Nestled in downtown Seattle, Washington, you’ll find the lavish Le Spa de l’Hotel LOTTE, a hidden oasis in the renowned South Korean hotel brand, the Lotte Hotel. The Lotte name is synonymous with luxury and elegance in Asia.

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In the U.S. there are only four locations, and one of them is in the Pacific Northwest. Named after the young protagonist, Charlotte, in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s novel, “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” Lotte is a nickname for the main character.

The hotel is touched with Korean elements and artwork. The walls are decorated with works from Korean portrait artist Sun Young Kwon, who uses delicate materials to create two- and three-dimensional paintings. Next to the hotel reception is a vessel of “maesil,” a traditional Korean welcome beverage made with sweet Korean green plums and marinated with honey or sugar.

After sipping a glass of the refreshing beverage, I took the elevator to the spa where the entire floor is devoted to wellness. As I stepped out, I felt like I had walked into a futuristic dream of what relaxation would look like on a moon colony.

 Here’s What You’ll Love About the Le Spa l’Hotel LOTTE:

• Korean elements. If you’re looking for something different than typical spas in the West, the spa is elevated with beautiful, soothing elements from Korea such as the lovely herbal scents flowing through the vents.

• Relaxation Lounge. A heavenly space with individual pod-like areas so guests can wind down.

• Spa Nourishments. Guests are offered tea, sparkling water or prosecco, along with a perfect combination of dried fruit and unsalted almonds while waiting for their appointments.

• Minimalist Décor.  To tamp down distractions, you won’t find clutter, like stray magazines, in any of the spaces, which helps to clear the mind for rest.

• Gorgeous Facilities.  A treatment allows guests to access the modern gym, dry sauna, and steam room from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Le Spa de l’Hotel LOTTE feels like a slice of heaven in a bustling city with its pure white, minimalist, flouncy interior. The walls are draped in luminescence cloud-like drapes from floor to ceiling.

Just a few years old, the luxury spa has become a premier destination in the Pacific Northwest for body treatments, facials, sound healing, and other beauty services. The relaxation lounge feels like a pillowy oasis. Each high-backed white leather chair has a small, round timber table, perfect for complimentary drinks like prosecco, tea, or sparkling water.

Sitting next to a small bouquet of white flowers, small healthy snacks like unsalted almonds and dried peaches nourish clients, along with small “Korean Napoleon” hard candies, a nod to its Korean connection.

The white aesthetic carries over throughout the spa to the four individual treatment rooms, illuminated with tea candles. To begin, the therapist let me choose the oils I would like for my signature massage. I loved having the choice because each day induces a different mood. Deciding the scent before the treatment works well for me rather than deciding weeks in advance.

The massage therapists use Bellefontaine Switzerland, a product line developed by Peter Yip who hailed from an artistic Hong Kong family and founded a cosmetic line in Switzerland. The scents ranged from lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, grapefruit, and bergamot. I chose bergamot, a citrusy fragrance with a hint of spice not often offered in spas.

Occupying one large corner room with enormous windows blanketing two walls, the couple’s massage room faces the city skyline. An expansive Vichy shower room, large enough for two people, is located inside the couple’s private room. In the future, the treatment menu will expand to offer traditional Korean body scrubs, famous for removing layers of dead skin, in the treatment room.

While the fitness center is open 24 hours for hotel guests, the dry sauna and steam room are available for spa clients from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.. Sauna reservations are recommended and spa clients receive a complimentary 20-minute reservation.

Insider Tips: I booked my sauna appointment before the massage so I could begin to unwind and prepare for my knots to be worked on. The dry sauna was opposite the steam room, which made it convenient to hop back and forth. The steam room used a distinctively Korean herbal scent that I’ve noticed in traditional Korean spas I’ve gone to. With a medicinal foundation to the fragrance, the aroma was incredibly pleasant and soothing.

Cost: $199 for 50-minute signature massage. Spa memberships are also available ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Daily)

Address: 809 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: (206) 466-8648

For more information about Le Spa de l’Hotel LOTTE, visit their website. Follow on Instagram: @lottehotel_seattle

[Photos by Helen Hwang/Courtesy of Lotte Hotel Seattle]

Helen I. Hwang is an award-winning journalist, author, and mechanical engineer. Her works have appeared in The New York Times for Kids, Eater San Diego, People Magazine, Parents.com, Trip Advisor, Huffington Post, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine,TravelSavvy.com, and other publications. She has also written a book, titled All Grown Up: Please Touch Museum and Its Move to Memorial Hall, for the Please Touch Museum, a children's museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In addition, Helen worked as a researcher for the Peabody Award-winning NPR radio program, Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Over the years, she's lived on three continents and traveled to more than 40 countries. She currently lives in San Diego, CA, the 16th place she's called home. More about her can be found at helenihwang.com.