USP This is the first Asia spa for Espa, the company that also lends its name and products to such salubrious hotel spas as The Park Hotel in Kenmare, London's Mandarin Oriental and The Grove in Hertfordshire. A 3½ to one staff-to-client ratio means that service is attentive, but discreet.

AMBIENCE Classic Espa design means a restful atmosphere, thanks to dark smooth tiled walls, elegant greenery, trickling water features and a soothing fragrance hanging in the air.

EXPERIENCE The therapists talk you through each treatment while you receive it, which means no surprises, and makes for a more relaxing experience. Body treatments start with a foot bath and cup of Chinese tea, and there is a choice of oils, which you select by smell at the start of the treatment. There are also separate men's and women's thermal suites, with sauna, crystal steam room, ice rub and tropical rain shower, which are a good way to spend an hour before your treatment.

FOOD There is no restaurant in the spa, but there are eight restaurants in the hotel, and of them, Verandah serves a healthy light menu that is included in some spa packages. The spa serves excellent teas, including the Peninsula's specially created Darjeeling tea, chrysanthemum tea, Chinese oolong and black lychee, which each have different health benefits.

IN CROWD American and Asian hotel guests and wealthy residents.

WALLET WATCH Body treatments last one hour and 50 minutes and cost HK$2,000 (£139), including the Ama Releasing Abhyanga, which starts with a scrub and massage, followed by a facial and head massage. Facials start at HK$990 (£69) for 50 minutes and massages at HK$940 (£65) for 50 minutes.

NEED TO KNOW Peninsula Spa by Espa, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Rd, Kowloon, Hong Kong (tel. +852 2920 2888, www.hongkong.peninsula.com/)

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