Pachanga Pool Club and Spa
Many moons ago I saved a cute spa in Gothenburg Sweden that I chanced upon on Instagram. All but to be forgotten until I was planning a trip to Oslo, Norway and saw that little red heart on Google maps calling to me once again. Pachanga Pool Club and Spa has become quite the internet sensation since I saved it a couple of years ago. Mainly because its aesthetically pleasing and fairly affordable. So when I was searching for when in Sweden we should go visit post Oslo, it seemed only right that Gothenburg was it.
The Pachanga Pool Club and Spa is foremost a pool club and secondarily a spa. It’s more social, isn’t a quiet space and has a big focus on food and drink and having fun than a traditional spa might. Situated on the 27th and 28th Floors of the super modern Jaycz Hotel the views are pretty spectacular from all their pools and relaxation areas.
Pricing
There’s lots of options to visit Pachanga Pool Club and Spa, with over night stays, meal packages in one of the many hotel restaurants or just a few hours in the club. The cheapest stay and spa was £122 pp which included 2 hours in Pachanga with lunch, a stay and breakfast the next day. The Cheapest Pachanga Pool Club and Spa only package I could find for the upcoming months was £16 pp (830am-11am). If you want a later slot like we had the cheapest is around £25. We paid about £85 pp as we opted for the 330-630 slot and dinner in their Gogogaga restaurant with a set Korean BBQ style menu. Highly recommend!
Thermal Suite, Relaxation and the Pools
Thermal Suite wise there’s a sauna and steam room on the 27th floor which are either side of the smaller pool, which is a metal pool (as in not tiled!) with very warm water and bench seating inside. There’s about 6 beds lining the walls and views out of the pool over the city. I sat here whilst Luke enjoyed the sauna which also had a city view. We also tried out the fire room which also resides on this floor with lots of comfy chaise-longues and beds to relax on watching the cosy fire.
Then the floor up is the larger main space. Multi level relaxing areas, more fires, a bar plus another fire relaxation space above the triple heighted pool space. We eventually got a prime bed slot and ordered some food and drinks whilst watching the sun set. The pool here isn’t huge either but wasn’t too busy when we visited. Here the music is always playing and as the sunsets the DJ starts and the vibe changes. If you do have time I’d certainly recommend visiting at different times to enjoy the space in all its different ways.
There’s also the PAM rooftop outdoor pool. This is on a much lower floor. So despite saying its a short elevator ride away, its actually then a walk through carpeted halls and spaces that are part of the main hotel too. (All guests get access to the PAM space.) Then it was up stairs to get to the entrance. The hallways also smelt like damp sweat, I have to say this was a low light for me! As we went in October all the pool deck furniture was packed away, the bar closed so really it was just an outdoor pool. In the summer I’d imagine its much nicer and better vibes. they host evenings there too and it would deffo be a great place to be. Alas not so much in October!
Treatments wise they aren’t offering them now, but there was around 6 rooms I noticed for treatments, and I can see they did used to offer these. I’d say they were the only thing that made them a spa moreover a pool club so is a shame, but with shorter visit times of on average 3 hours there’s not a lot of time to fit them in I suppose.
Food and Drinks
Cocktails and Light bites are the main fayre on offer which is very South American. Pachanga means a lively party in Spanish used mainly in Latin America and its also a type of Cuban music. You can see the influences for that side of the world on its food too. With lobster rolls, shrimp tacos, deep fried tortillas, Tostada and more. As we were having dinner we just went for the deep fried tortilla with avo cream (approx £7). There were buttons to press to order in some parts, but found they didn’t really get answered. Luckily though we did have some staff walking by and checking in if we wanted anything so just ordered that way. Everyone was super friendly and helpful once you were speaking to them. I heard staff giving tips to others for places to visit and such so felt really nice and friendly.
Cocktails and mocktails wise I had the Pachanga Spritz (approx. £13.50) that went down all too well. Luke had a peachy pink mocktail (approx. £8). Then we shared (AKA I had 3/4 of it) a pitcher of mojito which came in this massive pineapple! It was £52 but suggests its serves 2-5 people. It tasted as good as it looked too wasn’t just style over substance luckily and lasted us the rest of our stay.
Plus Size Pointers
When we arrived we checked in, got a wrist band and went into the changing rooms. These are pretty tiny for the popularity of the place. The showers are a large communal space. Then there’s a centre padded seating area and a small mirror area. So no real privacy, or quieter areas to get changed. This didn’t bother me, but it was hard to squeeze into my lovely dress and heels I was wearing for dinner with wet bodies all around me. Plus a girl who was painting her toe nails! Yes, really!!
Robe wise they are in the lockers ready, so mine was too small. It did tie but wasn’t roomy. As I went with Luke he just went into the men’s and grabbed me a robe. Plus larger flip flops as they were all smaller sizes in my room. I’m sure the reception would help out too and they are next to the changing rooms so easy to do as well. When will these places learn and work a system out for those needing bigger sizes though?
Seating was much better. Padded loungers were wide, beds were comfy and all around comfy seating was aplenty and sturdy too. Petition for more spa’s with comfier seating like this. 10/10 for relaxation areas that are plus size friendly.
Accessibility
I cant lie, Pachanga Pool Club and Spa unfortunately isn’t very accessible. You can only access the top pool via stairs (that I could see.) The lift takes you to the 27th floor so you could use the lower part of the fire room (back rows accessible via small steps.) The smaller pool was steps into and no accessible features I could see. The outdoor pool was stepped access too. So overall not so accessible. I guess being multi level that doesn’t help. One to bear in mind though and contect them prior if you are thinking about a visit.
Overall, I would go back. Affordability is a good point for this spa and allows a few failings I’d say. Summer would be perfect though so maybe a quick weekend stay is on the cards? Gothenburg was fun, and the overall experience was great watching the sunset over the city. Would you travel abroad for a spa day? For more plus size spa reviews check out my review of the Nadarra Spa at the Coniston Hotel here.