O'Kari, a traditional oriental hammam with sauna, exfoliation, snow room, and massage

O'Kari Marais isconsidered one of the besttraditional hammamsin Paris. It must be said that this wellness center, located behind the Pompidou Center, succeeds in immersing visitors in a timeless atmosphere wheretwo hours seem to pass in five minutes, or perhaps the opposite. Time seems to stretch out immeasurably, with no way of knowing whether it is still daylight outside or whether night has already fallen, as the relaxation areasare located in the basement in beautiful rooms with exposed stone walls.

This loss of the notion of time is also encouraged by the richness and duration of the packages on offer, ranging from a minimum of 1.5 hours for the O'Kari Moon discovery package ($110) to 4.5 hours for the O'Kari Ultime package ($370). The O'Kari Signature package (€190) includes all the essential treatments for a deeply relaxing experience, and although it is advertised as lasting 2.5 hours, this is the minimum duration—we stayed for 4 hours. 

After checking in, leaving your belongings in the cloakroom and removing your makeup if necessary (the salon provides everything you need to rejuvenate your skin), it's time to slip on your fluffy bathrobe and explore the different areas. In the basement, the experience begins with the hammam, or rather hammams. O'Kari has two rooms, one heated to 37 degrees for those who feel the cold, and the other heated to 50 degrees, with more steam, for enthusiasts. Switching between the two rooms is highly recommended. 

After spending around thirty minutes sitting on stone benches in tastefully decorated rooms, it's time for a black soap scrub with a kessa glove, performed to perfection. Allow more than 20 minutes for every square centimeter of your skin to be scrubbed (from hands to feet with a pumice stone) by staff who are attentive to everyone's well-being (water temperature, level of friction, etc.) on a heated stone. 

After the effort, it's time for some comfort: a massage of the scalp, neck, shoulders, and upper back with sweet almond soap, a moment of ultimate relaxation that is almost too short! Next, head to the very hot eucalyptus sauna, alternating with a room that is unique in Paris: a snow cave (yes, real snow!), for a temperature shock that is beneficial for the skin (it closes the pores) and the mind.

Try the experience and take it even further by rubbing your body with ice that falls continuously into two bathtubs; thrills guaranteed! After that, it's time to take a dip in the lukewarm pool, with or without the water jets, or simply swim a few laps. At this point, the staff will bring you your orange blossom lemonade. 

The final stage of this Signature package is a full-body dry oil massage, with a choice of orange blossom or rose. It's time to let go of your last worries, and that's just as well, because here, all your wellness wishes could well be granted. 

Among the very positive points arethe O'Kari team, who are particularly friendly and gentle, the tour, which is very well explained in advance, the cleanliness of the premises, as well as the calm and beauty of the place, with the feeling of being alone there—the flow of customers being particularly well managed. 

• To be read
• The best wellness areas to relax in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
• Where to enjoy a hammam or sauna in Paris and the Ile-de-France region? Our best relaxation addresses
• Where to enjoy a spa in Paris and Ile-de-France? Our relaxing addresses

Especially since the experience ends with the unmissable oriental pastry that accompanies a hot mint tea, the ideal way to prepare yourself before heading back out to face the hustle and bustle of the city.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.