Soak and Soup — An Unlikely Pairing

I’ve got a new guilty pleasure.

On the corner of Speedway and Swan is a little strip mall with two places that make the best R&R and good food pairing I’ve found in Tucson — Healing Spirit Soaks and Alafia West African Cuisine.

Healing Spirit Soaks is a deeply relaxing space. You’ll drop your shoulders and exhale the moment you walk in. Other than owner Brandi Garcia’s gentle voice and demeanor, the first thing you’ll notice is how quiet it is inside despite being located near a busy intersection (which is great since it’s always a short drive).

I like to bring a friend and do a 90-minute soak, but you can customize your visit from their menu.

My perfect routine is 10 minutes in the sauna to open up my pores, followed by a salt scrub from Brandi (included), and then I drift between the Japanese Ofuro cedar hot tub and the copper tub cold plunge. 

This back and forth between hot and cold — known as contrast therapy — reduces muscle soreness, decreases inflammation, and stimulates lymphatic circulation. All things that sound great to me, but I do it for mental rejuvenation. Everything just melts away when I’m in those tubs.

Feeling both relaxed and ready to take on the day, I then head next door to Alafia West African Cuisine for lunch.

I wonder if Alafia’s owner, Ismael Lawani, knows why everyone who comes to his restaurant is so happy and relaxed…

Alafia’s food has flavor. I recommend the Egusi–cooked greens with sesame and red palm oil. You can optionally add fish, goat, beef, or chicken. The Kedjenou Sauce au poulet (“red sauce with chicken”) is also a taste sensation.

Definitely substitute the rice for Fufue–a dish made of mashed cassava root and green plantains. It looks like mashed potatoes but has a smoother, denser, and slightly stickier texture. 

The fried plantains, called aloko in Benin, are thick, caramelized, and a must-order side.

To drink, the Ginger Juice at Alafia is a potent compliment to your soak or massage at Healing Spirit. It’s a punch in the mouth, but, like, in a good way, man. It’ll wake you up and fill your chest with energy before you head out into the world again.

Pro tip: If you’re opting for a visit to Healing Spirits Soaks, ask for Frank.

Healing Spirit Soaks is located at 1074 N. Swan Rd. with Alafia West African Cuisine right next door at 1070 N. Swan Rd. For more information about either of these local businesses, visit healingspiritsoaks.com and follow Alafia on Facebook.