Timeout: Sawatdee Kah

The new Sheva Spa at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel offers Thai treatments fit for royalty.

By LAURA TAUB
The new Sheva Spa at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel offers Thai treatments fit for royalty (photo credit: Courtesy)
The new Sheva Spa at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel offers Thai treatments fit for royalty
(photo credit: Courtesy)
In Thai, the greeting is pronounced differently depending whether the speaker is male or female. Walking into Sheva, the new spa at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel, it was Sawatdee Kah, rather than Sawatdee kraup, which I was greeted by, together with the traditional gesture. A number of Thai beauties, all dressed in traditional clothing made me feel as if I was a very special guest arriving at their doorstep. I was immediately transported to Thailand. And not the backpackers’ version, but rather the sublime experience saved for the rich and famous. I felt as if I was somehow beamed there without having to spend hours on a plane.
Managed by Thai-born Naomi (“Nam”) Patiscrari, who arrived in Israel following her heart, after falling in love with an Israeli businessman, the spa was opened as part of her vision to bring Thai culture to Israel. Now only a couple of months after opening, Sheva has already made a name for itself as the best new spa in Tel Aviv.
Before opening Sheva, Patiscrari visited a number of spas in Thailand’s exclusive resorts, drawing inspiration for the design, treatments and exclusive Thai atmosphere.
She then designed the place creating an authentic ambience complete with fragrances of Royal Thailand, Thai furniture and artifacts, and many other details that transform the place into a luxurious and alluring Asian haven. The traditional ambience is enhanced by the predominantly purple and gold décor, distinctive furniture and lighting, and exclusive works of art brought specially from Thailand.
The staff is made up of qualified Thai therapists with many years’ experience in a variety of treatment methods. It wasn’t hard to persuade me to forget all the minor day-to-day cares and surrender to the Thai dream. After the greetings were over and I changed into a luxurious robe and slippers provided to me, I got ready for my treatment.
My therapist took me to the room, gave me a foot bath and continued with the classic Thai massage. To say that I was not disappointed would be an understatement.
In fact, I think the massage I got at Sheva was one of the best I ever had.
The complex offers a state-of-the-art gym, a relaxation area overlooking the blue sea and treatment rooms designed to be evocative of Thailand.
The Sheva Spa uses Natural Line Shea Butter, exclusive Casmara cosmetic products, and body care products from the leading Moroccanoil brand. All treatments begin with a welcoming foot-bath ritual, and combine traditional Thai techniques with classic treatments.
Prices of treatments start at NIS 450. Sheva Spa at the Tel Aviv Hilton Hotel, (03) 520-2211.
The writer was a guest of the spa.