My esthetician, Danielle, told me she had a healing touch—and she wasn’t lying. The facial I received at the Conrad Spa Indianapolis wasn’t just about someone applying products and then washing them off. Everything was intentional and everything was about healing.

The Conrad Spa Indianapolis is a place of beauty, a serene retreat in the middle of a bustling downtown. I visited in December when the streets were decked with holiday cheer and a street busker played holiday tunes on the saxophone outside the hotel, his melodies floating through the property.

Spa Profile: Conrad Spa Indianapolis

The Conrad Indianapolis is a property committed to art. From the guestrooms to the spa to the gallery down the hall from the lobby, there is art everywhere. There is even a Picasso in the spa’s relaxation room. 

Here’s what you’ll love about Conrad Spa Indianapolis: 

• It’s a place of beauty. Wherever you look, there is art, there are flowers, there is an elegance that invites you to let go of the stress of the world and relax in a place of serenity and charm. They boast—deservingly so—that their spa is a place where relaxation is an art form.

• The relaxation room invites you to unwind and tarry there, reading the art catalogs, the coffee table books, or just sitting back with a glass of orange-infused water. The space is filled with museum-curated art from sculptures to paintings. The relaxation room is new to the spa. The spa opened in September 2021 under a new flagship and Conrad Hilton took out the salon and put in the relaxation room. 

• It’s impossible to say too much about the art at the Conrad Spa. Artists on display include Joan Mitchell, Helen Frankenthaler, Sabina Klein and several Indianapolis-based artists. The sculptures are designed, according to the spa menu, “to elevate the sensory and visual calm of the spa.”

I arrived early so that I could enjoy the sauna and steam room. I had intended to enjoy the pool, but I forgot to pack my swimsuit. The lockers were tall and the locker room was filled with amenities including plenty of towels. Showers were situated near the saunas and steam rooms. The shower stall was large and allowed for a luxurious shower.

I then moved to the relaxation room where I claimed a lounger in the corner, settling in and getting my “spa head” on in preparation for the facial. It was a lovely room, unique to this spa in large part because of all the art.

Danielle came to get me and brought me into the treatment room. Again, beauty is a high priority with the spa and the theme carries through into the treatment room. The bed was covered with a soft blanket, velvety to the touch. We talked about what sort of product I used on my face and any concerns that I had about my skin. I told her about some issues I was having with flaky skin near my ears and we discussed possible solutions.

Danielle has been with the spa for more than nine years. When the ownership changed, she said the products she uses changed, but her techniques remained the same. After she left the room, I disrobed and melted into the warmed bed. 

Once she returned, the ritual began and the service was focused on healing, on tranquility. Using ambre aromas, Danielle waved them over my face and told me to take three deep breaths in and out through my nose. She then wrapped my face with hot washcloths, embracing my face with heat and moisture.

Her hands were gifted and every step of the process, from exfoliation to moisturizing, was done with great intention, with circular motions designed to warm the senses.

During the facial, she used jade rollers and hot rocks in addition to her hands, making the most of the tools. While steaming my face, she gave me a foot and hand massage, always present, recognizing that part of healing is making a connection, letting energy flow back and forth between the two of us. 

Once the facial was done, she made some excellent recommendations for future care of my face and skin. While I again dallied in the relaxation room and then dressed and prepared to re-enter the wintry world, she put together a selection of products that were waiting for me at the check-out desk.

The spa also has a lovely retail area, one that provides not just facial products but also robes, memorabilia from the spa, and haircare products. As for the art? Most of that is also available for purchase.

The spa has several partners whose expertise they use to ensure the spa is superior in every fashion. The art is curated by Long Sharp Gallery, essential oils and aromatherapy are provided by Ambre Blends, skincare products are by Jan Marini Skin Research, and the floral decorations (which can be found throughout the spa) are by Rusted Window.

While I did not partake of it, there is spa dining available with options for brunch (yogurt parfait, oats, antioxidant smoothie, hard-boiled eggs, bacon or sausage and English muffin), lunch or dinner (greens salad with seared salmon and a side of fruit).

Cost: 60-minute Customized Facial ($130), enhancements range from dermaplaning ($60) to glycolic peel ($50) to foot and leg scrubs ($25)

Insider Tip: Give yourself plenty of time to spend at the spa surrounding your service. They have created a thoughtful, intentional escape and you will get the most of your experience if you take the time to indulge in the steam room, pool, fitness center and relaxation room. Consider reserving one of their curated experiences—The Art of Celebrating, Love Is an Art, or Art of It All—which are packages designed both for the individual and for couples.

Hours: Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Tuesday and Wednesday; Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Address: 50 W. Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

Phone: 317-713-5000

Email: Danielle.Campbell@ConradHotels.com

For more information and to book a service, visit the website. Follow on Instagram: @conradindy

[Images by Bridgette Redman]

Bridgette Redman, who is a second-generation journalist, fell in love with spas and travel while working as a writer and editor for 16 years at the Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association. As a freelancer for the International SPA Association, she co-wrote two textbooks, nine workbooks and numerous case studies on spas. Her freelance career began in the 80s and she has written for publications in Michigan, Arizona, California, and Texas along with several regional and national publications. She is a committed storyteller who loves sharing narratives which improve people's quality of life and build community. Born and raised in Michigan, she currently lives in Lansing with her husband and son. See more of her writing at www.bridgetteredman.com