Greenville Date Night: A spa day and the pool at Hotel Hartness for the heat of summer (2024)

Welcome to Date Night, your weekly inspiration and themed itinerary pairing a local cultural activity or event with a corresponding dining experience. Want to win at going out? Impress your significant other with your newfound, niche planning skills? Or simply answer the weekly “what are we doing tonight?” I got you.

It would seem only prudent that all homes within a certain latitude range would be equipped with pools. Or at least that every community or neighborhood would have a pool wherein to refresh oneself during—or simply survive—the summer heat like we’re experiencing.

I have the same opinion about massage therapy—we should have more of it regularly without its having to be a special occasion. What do either of these have to do with a Date Night? I’m burying the lede, admittedly, but I assure you I’m getting there.

Both a dip, or a few laps, in the pool on a sweltering day, or a good, therapeutic massage often bring out the best in the collective us, and if you combine the two? Nearly guaranteed best versions of said humans. Add in some really tasty bites and a poolside frozen beverage to improve an already stellar result. This can be yours and a plus-one’s reality without a pool membership or having to book planes, trains and automobiles to get there.

In a stunning nature preserve tucked away between the busiest thoroughfares in Greenville sits an escape that can provide all of the above (and more if you’re looking for that). Admittedly, this is a more costly and lengthy date than most, but well-worth the expense and time for such a convenient and effective getaway that might reinvigorate more than your physical bodies.

Date Night Theme: In The (Pool) Lap of Luxury

To do:

Spa H and the pool at Hotel Hartness

As previously mentioned, pool access during South Carolina summers is a near necessity. One luxurious option is available as an added benefit for those who book a treatment at Spa H on the Hotel Hartness property. Each guest of Spa H who has booked a treatment will also gain access to the property’s wonderfully appointed pool for the remainder of the day. In short, it’s a way to extend one treatment to an entire spa day.

Spa menu options: A therapeutic massage for two is an obvious choice; add on a dry-brushing session for glowing skin or a scalp massage to really transport you. If considering a body treatment or facial, also consider that you may not want to wash off all of your treatment right away in order to dip in the pool or be in the sun.

The poolside loungers have an umbrella option for sun coverage should you desire, but, be aware that the increased circulation from massage along with the lotions and oils used during other treatments could increase your bronzing (or burning) ability.

If I were planning this date (which I am), I’d book late morning massages, enjoy the spa facilities as desired, shower off as needed, and then head to the pool for a late lunch, cooling dip and afternoon lounging with my partner.

You could hyper-extend your day date with an overnight at Hotel Hartness, dinner at Patterson and late night at The Captain, but I’ll leave that as merely a bonus option to explore.

To eat:

Poolside Tiki Bar at Hotel Hartness

Poolside service is one of the luxuries that makes for a difficult return to reality. Newly added to guest amenities is the poolside tiki bar, and Friday to Sunday from noon to 8 p.m., dedicated pool servers take care of your food and beverage needs without your having to leave the comfort of your daybed.

The servers even make periodic rounds with refreshing frozen grapes for snacking and sunscreen, for obvious reasons. It’s the little things.

The new pool menu is what you want from a pool menu—the kind of food that feels good to eat on a hot day with a smidge of indulgence. Fresh guac, a Mexican Shrimp co*cktail (or campechana), Grilled Baby Romaine Salad (add the grilled chicken for some additional protein), Fruit Salad, Tuna Club, and a Poolside Burger are some highlights.

For drinks, I’ll forever lobby for a low(ish) ABV spritz as a starting beverage, and then it’s nearly impossible to resist the allure of the frozen daiquiri or piña colada. There are the N/A options like chilled Jarritos sodas and some other standards, but if you appreciate a craft co*cktail, don’t let the the casual nature of a tiki hut fool you—the menu was created by the same team as The Captain bar upstairs in the hotel, and the pool co*cktails are no less sophisticated and tasty.

After a couple drinks and dips in the pool, good luck returning to reality, but at least you can do so as the best versions of yourselves.