KŌENA Spa: How does it compare to the Nordik Spa-Nature?

The Nordik Spa-Nature has dominated the National Capital Region’s spa and relaxation landscape since its opening in 2005 in the quaint little town of Chelsea, Québec. After renovations and an expansion of its offerings, the Nordik has dominated its regional competitors. Yet, with such an offering, its popularity continued to rise as well as its prices. Today, the Nordik is as massive spa with 10 outdoor baths, 9 distinct saunas, 4 restaurants, an infinity pool, a saltwater flotation pool, an exfoliation room, and a wide range of messages and body cares. Unfortunately, all this comes at a price.

For most locals and outside visitors of the region, the Nordik was the main and only option for a day of relaxation for many years. That is until recently when a new offering appeared! In 2020, the KŌENA Spa & Nordic Baths opened its doors to the public. Situated in the famous Château Cartier, in Gatineau (Québec), at a 5-minute drive from downtown Ottawa and Gatineau, KŌENA Spa is a new option for those wishing to relax in a more quaint setting for a much smaller price. It offers 4 outdoor baths, 3 dry saunas, 1 hammam, and 14 message and treatment rooms.

Now, I am not here to say that KŌENA Spa and the Nordik are equal! They are not! While they are both great options, my goal here is to explain the differences, the pros and the cons of each one of them, to allow you to decide which one fits best your needs.

Why choose to visit the KŌENA Spa?

The KŌENA Spa is without a doubt way cheaper than the Nordik Spa, especially during the week. From Monday to Thursday, it will only cost you 49$ +tx to have access to the facility for the day (baths, saunas, rest rooms, locker and towel included). If you go after 6pm on those days, it’s only 39$ +tx. From Friday to Sunday, it’s only 55$ +tx (for more up-to-date information on pricing, visit KŌENA Spa’s website). For those prices, you can afford to go there more often, even weekly if you can fit it in your budget. The food options are also well priced and are delicious (I recommend tasting one of their cakes).

Why do I say it « only » costs that much? Because compared to the Nordik’s prices, that is very cheap. At the Nordik, the thermal experiences (include bathrobe rental, a towel, and a locker) costs 83$ +tx (for more up-to-date information on pricing, visit the Nordik’s website). That’s almost twice the price of the KŌENA Spa. At that price, the Nordik is more a once in a while activity for most.

Other than pricing, the KŌENA Spa is a lot less crowded. Now, this is mostly due to the fact that it is new, and it is a smaller facility. I visited this spa on a Monday and for the first 3 hours (9am to 12pm) we were there, we were the only ones there. I can assure you that that won’t happen at the Nordik. While the maximum capacity of the Nordik is not known with precision (roughly estimated at 1000 people), the KŌENA Spa has a max capacity of 350 people. So, while the Nordik Spa is a much larger facility, you do find yourself sometimes feeling cramped, especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays when max capacity can be attained.  

All in all, the KŌENA Spa is a great place to go to relax on a much more regular basis in the city without having to bust the bank. It offers all the basics of a great little spa without the thrills. A stay at the hotel or a visit to La Ferme Rouge restaurant are other options that can be added on to create a full experience.

Pros of KŌENA Spa

• Much cheaper thermal experiences
• Less crowded (smaller capacity)
• Situated in the city
• Great facilities

Cons of KŌENA Spa

• Fewer thermal experiences
• Small facility
• Still new (less experienced)
• Limited food options

Why choose the Nordik Spa-Nature?

Ok, so we have established that the Nordik is more expensive and more crowded. Then why would you want to visit this location? Because it’s the Nordik! It has experience, a massive offering, and it pays attention to the little things.

First off, and probably the biggest difference to the KŌENA Spa, is the Nordik’s offering. I mean, you can literally spend the entire day there and not even have enough time to do everything. With 10 outdoor pools and 9 saunas, there’s an option for everyone. Other than the thermal experiences, the Nordik has fantastic food options with 4 restaurants. Now, some of them are not cheap, but you can surely find something for your taste and budget.

Secondly, Nordik has experience! Now, this might not sound like a big deal, but when you have been in business for so long and on top of the game, you become well rounded. When you arrive at the Nordik, you really do feel like you are taken care of and offered a worry-free experience. Most of the kinks have been ironed out. On the other hand, KŌENA Spa is new and is still learning. A great example of that is the information provided to us. Other than the directions to the locker rooms, you are on your own. Obviously, it’s a smaller facility, but some of the experiences lack information and staff were unable to explain how to use them.

Finally, Nordik pays attention to little details. Honestly, everything looks and feels immaculate. It’s almost like the Disney of spas. From information to landscaping, to design and staff training, things are on point. This is mostly due to their experience!

Pros of the Nordik

• Massive offering
• Huge facility
• Great food options
• Experienced and attention to detail

Cons of the Nordik

• Expensive
• Can get very crowded (especially on the weekend)
• Outside of the city

Which one should you choose?

It depends! They are both unique and meet different needs. In my opinion, the KŌENA Spa is the perfect weekday escape that will allow you to relax and take a well-deserved break. The Nordik Spa, on the other hand, will remain the ultimate spa experience, but at a price. It’s more of a «couple of times a year» kind of activity. The good news in all this is that we have more and more options in the Outaouais region that offer more flexibility!