkish princess in the white-marble decadence of the authentic (and enormous) hamman at this upmarket West London hotel spa. Terrific treatments, great staff and a rare chance to experience sophisticated seclusion.


First impressions?

How did they welcome you?

What happens next?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

How did you feel afterwards?

What happens afterwards?

Long-term effects

Was it worth it?

What else could you have?

What do you wish you'd known before you went?

Any special features?

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

Le Kalon spa is in the Bentley Hotel in West London, just a short walk from Gloucester Road tube station. The Bentley is an upmarket hotel with a white Victorian façade, and an imposing white-and-gold lobby. The footman at the door accompanied me to the spa, as it can be a little complicated finding your way down to the basement.

The spa's reception has a water feature to one side -- the soothing sound of trickling water permeates the spa.



How did they welcome you?

Kimi greeted me politely and efficiently. I was a little early, so she gave me a seat in the reception area and asked me to fill in my consultation form. On our last visit Single Spy struggled to see her form in the dimly lit relaxation area, so I was grateful for the extra light in reception.



What happens next?

Leaving the water feature behind you, there is a long corridor with the gym, changing rooms and a treatment room off to one side. At the end is a relaxation area, a curtained-off treatment area and the hammam.

The changing rooms are small but each has a shower, toilet, and lockers containing your robe and slippers. The showers are well stocked with sample-sized containers of shampoo, shower gel, and conditioner. The changing area is luxuriously decorated, in keeping with the rest of the hotel.

Once I had changed into my robe, I met Kimi in the relaxation area. Kimi talked me through the treatments that I had booked and prepared me for my first ever hammam experience. Once I was briefed (take lots of breaks, use the cold water provided to cool down) and given a goat's-hair mitt and black-olive soap to scrub myself with, Kimi led me into the steam.

On our last trip to Le Kalon, Single Spy was given a sarong to drape around her inside the hammam. I felt a bit overdressed going into a hot, steamy room in my spa robe. It was a struggle to get back into the robe every time I needed a break -- we'd like to see a return of the sarongs!

I'd been told it was a proper hammam, but that didn't quite prepare me for the size of the room. I'm sure we've all sat in a cupboard and slathered ourselves in mud in what is little more than a glorified shower before. If so, the hammam at Le Kalon will confound your expectations. It is a large room, all in white marble. There are benches to sit on around the edge, with taps that run cold water that you can pour into decorative metal bowls and splash upon yourself, pretending to be a Turkish princess. In the middle of the hammam is a large marble slab, about knee-height, and this is where heat treatments take place.

The steam heat is HOT. I never thought I'd enjoy pouring a bowl of cold water over myself, but I did. With enthusiasm. Several times. Then, when dainty splashing didn't quite cut it, I resorted to sticking my head under one of the taps. Ahhhhh, cold water!

After I'd taken in my decadent surroundings and adjusted to the heat, I got to work scrubbing myself with the traditional hammam mitt. I enjoyed doing this, and can see it being a fun part of the experience if you visit the hammam with a friend or partner.

I took three breaks from the hammam, which I spent in a comfy chair in the relaxation area outside with a big bottle of water.



Which treatments did you have?

I had the Be Bodylicious package (£199). This package includes an hour in the hammam, an exfoliation, massage, and then a facial.



What were the treatments like?

My therapist, Michelle, came to greet me from the hammam. She took me to the curtained-off treatment area outside the hammam, where I would be having my treatments. I had been concerned that other people would be wandering about outside the curtain (the kind you get on a hospital ward) but Le Kalon is a small spa so I needn't have worried -- nobody disturbed my treatments and I had total privacy.

The steam in the hammam softens your skin in preparation for the exfoliatiation and massage. First, Michelle used a Karin Herzog serum exfoliator to remove any flakes of dry skin that I hadn't buffed off inside the hammam. Between the hammam mitt and the serum exfoliator, I was definitely squeaky clean.

I had a quick shower, before returning to the treatment area for some more pampering. First, Michelle applied an intensive body moisturiser from top to toe, and then gave me a back and shoulder massage with almond oil. The massage was extremely soporific; when your muscles are relaxed from steam and heat, a massage seems have an extra effect on your body. In other words, I was totally, utterly, could-not-be-more-relaxed and unknotted, at this point.

And yet there was more! I had a Karin Herzog oxygen facial. Michelle started by using a choco-cherry cleanser and toner to completely clean my skin before applying a glyco-rose serum exfoliator. Michelle removed the exfoliator, and followed it with a face mask before finishing with a chocolate-cherry moisturiser. My skin felt (and looked) completely refreshed, hydrated, and lovely.



How did you feel afterwards?

Very relaxed. Muscles I'd forgotten about were unknotted.



What happens afterwards?

I sat in the relaxation area with a magazine, and ordered a hot chocolate from upstairs which was delivered by a very smart man in a suit.



Long-term effects

The hammam experience at Le Kalon had the main effect of making me want to go back for more. A group of friends would really enjoy this treatment.



Was it worth it?

The Be Bodylicious package is a real special-occasion treat at £199. But we thought it was well worth it as the hammam is totally unique.



What else could you have?

Le Kalon offers carefully chosen gorgeous therapies and treatments, including the Karin Herzog range, which we love at The Good Spa Guide both for its oxygenating properties and its chocolate-containing qualities!


You can have Karin Herzog facials, manicures and pedicures, and also Le Kalon's own massage treatments. You can have reflexology and waxing, too. A therapist will put together a treatment schedule for you if you're not sure what to have.



What do you wish you'd known before you went?

To allow more time to take tea in the hotel afterwards. A very refined close to your day. Just allocate yourself more time than you think you'll need to enjoy Le Kalon.



Any special features?

The hammam is the star. Also, the fact that even if you're staying in the hotel, you have to make an appointment to use the facilities, means that the spa is not crowded and you get a sense of privacy -- always of value in central London. Then there's the terrific treatments in the fantastic hammam. And did we mention that there's a hammam?

I was particularly impressed by Michelle, who commutes for four hours each day to work in Le Kalon. When I asked "why?!" she explained how the spa is a special place to work. I couldn't argue with that...



Who do you think would like it?

Anyone who enjoys an authentic spa experience, especially if you like to spa with friends. There's no pool, so Le Kalon won't suit you if you need to get your laps in for a spa experience. If you don't like or can't have heat treatments, this is also not the spa for you.



Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave Le Kalon 5 bubbles because of the quality of the hammam and the skills of the therapists. We liked the fact that the spa offers a limited range of treatments; this means the therapists can ensure they are delivered well and to a high standard.


See more on how we rate the spas.



Would you go again?

I'd absolutely love to go back to Le Kalon. In fact, I'd quite like to move into the Bentley Hotel and use the hammam every day. Also, I'd like all my meals delivered to me by a smart man in a suit, thank you very much.




We visited Le Kalon in January 2010


Like the sound of this? You're in luck.

Follow this link to book a special offer at Bentley Kempinsky Le kalon with our partners lastminute.com



See also:


* Contact details for Le Kalon


* Is it safe for me to use heat treatments?


* Hammans, Rasuls and Serails