Urban Retreat is neatly tucked away at a little corner in The Curve @ Mutiara Damansara and it can be easily missed because its location isn’t exactly blessed with high traffic. If it’s located in the heart of all the action it wouldn’t be much of a retreat, would it? Just in case you can’t find it, head towards MPH on the 1st floor (yes, that big bookstore) and you’ll see Urban Retreat next to it.
Upon entering the establishment, you’ll be greeted by an eclectic blend of scents. It’s a mix of the usual lavender and citrus together with the less common coffee. It is a scent that is both refreshing and relaxing. The unusual mix comes from the range of products that Urban Retreat uses. A wide selection of Harnns products from Thailand can be found neatly laid out on a rack. These products use rice bran base oils which absorb easily and provide various health extras such as anti-aging, sun protection and it also acts as a natural moisturizer.
The menu isn’t as extensive as most spas purely because Urban Retreat isn’t a full fledged spa. Just the basics are provided such as massages, body scrubs as well as some interesting express treatments. The express menu is suitable for people on the go who are looking for a short break from all the madness of daily life. 30 minutes and RM39 is all you need. You can choose to either pamper your head and shoulders, your back and upper body or your feet.
Urban Escape (RM99 for 60 minutes) is the signature treatment and it is a unique blend of Thai and traditional massages. It incorporates both gently palm strokes as well as the deep Thai style stretching. Sounds pretty painful but it really isn’t. If you’d prefer to cut out the stretching, the aromatherapy massage would suffice. No stretching and cracking of any sort for it is just a gentle massage that is soothing and relaxing. It is actually very refreshing. A must try would be the body scrub (RM99 for 60 minutes) which uses a special blend of Balinese coffee to detoxify and remove impurities. The coffee scent is not pungent so it would be suitable for both coffee lovers and non coffee lovers. If you really can’t tolerate the slightest scent of coffee, there are other options such as lavender and oriental herb to choose from.
The rooms are pretty modest with curtains covering both walls and entrance. The lights are pretty dim so peeping toms probably won’t be able to see much anyway. To put you at ease, the tranquil sounds of birds and waves surround the area and to some extent, puts one to sleep. The therapists are all very capable and extremely polite. Urban Retreat doesn’t have the hoity toity air to it and is not only reserved for the glamorous. Its simplicity, modesty and reasonable prices is what makes it a true retreat.
KL 
