Urban Retreat Onsen Spa — Local services in Kuala Lumpur

I booked the onsen experience. Booking was made through WhatsApp. You can also book through Klook, it's cheaper there.

I arrived 15 minutes before my appointment. The ambience was calming already. I was greeted and led to sit on the sofa, water with lemon was given to me. The receptionist gave me some options of salts to add to my onsen water, they're presented in a nice way on the wall. You'll have to either give a deposit if RM50 or your driver's license.

Slippers were provided before entering deeper into the premises. There's a separate area for women's onsen. Instructions were given to me on how to use the facility, I forgot the name of the lady that assisted me, but she was well versed and gave me clear directions.

The onsen was. Very. Hotttt. So be careful. But the experience was wonderful and relaxing. Dim lights and high ceilings. The shampoo and conditioner smelled good too. Once I was finished, I exited into the main ladies area just outside my onsen room. Hair dryer was provided and a bunch of other amenities like cotton pads, ear swabs, moisturizer, toner, hair styling tools, etc. I appreciate the attention to detail. I will mention tho, the cotton pads were not good quality and it disintegrated after a few swipes on my face. There is also a toilet, where the bidet was leaking.

After I was done with my onsen, I exited to the VIP lounge where I was given passionfuit cheesecake and ginger tea, along with the towel I used during my bath. This is a mixed area and I was uncomfortable, I did not stay long here.

I would like to recommend a separate lounge area for ladies and to change to a higher quality cotton pads. Also, when I booked through WhatsApp, the overuse of emojis in the correspondence did not seem very professional.

Overall, it was wonderful and new experience for me. Much needed TLC for myself. The staff were gentle and pleasant and the vibes were...

Truly outstanding!

My wife and I had such a wonderful experience here. We took the Onsen and massage package as recommended by a staff over the phone. Upon arrival, we were greeted warmly at entrance and were immediately given a welcome drink while we fill up our details on a card. After that we were given a short briefing and a short tour around the place as it was our first time.

Men and women had separate rooms for Onsen. Everyone has their private onsen rooms equipped with a shower. Toiletries, towels, hair dryer, a Japanese Yukata, bottled water and a complementary collagen face mask were provided for Onsen. So thoughtful! Before the session, we were given options to choose which type of salt we wanted for the onsen. We were also given the option to choose which temperature of water we preferred (they recommended 38 degree Celsius for beginners which was perfect for me). After the Onsen session, we were ushered to the VIP lounge to cool down while we waited for our time for our aromatherapy massage.

Su and Liz (not sure if I spell their name correctly) were assigned to my wife and I for our massage. Best part about the massage is that they allow you to choose which part of the body you want them to focus more on. I’ve never seen any other places that can curate to your needs like this. Amazing! Su and Liz were very experienced. We had a good 1 hour massage session and came out super relaxed and loosen up. Su was also very accommodating to ask if the pressure was okay throughout the massage.

At the end of it all, our experience ended with a complementary dessert and ginger tea which tasted really good. We were also given a small gift before we left.

Overall, the service was really above my expectations. I’ve been to many places but this one is by far one of the best. Highly recommended and will definitely be back...

A Malaysian Friendly Onsen Experience.

I visited Urban Retreat Onsen Spa and chose the Journey 3 package: 1 hour of onsen, scrub, and massage each. Arriving 15 minutes early, I selected my onsen salt and filled in massage preferences. They confirmed my request for a male therapist, which I appreciated.

This was my first onsen experience, and I was excited! The private onsen room had a wooden tub with hot water and my chosen salt, a shower, stool, and pail. However, the pail had black mold. The water was initially too hot, so it would help if they asked first-timers about their preferred temperature. Despite this, the water felt relaxing and cleansing after a while. Bottled water was provided to stay hydrated. After the onsen, I changed into a yukata and went to the waiting room.

In the private massage room, I still felt warm and requested cooler air, but the AC was centralized. They provided a cold glass of water, which was nice. I chose an aromatherapy massage with lavender oil, which was calming and soothing, though the strokes could use improvement.

For the scrub, I changed into single-use underwear and chose a walnut scrub. It exfoliated well and felt like another massage. My skin felt incredibly smooth afterward. The in-room shower only had shampoo, no bath soap, and the drain seemed clogged.

After changing, I was served a delicious cheesecake treat and a refreshing ginger drink in the waiting room.

Overall, it was a good experience but they should ask first-timers about water temperature and improve both massage skills...