Crystal steam room at the new ESPA flagship at The Joule in Dallas. Photo by Eric Laignel
Dallas is booming—and it has nothing to do with oil, football or the Ewing clan. In recent years, this North Texas metropolis has become an art and culture hub, with world-class museums and performing arts centers designed by A-list architects.
While name-brand spas and salons have always had a presence here, last October took it to another level with the opening of the ESPA at The Joule, now the flagship ESPA location for the entire United States. Created as part of the sleek hotel’s two-year-long renovation, the two-floor, 8000-square-foot Spa was imagined by designer Adam Tihany as a “subterranean sanctuary.” Along with black marble walls, dim lighting and plenty of sound insulation, you’ll find nods to the geothermal origins of spas with a crystal-infused steam room and a unisex vitality pool with built-in massaging loungers. (We also love touches like the ice fountain, experiential showers and the soundtrack of contemporary tunes in the super-sized sauna.)
Treatments run the gamut from massages, scrubs, wraps and nail care to the targeted anti-aging facials that ESPA does so well. Offering a taste of everything, the signature 110-minute “The Joule” service includes a gentle dry-brushing, exfoliating scrub, full-body massage, and scalp massage, with the brand’s mineral-rich Pink Hair and Scalp Mud. For an even more customized experience, book two, three or four hours of “ESPA Time,” and decide what you want when you get there, after a chat with your therapist over a warm foot wash and scrub. Book three hours or more and you’ll enjoy a spa lunch, too. thejouledallas.com
—Sandra Ramani