When I was young, I read a book called The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is a story about a girl called Mary who finds a garden hidden behind high walls in her uncle’s estate. It is a secret, magical place.

As I step through the foyer of the Cape Heritage Hotel into the courtyard beneath the Little Heritage Spa, I feel as if I have found such a place. Beyond the courtyard’s stone walls, is a world of traffic, meetings, and deadlines. Within the walls, however, is a space to slow down, relax, and have your feet massaged.

The Little Heritage Spa, which occupies what was once a bar, still has all the original stone walls and wooden beamed ceilings. In keeping with the heritage theme, the spa tastefully embraces African elements — from the wooden footstools and hand bowls to the Moya products, which use essential oils derived from the fynbos endemic to the Western Cape region.

Although the spa is primarily a hand and foot lounge, it also has one therapy room for grooming services — such as waxing, tinting and threading — and massage. The in-house therapists offer Swedish massage and three specialist massage therapists can be called in to do reflexology, rebalancing deep tissue massage and manual lymph drainage.

If you are up for something a little more adventurous, the spa has two tanks of Garrarufa fish — found in the river basins of the Middle East — that will happily nibble away at the dead skin cells on your feet, leaving you with soft beautiful skin.

Pop by for an express manicure during your lunch break or opt for the relaxing milk bath foot massage after a long day at work. Book with friends for a pamper party on a Friday afternoon or Saturday and enjoy a glass of bubbly on the balcony.

Contact them by visiting www.thelittleheritagespa.co.za or calling 021 424 4646