As part of N13 Magazine, we had the chance to spend some time at Chenot Palace Gabala as guests at an event that brought together art, culture, and the Chenot community. The evening featured an exhibition of works by Azerbaijani artists Ramina Saadatkhanli and Mahmud Rustamov, adding an artistic touch to the palace and its surroundings. It was a good opportunity to get to know the place beyond its wellness side, meet people from the creative scene, and see how the palace creates a space for different kinds of experiences.
There is something refreshing about getting away from the city for a while and having nowhere you need to rush to. That is probably what we enjoyed most about our time at Chenot Palace Gabala. Surrounded by nature, the palace feels quiet, cosy, and peaceful, making it easy to slow down and simply enjoy your time there.
During our visit, Chenot Palace Gabala hosted an art exhibition in collaboration with Handicraft, featuring works by Azerbaijani artists Ramina Saadatkhanli and Mahmud Rustamov. As soon as we walked into the palace, we saw Ramina’s colourful works displayed throughout the interiors, which immediately caught our attention. They brought a lot of energy to the space, with their vibrant colours and details. We really liked the idea of bringing contemporary Azerbaijani art into a place like this. Instead of seeing the works only in a traditional gallery, guests could discover them while walking around the palace, surrounded by nature. It was also a nice opportunity to meet people from Baku’s creative scene and spend some time together.
As part of the event, we tried several wellness experiences, including a massage and a cryotherapy session. Both were good ways to switch off for a while and take some time for ourselves. For us, the best part was that even with all the different facilities and treatments, the place still felt calm and cosy. One could spend the whole day there without feeling rushed, which is probably what made the experience so relaxing.
The palace has a large team of specialists, from medical and wellness professionals to therapists, as well as a wide range of treatments and programmes. Everything felt very well organised and professional – a lot of attention was paid to detail and to making each guest feel looked after.
Music accompanied the evening, making the atmosphere even more relaxed. Dinner followed the principles of the Chenot Diet, with light, low-calorie dishes that were still delicious. The menu was quite different from what we usually expect from a wellness dinner, and we liked that the food felt healthy without being boring or restrictive.
The charity auction was another thing we were happy to see included in the evening. We thought it was a great idea to bring people together for a good cause and give the event a little more meaning beyond the exhibition and dinner.
Overall, our time at Chenot Palace Gabala felt like a proper reset. Good treatments, beautiful scenery, art, dinner, and a little time away from the noise of the city – sometimes that is exactly what you need.
