Meraki Wellness: A 4-Hour Flight Worth Taking
I was lying in a treatment room at the newly-opened Meraki Wellness on Grand Cayman, getting a massage so relaxing I dozed off for a few minutes, and I thought, What if I just… stay here? No one can make me go home. It's not like I'd be getting the luxe spa treatment every day, but who needs realism? I was in a spa so gorgeous that I wanted to beg the co-founders to make over my apartment, so who could help but fantasize a bit?
Meraki is 16,000 square feet of pure zen. There's none of that dark, moody stuff — no squinting to find your way, no too-loud forest sounds. It's light, airy and colorful, filled with curved lines and a sunburst motif. The hallways are designed to make you feel like you're floating through fluffy clouds. Personally, I think this is a refreshing change from the typical spa experience, and it's what makes Meraki so unique.
The co-founders, Peter and Shula Clarke, were already retired in Mallorca when they were asked to take on this new project. They wanted to come out of retirement if they were going to do something significant in the industry. What Meraki means [in Greek] is you do what you do with love and passion, a piece of your soul in your work — and that isn't just their name, that is their philosophy. In my opinion, this philosophy is what sets Meraki apart from other spas.
One of the most impressive features of Meraki is its hydrotherapy ritual. It's not your typical packed bathhouse contrast therapy. The hydrotherapy ritual is led by a 'spa butler' who takes you through each of the steps, furnishing you with face sprays and healthy shots in between. It kicks off with a stint in their beautiful panoramic sauna — the biggest in the Caribbean — with a sunny island view. That’s followed by a rinse under cold rain showers, then a sweat in the steam room (or 'caldarium').
Back to chilly in the cold plunge, warm again under the 'Aquamoon' showers, and finally freezing in their snow room, which gets filled daily with actual snow (don't worry — you can keep on your slippers and there’s a blanket to sit on) and has the swirling Northern Lights on the ceiling. What makes this particularly fascinating is that it's not just a relaxing experience, but it also has science-backed health benefits. Studies show that sauna is good for immunity, sleep, heart health, and weight management, while contrast therapy can help with physical recovery and inflammation.
The cherry on top of the journey is the tepidarium, a warm pool filled with Himalayan salt water where you can lounge and dip for hours. This was one of the most stunning rooms of the whole spa, with marble floors, greenery on the walls, and a geometric ceiling design. Peter said that some guests have been convinced that the pictures they'd seen of the place must be AI — until they saw it in person. This is a great example of how Meraki goes above and beyond to create a truly exceptional experience.
Meraki offers multiple treatment rooms for facials, tech like Emface and Lyma lasers, and, of course, massages. I got their signature massage, but they have others designed for different goals, including sleep and energy. Some of the rooms, where you can also get dry brushing or a mud wrap, have steam rooms and tubs for bathing rituals. This is a great way to customize your spa experience and target specific areas of concern.
When you're all done, your spa butler will bring you to one of the five lounges, where you can also order champagne, caviar, or lunch. This is a nice touch, as it allows you to extend your spa experience and relax even further. Getting clean has never been so relaxing — not even in a dark shower. Everything’s heated in this room, from the floor to the giant stone slab you lay on while your attendant takes you through the 90-minute hammam ritual.
Between each step, water cascades slowly over you from head to toe. So you’re not just getting fresh new skin — you’re also getting a bit of a vagus nerve reset. This is a great example of how Meraki incorporates holistic approaches to wellness.
Meraki also offers beauty and grooming services, including lavish manis and pedis, waxing and brow tinting, hairstyling, and a barber (by Truefitt & Hill, which has served the British Royal family, Winston Churchill, and Frank Sinatra). This is a great way to complete your spa experience and feel pampered from head to toe. Keeping hands and feet healthy is more essential than people realize. We pretty much take them for granted, but can you just imagine life without them? Pretty impossible.
The café at Meraki, Plant & Tonic, offers healthy — but not boring — food. Think build-your-own toasts and yogurts, colorful salads, lean protein, fresh juices — and even cocktails if you’re in the mood. This is a great way to fuel your body after a day of pampering and relaxation. Meraki also has a fitness room (outfitted with high-end Technogym equipment and a personal trainer) and offers longevity screenings. The idea is that being healthy isn't just about eating a good diet and working out, but also incorporating good recovery practices.
For some lucky Grand Cayman residents, this is actually part of their homes: The spa is an amenity for residents of The Watermark next door, where homes have sold for up to $40 million. But for everyone else, Meraki can be a special escape — one that was just a 4-hour flight on Cayman Airways away from New York City. And if you need to give yourself permission to indulge in a blissful spa day, you can rest easy that it is, truly, good for your health.
