What it’s like to have a once-in-a-lifetime pedicure with the podiatrist booked for life

“I’m booked for life in New York,” famed French chiropodist Bastien Gonzalez said casually, as though it were no big deal. But the comment landed with quiet gravity, especially when you’re seated across from a legend whose name is synonymous with the gold standard in pedicures. When I say this appointment was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s no understatement.

Scaling, scraping, filing, shaping, and painting are the usual steps in a standard pedicure, often resulting in glossy, lacquered nails. But while the final look may dazzle, we rarely pause to consider the health of the nails beneath the polish. That very emphasis of caring for what lies beneath is the cornerstone of Bastien Gonzalez’s practice and philosophy.

Dubbed the “King of Pedicure,” Gonzalez has treated royalty, supermodels, and global rockstars alike. His earliest inspiration came from his grandmother, who eschewed nail varnish in favour of a simple leather chamois buffer. With it, she coaxed a healthy, natural shine from her nails.

I had the rare opportunity to experience his celebrated pedicure at the luxurious Raffles Spa, tucked inside the historic Raffles Hotel Singapore. From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this was not your average spa treatment. After being welcomed into the serene treatment room, I was invited to sink into a plush chair as Bastien began his work.

The hour-long treatment began not with the usual soak, but with a detailed examination of my feet. “What always surprises me,” he said gently, “is that people rarely know what’s going on with their own feet.” And it’s true unlike other pedicures that begin by softening the skin in water (often resulting in the over-removal of healthy skin), Bastien’s approach is dry and deliberate.

He began by expertly clipping and shaping my nails with a custom-designed glass nail file. Its ultra-fine, sanded grain ensures clean edges that don’t tear or irritate the surrounding skin, a small but crucial detail that sets his protocol apart.

Then came the most coveted step in the Bastien protocol: exfoliation. Having been scarred by overly aggressive filing in the past, I was understandably wary. Bastien, sensing this, offered a reassuring gesture: he gently grazed the diamond-tipped drill over the pad of my finger to show how gentle it truly was.

What followed was a multi-phase buffing process using four different tools to smooth, strengthen, and polish the nails sans varnish. He then applied a natural horn buffer and a polishing cream passed down by his grandmother. The combination of the Mother-of-Pearl Cream and Unguent for Nails & Cuticles, both from his Révérence de Bastien product line, gave my bare nails a glass-like sheen. Unlike traditional methods, Gonzalez never cuts or pushes back the cuticles, which he views as a protective barrier that should be preserved, not disrupted.

Next, the Diamond Drill was used to gently smooth away dryness from the soles and cuticles ,a surprisingly relaxing process that revealed baby-soft skin I hadn’t seen (or felt) in years. At one point, he invited me to touch the soles of my feet and I was genuinely shocked by how much I had unknowingly neglected them.

My nails, though untouched by polish, looked glossier than any salon gel finish and they stayed that way for months. Even more astonishing: the buildup of coarse, hardened skin on my heels, which I had resigned myself to living with, had been effortlessly buffed away.

Just as I thought the experience had reached its luxurious peak, Bastien delivered the pièce de résistance: a deep tissue massage extending from the soles of the feet to just below the knees. It’s not your typical foot rub. Each movement was considered and anatomical, almost like watching a puppeteer at work. With the help of the Sensitive Feet Balm, he manipulated every muscle, tendon, and joint in perfect synchrony, restoring blood flow, re-fluffing the fatty cushions of the feet, and releasing long-held tension,  all without a hint of pain.

Beyond simply leaving with beautifully bare, high-shine nails and revived soles, the Bastien experience shifted my mindset entirely. Our feet do the heavy lifting of our daily lives — walking, running, climbing, carrying us from place to place — and yet, they’re often the most overlooked. As someone who’s spent years hiding mine under layers of polish, I walked away with a newfound appreciation for their natural state.

And if you don’t already have a standing appointment with Bastien Gonzalez himself (and let’s face it, very few do), all is not lost. You can still book the next best thing: a session with one of his meticulously trained staff at Raffles Spa, Singapore, where his signature techniques and philosophy live on.

Experience The Bastien Pedicure, $200 (60 minutes) at Raffles Spa, #01-31, Raffles Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188719