It may sound like a cliché to say a spa whisks you away from the hustle and bustle of central London, but at DAMU, it genuinely does. Tucked inside The Mandrake hotel in Fitzrovia, the spa feels worlds apart from the city outside. As you settle into a treatment, it’s almost impossible to believe that Oxford Circus is just moments away. If you’re looking for more ways to relax through this Winter, we’ve shared a roundup of some of the best Winter luxury spa experiences.
DAMU: Ancient Philosophy Meets Modern Wellness
DAMU, which opened in 2025, is a sanctuary rooted in ancient Mesopotamian philosophy, reimagined for modern London. Named after the god of healing, it weaves together elemental rituals and cutting-edge technology in a way that feels serene and quietly futuristic. The Mud Caves draw on sustainably sourced Alpine clays and steam to detoxify and restore, while the Origin Pool — described as the world’s first multi-sensory, zero-gravity wellness journey — layers water immersion, vibration, chromotherapy and a bespoke 8D soundscape to guide guests into a deeply meditative state.
Beyond these signature experiences, a curated menu of rituals, from the 125-minute Rebirth to the two-day Metamorphosis, blends bodywork, advanced light therapies and plant-forward dining into immersive, whole-person journeys. The result is a space where nature’s rhythms and scientific innovation coexist seamlessly, offering meaningful, restorative transformation.
Floating Into Relaxation: The Origin Pool
We begin our morning at DAMU in the Origin Pool, a soundproofed, cocoon-like space dressed in stark, monochromatic white that feels almost otherworldly in its simplicity. There are no distractions here — just water, light and sound. As we float effortlessly, held by the buoyancy of the pool, a carefully choreographed sequence of shifting light and resonant sound begins to unfold around us.
Colours pulse softly against the walls, vibrations ripple through the water, and an immersive soundscape hums and swells, gently encouraging the mind to slow. It’s surprisingly disarming; within minutes, the outside world feels very far away. Suspended somewhere between wakefulness and meditation, we find ourselves completely switched off, guided into a state of calm that feels both deeply physical and quietly transformative.
Image courtesy of Esme Constanti
Detox and Restore: The Mud Caves Experience
The real highlight of our morning comes next: a journey through DAMU’s Mud Caves. It’s almost impossible to reconcile the setting with what lies beyond the hotel’s front doors; within the walls of DAMU, we step into an expansive, cavernous space that feels elemental and even further removed from Fitzrovia.
At our therapist’s suggestion, we begin with a short spell in the steam room to warm the body and prime the skin. Emerging lightly flushed, we’re guided to a series of treatments laid out in silver dishes. We start with a vigorous body scrub, polishing and exfoliating to create the perfect canvas for what follows.
After a rinse in the showers — all seamlessly contained within the caves — we move on to the first mud: a detoxifying clay mask smoothed over the entire body. For the face, we’re given a more delicate clay, which we blend ourselves with rose and hibiscus extracts to enhance its balancing properties. The ritual concludes with a deeply moisturising algae mud, cocooning the skin and locking in hydration. By the end, our skin feels softer, brighter and noticeably renewed — a transformation that is both visible and tangible.
Post-Spa Nourishment: YOPO’s Plant-Based Wellness Menu
Riding the post-treatment high at DAMU — skin smoothed and minds noticeably lighter — we take a quick shower and change in the spa’s sleek, private changing rooms, emerging refreshed and unhurried. From there, it’s a short walk from DAMU through The Mandrake to YOPO, where the experience continues with the hotel’s newly launched plant-based wellness menu — a thoughtful extension of the morning’s rituals, designed to nourish from the inside out.
Developed exclusively for DAMU at The Mandrake by Chef Bettina Campolucci Bordi, the wellness menu is priced at £30 per person for two courses. Rooted in nourishing, energising plant-based cooking, it feels perfectly attuned to the post-spa mood — designed to sustain that sense of lightness gained in the Origin Pool. Expect bold, vibrant flavours, thoughtfully sourced ingredients and a balanced, holistic approach to eating that mirrors the spa’s considered philosophy.
We begin with a tomato and plant-based ricotta salad — fresh, light and perfectly tart, it sets the tone beautifully. Next comes a braised cauliflower steak served over a generous sweep of romesco, its warming, gently spiced richness and velvety texture extending that drowsy, post-spa glow. Paired with a glass of champagne, it’s celebratory without disrupting the calm. By the time we step back out onto the streets of Fitzrovia from DAMU, we do so feeling totally reset.
Image courtesy of Rebecca Dickson via Sauce Communications for DAMU & The Mandrake
Where Ritual, Technology and Nourishment Meet
DAMU delivers exactly what it sets out to do. The combination of ancient-inspired rituals, modern technology and thoughtful, plant-based dining feels cohesive rather than conceptual, with each element building naturally on the last. It’s a well-executed experience that moves seamlessly from treatment to table, leaving you noticeably restored but not removed from reality. For somewhere so close to Oxford Circus, that balance — genuine calm without excess — is perhaps its most impressive achievement.
