Yi-Spa

Slate, dark wood, and a foot bath to start

Those who come from the hustle and bustle of Hackescher Markt and close the door behind them here will immediately notice the difference. The studio at Monbijouplatz is furnished with natural materials, including slate, stone, and dark wood, complemented by colored glass, large plants, and its own light and sound concept. Every treatment begins the same way: with a foot peeling bath, which serves less for cleansing than for arriving. Afterwards, you proceed to one of the treatment rooms; for two people, there is a double lounger so that couples or friends can lie next to each other. The establishment provides bathrobes, disposable underwear, and flip-flops, and at the end, exotic cold drinks, tea, and a small Asian snack await. The house rules are strict and precisely because of that, pleasant: speak quietly, silent mobile phones, no smoking. Companions without their own treatment and small children remain outside to ensure the room stays calm. The establishment has been on the market since at least 2009, making it one of the older addresses of this type in Mitte. First-time visitors should arrive a little earlier, as reception schedules time for a brief preliminary discussion, and you’ll want to put on your bathrobe at your leisure anyway.

Thai techniques, herbal compresses, and masks from the fruit bowl

Professionally, everything revolves around Asian massage art, combined with natural cosmetics. The classic Thai massage works with stretches and pressure along the energy lines and starts at 120 Euros for one hour. In addition, herbal compress massages, body peelings, and facial treatments are on the menu, the latter starting from 105 Euros for 45 minutes. The ingredients sound more like a kitchen than a cosmetics shelf: coconut, yogurt, tamarind, honey, papaya, avocado, and mango, plus the Thai skincare series THANN, which the establishment carries exclusively. Against stress, it’s less about a single technique than the entire ritual: foot bath, treatment, post-treatment relaxation with tea, all in a fixed sequence that requires no thought. The prices are introductory prices and increase with duration. The underground car park is available to guests free of charge; those arriving by train should alight at Hackescher Markt and walk two minutes along Monbijoupark. Bookings are made in advance, spontaneous appointments are rather the exception, and vouchers are also available, though not in Euros, but in house-specific units. A few steps are enough for the return journey to the city, which keeps the transition pleasantly short.