CHI, The Spa at the Shangri-La: Sydney, Australia

Relaxation redefined in Sydney's CBD

It takes something a bit special for a hotel with spa to win an award these days in a busy market, even more so when that award is the Best Spa in Australasia and the South Pacific by 81,000 readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller magazine. CHI, the glamorous hotel spa at Sydney's Shangri-La Hotel did just that in February 2012. At a glittering ceremony in London, winners were revealed across 11 categories, rating the readers' favourite spas across the globe, confirming this is the perfect place for a spa break.

CHI, Shangri-La's signature spa brand, made its debut in Australia back in 2010, drawing inspiration from the origins of the Shangri-La legend, and is designed to be a place of inner peace, enchantment and wellbeing. This large spa is indeed that; an incredibly spacious facility, it has six private spa suites and a menu of over 24 indulgent treatments based on authentic natural healing methods from Asia.

(We have a luxury hotels review on the Shangri-La, Sydney)

The Decor:

Drawing on Asian principles and style, the spa interior aims to offer guests a unique combination of uncluttered space and privacy, shutting them off from the stresses and strains of modern life. The decor teems with Asian artefacts, and the colour scheme fuses warm woods, and ambient lighting; it's hard not to feel tension slip away and a feeling of relaxation as soon as you enter its doors. Each spa suite features its own changing area, steam shower, toilet exclusively for guests' use before their treatments, three of them featuring infinity edge spa tubs for a soak. Beyond the reception area, the relaxation room has booths where you can sit quietly before and after your treatment, getting into the right frame of mind for indulgence.

The Treatments:

A wide range of traditional therapies are on offer in a well balanced menu, from massage and body treatments to facials and entire spa journeys. These can be done as day spa packages, as an all encompassing luxury spa break or as a couples' spa break. Choosing can be difficult; do I want to relax and revitalise my body, or rejuvenate and treat my complexion?

In the end, the treatment I picked is an old favourite; a 1-hour hot healing stone massage. First, however, I completed a form in the relaxation room which would reveal my Chi element, which turned out to be Water, and from which the basis of my massage would evolve. Next I was taken to my spa suite, and invited to change, take a seat and await my therapist. Before the massage began, she performed another common Asian ritual, the cleansing of my feet, then explained the oils that would be used on my skin to complement my Chi element.

The focus of this treatment is the back, and while the stones were heating up silently in the background, the massage began with hands and oils, gliding strokes to relax following meridian lines. My therapist was intuitive, with prior knowledge that I tended to store tension in my lower back, and would undoubtedly have knots around my shoulder blades and through my shoulders. Her work initially was to release the tension and smooth out the knots.

Eventually the stones were introduced in pairs, the first two being placed in the palms of my hands. Continuing, pairs of stones were gradually introduced, still following meridian lines and eventually coming to rest in strategic places along the spine. The heat is not only deeply relaxing, but also assists in the deeper absorption of the oils into the skin.

The Verdict:

This is a treatment which can take up to two hours, and for a deeper and more relaxing experience I'd thoroughly recommend it as part of any spa break. At the end of the hour, I was not only physically and mentally very relaxed, but my back also felt looser. This is a spa which fuses the serene with plenty of glamour, one which is not only centrally located for the CBD, but also provides guests with a truly holistic experience. It was a shame to have to go back to work afterwards, but I have to admit it was without any stress either in mind or body, and that's great for a Tuesday afternoon.

A Second Visit: The Himalayan Hot Stone Massage

UTM went back to Chi, The Spa for a later review. It first ran as a separate article and was brought onto this page in October 2026.

Besides a terrific location in the heart of the Sydney CBD, CHI The Spa at the Shangri-La Hotel has an impressive lineup of facilities and treatments to experience on a romantic getaway.

• Location: Level 2 of the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, in The Rocks.
• Treatment menu: CHI’s massages and treatments are based on traditional Asian wellness practices, along with Australian healing techniques and botanical ingredients, and Sodashi products. Overall there is a wide range choice, from massage and body treatments to facials and entire “journeys”, which can be experienced as day spa packages or wellness retreats.
• What else is there: There is a lovely relaxation room and an indoor pool which is part of The Health Club.
• Why go: Whether you’re a guest of the hotel, or staying in the Sydney CBD, the spa is an elegant space in one of Sydney's most sought after hotels and locations, with a menu of indulgent treatments which are perfect for a romantic getaway.

The Space

CHI is Shangri-La's signature spa brand, and it draws inspiration from the origins of the Shangri-La legend. It is designed to be a place of inner peace, enchantment and wellbeing, and this lavish and expansive spa is indeed that. It has six private spa suites, coupled with a comprehensive menu of indulgent treatments based on authentic natural healing methods from Asia. From the moment you walk into the spa you are met with a wonderfully uncluttered space and a strong sense of privacy. The decor is adorned with Asian artefacts, warm woods and ambient lighting; it's hard not to feel tension slip away as a wave of relaxation overtakes you. Each of the six spa suite has its own changing area, a steam shower, and a toilet exclusively for guests' use before their treatments. Several have the added bonus of an infinity edge spa tubs for a leisurely soak. And there’s a lovely relaxation room with booths where you can relax in silence before and after your treatment, getting into the right frame of mind for a morning or afternoon of pampering.

The Treatment

Back at home I’d perused the spa menu and almost salivated over the choices, but in the end due to some time constraints I opted for a 90-minute Signature Himalayan Hot Stone Massage which had come highly recommended. After filling in a form to reveal my Chi element, which turned out to be Earth, and from which the basis of my massage would evolve, I was shown to my spa suite to change in private. Then the  treatment began with a traditional foot cleanse, and I was given information about the oils that would be used to suit my Chi element. The massage began with hands and oils and a focus on my back and neck, where I always store tension. Before long the hot stones were introduced, natural salt stone crystals containing 84 naturally-occurring minerals and salts. The first two were placed in the palms of my hands, followed by pairs of stones tracking meridian lines and eventually coming to rest along the spine. The heat is deeply relaxing, while also helping the oils to absorb into the skin. This is a wonderful treatment to not only soothe sore muscles but promote physical and mental relaxation, and they told me it’s also very good for jet lag. After the massage ended I had time to reflects. CHI spa is glamorous yet serene, providing guests with a truly holistic and relaxing experience. It was a shame I didn’t have time to try anything else, but there’s always a next time. 

UltimateTravelMagazine.com Loves 

• The Asian decor.
• The quiet ambience.
• The choice of treatments on offer.

Insider Tips  

• There are a few rules and regulations visiting this spa. For one, upon arrival at CHI, a consultant will have a chat to you before your treatment to determine your element and ensure that you have the treatments that suit your needs.
• If you are staying in the hotel, make time to use the indoor swimming pool at The Health Club.

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Coming into Sydney for a few days? Pack Ya Bags can arrange the rest of a visit around a morning like this one — harbour walks, a day out to the Blue Mountains, guides who know The Rocks beyond the obvious — for visitors over from New Zealand or across from interstate. Drop them a note at info@packyabags.com.

Editor's note. Fact-checked and updated on 14 October 2026. This page now brings together two UTM visits to Chi, The Spa: the original review and a later account of the Himalayan hot stone massage, which previously ran as a separate article. The spa is still open at the hotel, still six private suites, three of them with infinity-edge tubs, and the treatment menu is longer now than when either visit was written. The hotel now styles itself Shangri-La Sydney, and the 2012 reader award was for best hotel spa in Australasia and the South Pacific. The menu has broadened well beyond the Asian healing traditions described in the first visit, with Australian botanical treatments, Sodashi products and device-led facials alongside them, and the spa's current brochure lists the Himalayan Hot Stone Massage in 60 and 90-minute versions. Rather than the Chi element questionnaire both visits describe, the spa now sends a health consultation form with your booking confirmation. The Health Club and its heated indoor pool are on Level 2 of the hotel. The spa is an adults-only facility, and 12 to 17-year-olds can be treated only with a signed parental consent form.