At The Godfrey Hotel, they know that sometimes what you need is an intimate experience delivered by a caring team member. Set in the River North area of downtown Chicago and surrounded by restaurants and nightlife, its Spa Boutique offers a peaceful respite from the bustle of downtown.

Spa Profile: Spa Boutique at The Godfrey Hotel

COVID-19 Safety Updates and Protocols:

These changed the day I arrived with the new Chicago mandate that everyone regardless of vaccination status ages 2+ must be masked in public indoor settings.

• The Godfrey checks the temperatures of team members every day and requires that they are masked. 

• Layouts have been reconfigured to allow for social distancing. 

• All guest areas are disinfected with EPA-approved antimicrobial products every 30 minutes or after each service.

• There is a flexible cancellation policy so that guest can cancel if they are exposed to the virus.

Here’s what you’ll love about Spa Boutique at The Godfrey Hotel: 

• All of the spa’s services are available either at the spa or in the privacy of your hotel room at The Godfrey.

• The Spa Boutique is open late so that you can have a pre-bedtime service that nearly guarantees a good night’s sleep.

• There is a wonderful selection of body treatments from a monsoon ritual to a four-hand massage to an espresso rub, scrub and chug.

I arrived on a Saturday in August when the city sky was buzzing with an air show and nearly 200,000 people had descended on downtown for the various sporting events, festivals and other happenings. But all was serene at the Spa Boutique. 

The spa is an intimate one—a reception desk, two treatment rooms and a single couch between them. Not much space is needed, for if you are a hotel guest, the therapist will come up to your room. Since I was not a hotel guest, I was told in advance that I should arrive at my service time as there are not lockers or other amenities. 

The spa opens at 9 a.m. each day and stays open until 8 p.m. weekdays, 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 6 p.m. Sundays. It allows for a guest to have an evening treatment and then slip off to their hotel room to sleep or continue the relaxation of the spa in private.

The treatment rooms are a mix of warm creams and browns. One treatment room is equipped for a couples’ treatment and the other for one person. Either can be adapted for any sort of service—massage, facial, body treatments or waxing. Spa has its historic roots in water and the Spa Boutique treatment rooms beckon you to recall those origins with one wall that has gentle three-dimensional waves as a white wall covering flowing horizontally across the room. Demure spotlights cast ovals of yellow light to increase the warmth.

I was greeted by the massage therapist, Jeff. He was warm and enthusiastic, welcoming me with a big smile that immediately put me at ease. He showed me the room and we talked a bit about my treatment. I was scheduled to receive a 50-minute massage with two service enhancements—Body Melt Foot Therapy and Body Melt Scalp Therapy.

He asked me if I had specific needs and I shared with him my therapeutic goals. He described the services and what he would be doing. He then pointed out that it was important to be relaxed in order for the massage to be effective and the service would start in such a way as to encourage relaxation. 

One of the things that impressed me about Jeff was that nothing felt formulaic even though he must have given this same speech hundreds of times. He seemed genuinely interested in forming a connection, in making the service personal and contributing to healing and renewal. 

He also explained how masking was handled. That morning, Chicago had reinstated its mask mandate for all public indoor spaces. Jeff explained that while I was face down, I could lower my mask if I needed to, but once I was face up, the mask would have to stay on.

He left the room so I could undress and I took the time to espy the bottles of product that would be used during the massage. It included a CBD-infused hand sanitizer gel and a CBD massage oil with lavender. I wasn’t expecting that, but I was pleased.

I sank into the warm, heated bed and covered up, letting the spa music lull me into a peaceful state. Jeff returned and began the massage with gentle, short strokes, almost pats as he took a tour of my body, preparing each spot for more attention and giving me permission to relax.

Throughout the massage, Jeff guided me in breathing, sometimes having me inhale the aromas he held under my face, and other times pairing long motions across my body with my exhalations. 

I had told him that my neck had been giving me a lot of issues and he spent a fair amount of time gently working on it, finding a way to do so that wasn’t at all painful or stressful. Once I was lying on my back, he spent more time there, using my body weight together with his fingers to release the pain and restore flexibility.

The service enhancements, each of which were 15 minutes, were incorporated into the massage rather than done afterward as add-ons. They were done when they made sense during the massage. The Body Melt Foot Therapy added extra time for a calf and foot massage. Jeff worked in a peppermint balm mask and then wrapped my feet in steaming hot towels.

The extra attention to my feet was heavenly and it’s easy to see why the spa director says it’s an insider favorite. The Body Melt Scalp Therapy uses a warm aromatic lime oil that was applied to my scalp, neck and shoulders. It contributed to the muscle tension relief and—even through my facial mask—smelled delicious. 

Once the massage was done? I was able to turn my head without pain for the first time in months. So, I highly recommend the enhancements.

After the massage, Jeff didn’t just offer the usual advice to drink a lot of water, but he also talked about ways I could keep flexibility in my neck. He said he could not stress enough the importance of stretching, of taking time out each hour to move and not let my muscles get frozen. 

If you’re looking to have something to eat before or after your service, you can visit The Godfrey’s popular restaurant called the I | O Rooftop Lounge. It is also surrounded by more than two dozen galleries and while I did not find it, there is supposed to be a free gallery tour every weekend. 

But if you’re experiencing a busy weekend in the Windy City, it’s well worth your time to make a reservation at The Godfrey’s Spa Boutique and insert some tranquility into your schedule.

Cost: Focus Massage ($135/50 minutes), Body Melt Foot Therapy and Body Melt Scalp Therapy ($30/15 minutes each)

Insider Tip: There are parking structures nearby, but they tend to be expensive. The bell attendants/valets at The Godfrey are happy to help you find a taxi or watch for your ride-share if you choose to do that. Don’t hesitate to add a service enhancement such as an eye contour or cupping therapy.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Address: 127 W. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60654

Phone: 312-649-2000

Email: godfrey@godfreyhotelchicago.com

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

[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