Wet room for hot and cold baths, steam room, and sauna. Photo by author

Locker room. Photo by author

Relaxing lounge. Photo by author

Sauna. Photo by authorPhoto by author

Heated stone 'beds' at the ganban'yoku. Photo by author

Body scrub room. Photo by author

Private massage room. Photo by author

The gym has views of the bay. Photo by author

The infinity pool with a view of Manila Bay. Photo by author

MANILA -- Known for its buffet restaurant chain, the Vikings Group has opened a unique spa facility in Pasay City that offers massages, recreational activities, such as billiards, KTV, and mahjong, and, of course, buffet dining.

Located beside the Esplanade Seaside Terminal at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, the Marina Bay Spa and Lifestyle Club is a facility made for tired (and hungry?) Filipinos. It's pushing de-stressing to a new level.

“The owners wanted to come up with something unique, something Manila has not tasted yet. You'll notice when you go around, the only thing missing are the bedrooms because you feel like you're in a hotel. That's the concept, bringing out the amenities of a hotel and putting it together in a more approachable and modern setting,” explained spa operations manager Erlene Chichirita.

The design is contemporary, but still has a familiar spa feel. It has 20 private massage rooms, a room dedicated to foot reflexology and mani-pedi services, a body scrub room, hot and cold baths, sauna, steam room, and a ganban'yoku, a traditional Japanese-style room that has heated stone “beds.”

Two of the massage services include the Marina Signature Massage and the Crystal Chakra Healing Touch. According to general manager Nenita Cabrera, their signature massage also has a Filipino touch, while the chakra therapy uses healing stones matched to the client's zodiac sign. Therapists likewise use gongs in the room to signal the start and end of a massage session.

“We do not only offer holistic and therapeutic services but we offer massages that fit to your needs. We have a chakra crystal healing stone, which focuses on meditation and healing and also based on your zodiac sign,” she said.

Massage services start at P1,500. The spa's therapists are experienced in the field and have been trained by the spa service manager who has spa experience in Maldives for eight years.

Two unique feature of the spa are the relaxing lounge and buffet dining room. The “relaxing lounge” is a theater-like room equipped with plush reclining chairs and LED screens where guests can relax before or after a massage session. The massages also include buffet dining.

But what makes this spa standout is the lifestyle club component. For a fee, clients can acquire membership status that gives them full access to the facility. Besides the spa, the club has conference rooms, a gym, a salon, entertainment room with KTV private rooms and a mahjong game room, and an infinity pool—all only accessible to members.

The infinity pool has a glass wall feature and surrounded by spaces where guests can relax and watch the famous Manila Bay sunset. Most of the rooms also have an amazing view of the Manila Bay, which adds to the charm of the facility.

“The facilities include a fitness studio, where we will offer certain classes like yoga, Pilates, TRX suspension training, boxing, Muay Thai, etc. We have personal trainers who can assist our members as well,” Cabrera shared.

Membership packages start at P60,000, which is valid for six months; P90,000 valid for one year; and the corporate package worth P270,000 valid for one year.