The best spas in Los Angeles for your pampering needs

Perfect for both a staycation or a day trip, the Terranea Resort is the crown jewel of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Among the luxury property’s draws is its spa, which offers unparalleled tranquility with the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop. The sprawling 50,000-square-foot spa facility is a destination in and of itself, with 25 treatment rooms and three VIP suites (Ocean, Earth and Fire), as well as its own boutique, pool, gym, salon and restaurant. Catch some rays by the heated saltwater spa pool or a fire pit while waiting for your treatment. The women’s and men’s lounges offer saunas, steam rooms, outdoor cold plunge pools and Jacuzzis.

The spa menu here consists of signature wellness treatments, body rituals, bodywork and facials that use Naturopathica and Natura Bissé products and are inspired by the four elements. I recommend the Harmonic Aura Awakening (60 mins, $306–$324), a new treatment introduced after a recent renovation that awakens your chakras with the help of Himalayan singing bowls and marma point massages using Ayurvedic plant extracts. The effect is deep relaxation and harmony.

And the relaxation doesn’t end there: Post-treatment, your therapist will guide you to the nearby quiet room—with truly stunning ocean views—where you can lounge and retreat until the end of the day. Or you can head back outside and order a poolside cocktail and dish from solviva. Terranea offers the kind of spa experience that makes you pinch yourself—it seems almost too perfect to be real.

And after a recent $4.5-million renovation, the spa is both more inviting and state-of-the-art than ever. The indoor-outdoor spaces’ new interior design channels the beach with light blues and sandy neutrals; the lobby sports a dramatic new look; the locker rooms, treatment rooms and spa beds have all received a refresh; the pool furnishings have been updated; and Precor and Peloton fitness machines have been added to the gym.

Address: 100 Terranea Way, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 8am–7pm; Fri–Sun 8am–8pm

Located inside the Regent Santa Monica Beach—the luxury hotel brand’s only stateside location—the Guerlain Wellness Spa is similarly exclusive: It’s the only one of its kind on the West Coast and one of just three in the U.S. The spa exclusively uses products from the French skincare brand and fragrance house, which has been crafting luxury products in Paris since 1828. The 10,000-square-foot spa consists of 12 treatment rooms, gender-specific lounges with a plunge pool, sauna and steam room, and a pre-treatment relaxation lounge.

There’s a full menu of spa treatments on offer here. Some are even exclusive to the Santa Monica location, like Crystal Vibes, where you lie on a gem-filled mattress and enjoy a crystal sound bath (very L.A.). I opted for a tailor-made facial treatment during my visit and—as someone who gets a fair amount of facials—it truly impressed me. For days afterward, I was marveling at how smooth my skin was. After the treatment, I hung out and enjoyed Champagne, tea and rose macarons in the chic post-treatment relaxation lounge, where you can sample the brand’s skincare and fragrances for yourself. On your way out, there’s a requisite retail boutique, as well as a complimentary makeup refresher station—a thoughtful touch and something I haven’t seen at other spas.

Address: 1700 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402

Opening hours: Daily 10am–6pm

It only opened last summer, but New York import Spencer’s has already made quite the splash in Los Angeles’s wellness scene. Inspired by a summer escape to Provence, it’s hidden behind hedges inside a 1920s Spanish bungalow in West Hollywood (on a side street off Robertson with plenty of free parking). You check in at a she-shed in the front yard and then are led inside after changing into cashmere socks (that you get to take home with you). The waiting room is a literal living room that exudes warmth and understated elegance. Massages take place within the house’s bedrooms or in the backyard—I enjoyed my signature massage inside another chic shed out back, which instantly imbued the experience with a cozy and special feel. Spencer’s has been so successful in its first year that it recently expanded into the address next door—a more traditional storefront—where it exclusively offers all of its facials. I got to experience the anti-aging cryotherapy facial, which incorporates warming radio-frequency and cooling cryotherapy.  I left both of my visits to Spencer’s feeling pampered, rejuvenated and excited to return.

Address: ​​​​​​​​8811 & 8815 Dorrington Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90048

Opening hours: Daily 1–9pm

If the name “Malibu” only conjures a mental picture of sand and surf, you’re sleeping on the lovely, lush serenity of the Santa Monica Mountains, where this hideaway is nestled. You’ve probably driven past Calamigos Ranch Resort & Spa several times on your way to the beach without stopping. This rustic retreat that covers 300 acres is hidden in plain sight—which only adds to the feeling of escapism you get on the property.

You’ll have to walk a ways along a wooden path, past the tennis courts and one of the pools to get to the spa. It’s located inside a welcoming midcentury-style cabin of sorts, with floor-to-ceiling windows. While you wait for your treatment, you can spend time inside the sun-dappled front room, complete with a loose-leaf tea bar and chlorophyll water, or the candle-lit lounge with a Himalayan salt wall and armchairs outfitted with InfraMat Pro mats. The signature massage I receieved here was the perfect mix of relaxing and therapeutic. Other offerings include the Malibu Made Scrub, Malibu Glow Facial and Sea of Life Facial. You can buy products from the brands used in the treatments—iS Clinical, as well as local Malibu brands OSEA and Flamingo Estate—at a small retail section. Service at the spa was warm and friendly across the board, from the manager at the front desk to my masseuse.

There’s also a fitness center, sauna, hot tubs and cold plunge pools guests can use. I can’t handle the cold, so after my massage, I wrapped myself in a robe and lounged by the spa pool with a book, with the mountains in the background. It was one of those moments that makes you realize how lucky you are to live in Southern California—and Calamigos is the kind of place you don’t want to leave. Note: If an overnight stay at the resort isn’t in your budget, non-resort guests are able to book spa appointments for Mondays through Thursdays.

Address: 327 Latigo Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265

Opening hours: Daily 9am–7pm

Located on the ground floor of the historic Fairmont Breakers Long Beach is the hotel’s luxurious spa—the only luxury spa in Long Beach, in fact. The calming, ocean-inspired retreat offers just what you would expect from its chic environs, starting with the retail boutique, the high-ceilinged, sandy-toned relaxation lounge and the locker suites, which boast spacious steam rooms. The eight treatment rooms—including one couple’s suite—are located on the second-floor of the two-story sanctuary.

I’ve heard wonderful things about Fairmont Breakers’ facials, which employ skincare products from K-beauty company VENN and Paris-based Biologique Recherche. But during my visit, I enjoyed an early-morning couple’s massage—a two-person version of the spa’s signature Breakers massage—and it was the best one I’ve ever experienced. Between the tranquil environment, my skilled masseuse who employed the perfect amount of pressure and the many steps of pampering, I left in a blissed-out daze, ready to tackle the day. The spa also specializes in signature body treatments—like the Pacific detox algae body wrap, which purifies and hydrates your skin with the help of marine algae—plus a couple of rotating seasonal offerings. After your treatment, head back to the relaxation lounge with a glass of champagne, or make a cup of tea and enjoy the bright, sunny vibes. In all, the spa more than delivers on its promise of “coastal luxury wellness.”

Address: 210 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 9am–4pm; Sat, Sun 9am–5pm

Enter this sanctuary off of South Beverly Drive and be whisked away to a quiet Japanese-style spa for extensive pampering from head to toe. Privacy is key here—the treatment rooms feature all the amenities you could need, meaning you don’t have to go to a locker room to change before or after your service. The spa offers an intriguing menu of treatments— including one where hot sake is poured onto you to release tension ($360–$500) and another massage where you can enjoy a meal of fresh sushi afterward. The couples massage is a specialty here, beginning with a cleansing foot ritual and ending in a leisurely post-massage soak in a Hinoki wood tub. Throughout your stay, sip tea and enjoy traditional Japanese treats. 

Address: 141 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Opening hours: Daily 10am–9pm

At Chuan Spa, the Langham’s Eastern roots (the hotel chain’s HQ is in Hong Kong) come through with a menu of traditional Chinese medicine–based treatments guided by the Five Elements theory and a focus on recirculating the body’s qi, or life force. We particularly love the Chuan Yu facial, which uses gua sha and jade to revitalize the skin, and the hot stone massage—though you may want to spend a little more to throw in access to the hotel’s pair of handsome pools. Otherwise, relax post-treatment in the spa’s sauna, steam room or whirlpool.

Address: 1401 S Oak Knoll Ave, Pasadena, CA 91106

Opening hours: Daily 9am–7pm; spa facilities open daily 6am–8pm

Across the street from Westfield Century City, you’ll find one of the city’s top destinations for relaxation: a 14,000 square-foot subterranean spa hidden beneath the 60-year-old Fairmont Century Plaza hotel. An elevator from the lobby deposits you at the modern, Zen-inspired sanctuary, which boasts nine private treatment rooms, relaxation lounges and a Christophe Privé salon. But the facilities themselves are the star of the show here. Imagined by renowned design studio Yabu Pushelberg, the communal area feels stark and futuristic but incredibly inviting at the same time. The curvilinear, graphite-tiled lounge leads into a cedarwood sauna, hammam, eucalyptus steam room, experiential rainfall-style shower and—my favorite—the female-only, pink-hued Himalayan salt room, whose detoxifying properties are meant to help with sleep.

In addition to a full menu of massages, facials and body treatments—the Matahari journey and Icelandic moonflower body polish and glow are especially appealing options—the spa leans into some high-tech services as well. Pick from biohacking, where you meditate as you lie on an anti-gravity bed wearing thigh-high lymphatic-drainage boots, or red light therapy—which I tried—where you don goggles and are bathed in the healing and renewing properties of red light for up to 20 minutes.

Address: 2025 Avenue of the Stars, Los Angeles, CA 90067

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10am–7pm; Sat, Sun 9am–7pm

You’re greeted at the Ritz-Carlton Spa at L.A. Live with a glass of champagne. The glitzy spa specializes in red-carpet-ready treatments—which will become all the more apropos once the Oscars move to L.A. Live in 2029. A longtime favorite is the champagne and shimmer body treatment, inspired by Hollywood’s golden age, which wraps up with a dusting of 24-karat gold powder. There are also makeup artists, a nail salon and a full-service hair salon to get you ready for your close-up. For something a bit more down to earth (literally), the spa also offers seasonal Garden to Glamorous treatments, incorporating herbs and produce from the hotel’s rooftop garden with top-of-the-line products. Before or after your treatment, leave some time for unwinding in the co-ed Sanctuary or enjoying a eucalyptus steam. You’ll savor the experience long after you’ve left the spa.

Address: 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015

Opening hours: Wed–Sun 9:30am–6pm

As soon as you walk into the Raven (either its Silver Lake or Santa Monica location), your muscles begin to relax. The entire space has a relaxed vibe, with Thai-style decor and thick wood. Sun streams through skylights and open windows, giving the spa an outdoor feel. Massages here are decadent, but be sure to tell your therapist if she’s pressing too hard—if you’re shy about communicating with your masseuse, this may not be the spot for you. There are also facials, acupuncture and infrared saunas on the menu, and the Santa Monica outpost offers private Turkish soaks in a claw-foot tub. After your treatment, you can lounge in one of the woven chairs and enjoy fresh fruit along with hot tea and cool water. You’ll leave feeling relaxed and refreshed (and if you’re a bit oily, there are showers, too). And if you’re on a budget, the treatments at these day spas are more wallet-friendly than the other entries on our list.  

Address: Silver Lake: 2910 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039; Santa Monica: 208 Pier Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405

Opening hours: Daily 10am–9pm

The Spa at Hotel Bel-Air may just prove once and for all that nature and nurture can coexist in equal measure. Set deep within the iconic hotel’s plush Bel-Air canyon setting, the spa evokes a tranquil indoor-outdoor vibe. The nurture quotient here is evident in the spa’s chic nail suite, his-and-hers locker and steam rooms, and the seven treatment rooms, including the couples-friendly private Enclave Suite. While the Hotel Bel-Air is steeped in old Hollywood history, its spa was added relatively recently, as part of a major renovation in 2011. It’s partnered with high-end Swiss skin care brand Valmont for its results-driven treatments. The prices are steep ($1,050 for a 90-minute signature facial), but you can expect a world-class experience in one of the prettiest spa settings in all of L.A.

Address: 701 Stone Canyon Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90077

Opening hours: Daily 9am–7pm

Address: 2 Dole Dr, Westlake Village, CA 91362

Opening hours: Daily 8am–7pm

Close enough to reach in an hour or two but far away enough to feel like you’ve escaped L.A., Glen Ivy Hot Springs lets you relax in mineral baths, float around in pools and hop between hot and cold plunges in a tropical-plant-filled valley in Corona. If you’re simply looking to sun and soak, you should be satisfied with the admission-only pass, which grants you access to all of the pools (including a sulfur-rich natural hot spring), baths and Club Mud, a red clay playground where you can slather on some wet mud. Buy-up options include a warm body butter treatment in a secret cave, as well as a whole host of manicure, facial and massage options. 

Glen Ivy has traditionally been known as a daytime spot, but the spa recently launched evening weekend hours during the summer months, letting you relax into golden hour and beyond from mid-May into October (4–9pm).

Address: 25000 Glen Ivy Rd, Temescal Valley, CA 92883

Opening hours: Daily 9:30am–5pm, check website for evening hours on select weekends.