On rainy days, we long to be booked into a spa and languish in a warren of heated rooms and magical chambers, to the sound of steaming hot tubs, preferably with a massage or high-tech face treatment to follow. Here are some standout spas to book into, with a focus on future openings to look forward to. See also our post on treatments and salons here.

1 Chill Spa at the Ice House in Ballina, Co Mayo, has long been on our wishlist to visit, and especially now it has an updated spa that looks to be seriously snazzy. Expect Voya treatments, an outdoor wellness treatment room with hot tub, special quartz treatment room and new treatments using psammotherapy – a new one on us, this is hot sand therapy. If it can capture the effects of lying on a warm tropical beach, we’re in. Four new outdoor baths and a new spa deck make this one sound like a great escape. It’s due to open at the end of June, with two-night breaks for two from €720 including one dinner and a treatment each.
www.icehousehotel.ie

2 Previously the only spa dedicated to La Mer treatments, Adare Manor is now offering exclusive 111SKIN treatments from June and is the only spa/clinic for this skincare brand. The signature facial is the ultra-luxurious Rose Gold Renaissance (€360), featuring rose quartz crystals and exclusive to Adare Manor. We also love the sound of the Original Dramatic Healing Facial – sounds like just what we need post-lockdown. The 111Spa/Clinic treatments start from €140. In the meantime, you can still cover your face with rose gold facial fabulousness – the 111Skin Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask is €25 at Brown Thomas.
www.adaremanor.com

3 The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat (previously the Templeton Hotel), from the people behind Galgorm, is set to open in Co Antrim on June 18, and sounds like it could be one for spa-lovers. The spa is set to feature Roman baths, Swedish sauna, hot tubs and a salt chamber. It’s hard to tell from the generic website pictures what it will look like – but apparently there will be a lakeside beach with bar, and we love the sound of bedrooms with outdoor baths and Dyson hairdryers on tap.
www.rabbithotel.com

4 We’ve just heard about a new facial on the way that sounds vastly appealing: Dawn Hill’s Floraison in Dublin 2 plans to offer special facials using Vintner’s Daughter products. We can’t wait to book in. If you haven’t tried this Active Botanical Serum, a very beautiful skin elixir, this is a good way to discover it; Floraison also stock their newest product, Active Treatment Essence (€245) four years in the making and already loved by celeb make-up artists for its illuminating qualities. Until then, book in for a renowned and specialised Biologique Recherche facial; Floraison is one of the few places you can try this out, and also stocks the products.
www.floraison.ie

5 The Marker Hotel spa is perfectly placed – once you’ve had a relaxing treatment, you can head on up to the rooftop bar. There’s a host of appealing massage and facial treatments on the menu, but we’re longing for the Ho-Leaf and Rosemary Muscle Melt (€130, 60 minutes). We’ve no idea what a Ho Leaf is, but with deep tissue massage, hot stones and warm herbal steam towels, this sounds ideal for easing both stress and aching muscles. And the pool is beautiful, too.
www.themarkerhoteldublin.com