Whilst researching for this article all of the spas below were an instant relief from the streets, buses and people outside. Located in central, easy to get to places, this is a list of urban spas. With a focus on treatments and ‘circuits’ that last a few hours, these are places to go to after a busy day, during that mid-week slump, or as a cheeky escape with a friend or partner.

Some in this list have all the expected facilities of a spa; pools, saunas and a variety of treatments. Some though are just a great place to get a massage or a variety of treatments. So if you just want to take a few hours out of your life, check out this list – from the modern to the simple to the spiritual, one of these below will be able to satisfy your desires.

1. Yin Yang Pie (Recoleta)

Yin Yang Pie’s massages come highly recommended. With a small, simple salon, the price list reflects this simplicity. Offering face, feet and body massages they also do manicures and pedicures. No treatments exceed $150.

Their philosophy is all about relaxation and the importance of this to overall mental and physical well being. They aim to ‘stimulate mental activity and positive energy’ which they also believe helps to combat stress. A session here will therefore benefit your body, but also your inner energy.

Located just off a side-street in Recoleta, different treatments are carried out in small, tent portioned areas. Manicures and pedicures are carried out on comfy chairs and sofas whist you watch life bustling past outside.

For more information, click here.

Experiencia Nirvana (Photo courtesy of Experiencia Nirvana)

2. Experiencia Nirvana (Palermo)

Located in trendy Palermo Soho this spa fits in with the general ethos of the barrio. With an emphasis on spiritual and homeopathic treatment, its first floor studio really is a sanctuary from the streets outside. There is soft lighting and a tranquillity that is made possible by their attention to the smaller details.

Whilst you are experiencing a treatment there will be incense burning and being wafted around the room. There are also sounds and music which add to the tranquillity and spiritualness of your time spent there.

There is a big emphasis on couple massages and also ‘circuits’ here. There are ‘special circuits’ available which are ‘chocotherapy’, hot stones and also ‘winetherapy’. Which all take these items and incorporate them into traditional massages.

Open Monday to Saturday 9am–9pm. Sunday 3pm-9pm. For more information, click here.

Markus Day Spa (Photo courtesy of Markus Day Spa for Men)

3. Markus Day Spa for Men (Recoleta)

Markus day spa for men proudly labels itself as ‘Latin America’s first spa exclusively for men’. Although you will find other male spas in Buenos Aires this is the only one that is truly for the modern, metrosexual, man. Its unique entrance policy does not take away any of the quality of pampering in the interior.

All of the usual services are adapted to the male clientele; facials, waxing, aromatherapy and even wine therapy. It also has those little details which make it just that bit easier to see a man in there. There are four barber chairs where you can enjoy a clean shave and the general ambience despite is modern, clean and un-fussy.

As you enter the reception off the busy street you instantly feel like you’ve entered an underwater cave or something equally aquatic. And that is really the feel of the whole spa. Tucked underneath an apartment block it is a secret den of relaxation and pampering.

From 1st September 2011, open Monday to Saturday 1-11pm, Sundays 1-9pm. Wednesday and Sundays 20% off all day long. Monday and Tuesday 15% off from 12-2pm. For more information, click here.

Ser Spa (Photo courtesy of Ser Spa)

4. Ser Spa (Palermo)

Yes this spa is run by the yoghurt brand. Aside from the occasional wall display and included snacks it is easy to escape the advertising. With a fresh green décor throughout the entire interior it feels fresh, calm and clean inside.

This is certainly a place to go and relax. With sleeping rooms and a wonderful winter garden room, a visit here is designed to incorporate a significant period of relaxation. There is a pretty Jacuzzi in the centre, as well as a steam room. You can also visit the gym for a workout if you so wish.

One of the best features of the Spa are the ‘spa days’. Choosing either Relaxation, Beauty, Pause or Fun you can enjoy a series of services lasting a few hours.

Open Monday to Friday 7.30am-10.30pm, Saturday 11am-9pm, Sunday and holidays, 12-8pm. For more information, click here.

5. Verde Manzana (Recoleta)

Probably the most hidden of all these urban spas, ‘Green apple’ is located on a third floor apartment. With a little Yoga studio, the treatment rooms are located in numerous rooms in the apartment. With the staff padding around barefoot, the feel is very homely.

A big sign behind reception announces the philosophy behind the spa. The motivation behind the spa is that it is not enough to leave relaxing to the weekends. For the well being of mind and body one should learn to relax mid week, or more importantly when one needs to.

With a variety of massages, reflexology, aromatherapy, hot stones and a variety of aesthetic treatments there is a wide choice for how to relax. Importantly the spa is designed to fit it with your busy life.

Open Monday to Saturday, 9am-9pm. For more information, click here.

When one normally hears a tale of another’s travels, often the stories seem too ridiculous to be considered true and it is questionable that they are only designed with the purpose of entertaining an audience, as opposed to reciting true facts that have occurred.

However, when in discussion with my overly handsome, eccentric, gay, promiscuous, but ever so enchanting artist-friend, Ricky Kruger, 25 from Toronto, Canada. I quickly realised my naivety as unusual things can indeed happen and this tale that I kindly choose to share with you, promises to entertain with absolute certainty and is very far from anything mythical.

Ricky decided to come to BA as a split-second decision to pursue his dream of painting the beauty of another city. When asked by his friend Kat if he would accompany her to Buenos Aires, he simply dropped everything, replied ‘yes’ and made his move down south.  Along with him, he had one small suitcase, a paintbrush and pallet, US$500 – which quickly withered to US$300 due to one to many Caipirinhas – and lack of ability to speak any Spanish.

Feeling vulnerable at the realisation of how crippling no money and an inability to communicate could be, Ricky was about to give up on his dream just one month into his trip, until he conjured up a plan to fight a battle against linguistics, sober up, and focus. He might not have had a grasp of the language, but he did have another very special talent, which he was not going to let waste away in this foreign territory.

“I offer erotic massages, and dinner dates, I’m looking for businessmen in particular because I know they will be able to afford my rates! Oh and I speak no Spanish,” was the content of his advertisement accompanied by a topless photo of himself grinning with two thumbs in the air. Stepping into old habits, Ricky decided to go back into the field that initially bought him to Buenos Aires – hard labour working as a male escort, strictly dating of course!

People responded promptly to his short advertisement on the internet and so the dates began. A few people backed out at times, but mostly foreign businessmen here on vacation, called upon him to give them company across a dinner table and in return he happily collected up to US$100 for a few hours ‘work’.

The ‘erotic massage’ part itself was only a ploy for attention, Ricky, who claims to be no fool in the bedroom, was certainly puzzled at what this actually entailed. Most men did just ask for dinner dates, but one wanted the full package. Eager to provide an excellent customer service, he did not back down to his date’s demand, he obediently followed him back to his house and “let his hands wander everyplace he knew they shouldn’t have”. With no previous experience, his rather amateurish performance turned out surprisingly well and after an uncomfortable 35 minutes he was another US$100 up.

After a few more days of exchanging conversations with clients, eating exquisite food and paying off the overdraft, Ricky, easily distracted by monotonous routine was feeling rather ungratefully sad at the ease of this project. Luckily, amongst another day of checking responses to his proposal online, he opened his inbox and was faced with what he described as the “magic email”: “I want you to myself for three days, I want tours of the city, I want to go on dates, and I want massages. For all of this I am willing to pay you US$1000.”

In a rush of excitement, and no loyalty towards his other customers, Ricky cancelled all plans for the week, making himself completely available for his mysterious fan. He was ready to do just about anything for that sum of money.

To his disappointment however, lathered up with aftershave, and dressed in his best outfit, fingers moisturised and ready to go, he was stood up. The mysterious fan remained a mystery as he was a no show. In a rage of anger Ricky responded with a hearty email: “I am really disappointed you did not show up, I was ready and waiting, I could really do with the money. How could you?” (A basic summary of course)

After an apology from his possible client and still no date at this point, they continued to exchange emails, Ricky only participating in this virtual relationship in hope that he would eventually get the cash he longed for. They discussed interests, hobbies and reasons for being in BA. Ricky was informed his mystery man was an investor with properties in Punta del Este, Uruguay. Ricky informed him he was a painter and a young free spirit in search of some money to survive in the city. As the conversations thickened the mystery man proposed great interest in Ricky’s paintings, explaining that he wanted to buy the art work to place inside his new properties. Impressed with the work Ricky had showed him, the agreement was made impersonally where Mr Mystery offered to buy one painting for US$1000, having only seen it photographed online, there was to be no three-day date and certainly no massage.

The only catch was collecting the money from another stranger in person; the mystery man gave Ricky solely an address and a warning: “Do NOT drink with this man under any circumstances!”

They went to a bar of course and Ricky bought the first round, thinking he could afford to be generous. Amused by this grey-haired 50-something man, he sat patiently on his date, watching alcohol seep through every pore of this mans body whilst he embarked on an emotional journey throughout their conversation. He laughed, he sang, he shouted, he cried, but he didn’t utter a single word about money.

As the night drew to a close, Ricky, usually not shy, hesitantly plucked up the courage and said politely, “I’m not here for your personal pleasure; I am here to collect the money for my paintings.” This triggered tension between the two, the lonely man feeling rejected and confused at the idea of giving US$1000 to his date, left the bar stating he had no idea what was going on, and left Ricky to pay the bill.

Definitely bemused by this mans acquaintance, Ricky wasn’t sure whether he was angry at what had just happened. He was $100 down, missed out on other dates, and still had no sign of the promised treasure. Another angry email was indeed due and was followed by a swift reply from Mr Mystery. It was very apologetic and stated that another meeting had been arranged for him with this friend and now there would be no cock-ups! He even offered him one of his beach houses to live in rent-free next summer as a space in which he could expand his artistic skills.

Upon second meeting they got on very well, the painting was sold, and after some running around Ricky did receive his survival money. The previously drunk man invited Ricky for a better suited lunch instead where they ate luxuriously, without wine as an accompaniment and before his departure Ricky left with a handy sum of money and a very satisfied smile on his face!

He expects to move into his beach house this summer and will continue to create more masterpieces. He is still friends with the slightly random alcoholic man. But the orchestrator of all this, the mystery man who composed the god sent email still remains anonymous.  Ricky is still in BA both painting and continuing his escort services that led him on this bizarre but fortunate adventure.

The moral of the story? In the words of the man himself: “Do everything you’re not supposed to and amazing things like this will keep happening.  It was my stupidity, lack of money, no food, desperation, and of course good looks that got me here!” Strange but so true.