An Urban Retreat @ Hammam Spa, Toronto

Hammam Spa recently invited me to experience their Turkish Bath and Spa in Toronto. It was my second visit in a very long time and I was just as impressed that this subterranean urban retreat existed along the hustle of King Street West. Opened in 2005, the spa boasts 8,000 square feet of day spa bliss and a 500 square foot steam room that is infused with essential oils.

Turkish baths are traditional steam-filled grottos. The one inside Hammam Spa is particularly dark and of course, steamy. The steam room is co-ed, so I recommend bringing a bathing suit so you feel more comfortable or use the wrap provided in your locker.

So Why Steam? - Steaming is supposed to open your pores and release toxins from your skin, while loosening dead skin cells. I always leave relaxed and my skin is glowing after I spend an afternoon in the steam room. The steam will also relax your joints and muscles - my shoulders are a wreck. I spend all day sitting at my desk staring at a computer screen. I find that hanging in the steam room before a massage usually helps me unplug and unwind. Iced towels and cold water are available to help you cool down between sessions.

I paired my visit with a 60-Minute Argan Oil Massage ($155) which was unscented and natural, leaving my skin quite soft and shiny when I left. My registered massage therapist worked out all my kinks while I mellowed out on the table and eventually fell into a deep sleep. If you have access to massage benefits, you can use them here and claim the amount back from your employee health insurance - so make sure to ask for a formal RMT receipt when you leave. After my massage I spent some time reflecting in the Tea Lounge, reading magazines and hydrating as much as possible while nibbling on snacks.

In addition to massage therapy Hammam Spa also offers facials, scrubs, wraps, waxing, manicures and pedicures. Use of the steam room is complimentary with any treatment of $100 or more OR you can choose a single visit for $55. We loved it here and definitely see ourselves coming back.


Hammam Spa
602 King Street West - Toronto 
(416) 366-4772