The Historical Centralbadet in Stockholm
Photography by Centralbadet
My favorite way to unwind in a new city is by enjoying a full day at a local spa, unwinding with a facial or massage, and spending time in the steam room and sauna. My visit to Centralbadet gave me the relaxing experience I was looking for, as well as a snapshot of what the bathhouse culture has been like in Stockholm for over one hundred years.
Built in 1904 by architect and entrepreneur Wilhelm Klemming, Centralbadet is one of the oldest historic spas in Stockholm. An advanced concrete construction technique was used as the outer structure of the spa, making this the very first building in Stockholm to be made of the now-ubiquitous material.
Photography by Centralbadet
To reach the spa, you enter through an unassuming, winding garden courtyard into a softly lit wood-paneled entry, leading into the historical bathhouses and treatment rooms. There is a soft blending of the interior of the spa and the garden, making the entrance all the more special. The style of the exterior and interior is authentically Art Nouveau, with any renovations painstakingly adhering to the craftmanship of that decade.
Photography by Julia Montanez
Photography by Julia Montanez
For 410 kr (about 40 USD) on the weekdays, and 550 kr (about 55 USD) on the weekends, visitors can exclusively use the spa amenities for three hours. These “Roman” facilities include a variety of spa pools: a whirlpool, thermal pool, cold bath and kneipp bath, as well as five saunas, and an infrared lighting booth. There is a gym as well, and a rooftop terrace. This spa day rate includes a robe, towels, slippers, and locker.
Once you enter the locker rooms, the space transports you through an authentic Art Nouveau interior, with emerald green tiles and decorative accents of the era.
The spa offers many treatments which can be purchased individually or with a bathhouse entry. A variety of therapeutic massages, reiki, cellulite treatments, and naprapati, a type of massage and stretching derived from chiropractic treatments, among others. Over a dozen facial treatments are offered which include scrubs, relaxing facials, and mirconeedling. There are even appointments for eyelash tinting and extensions. The spa facilities are on the second level of the large establishment, along the periphery of the pool - the gem of the bathhouse - which is currently undergoing renovations with an estimated finish date of August 2022.
Photography by Julia Montanez
In the treatment room, I enjoyed the Gemstone Luxury Facial by Malin Bostedt, a France-trained Swede with an intuitive touch, who performed a relaxing hour treatment using products from Eminence, an organic skincare line. Ms. Bostedt included a pressure point facial massage that relaxed me halfway to unconsciousness.
Products Used:
Charcoal Exfoliating Gel Cleanser
Tumeric Energizing Treatment
Camellia Glow Solid Face Oil
Photography by Centralbadet
After your time at the spa, you can wrap up your stay at the restaurant which offers a tidy menu of organic meals, from salads to burgers. I had the halloumi burger, a thick slice of fried cheese between a burger bun which was unbelievably good. It was perhaps a surprising post-spa meal, especially on a menu with many salad options, but I gave into temptation and didn’t regret it. The quality of the food is excellent, and the atmosphere of the dining area, somewhat of an atrium covered with plants and mirrored walls - a thoughtful way the outside garden blends with the interiors - added another layer of unexpected loveliness to the experience.
Centralbadet
Drottninggatan 88
111 36 Stockholm