The Saxon Spa, Johannesburg
Photograph: Supplied | Spa room at the Saxon Spa
Photograph: Supplied

The 8 best spas in Johannesburg

From luxury urban retreats to hidden wellness havens, these are the best spas in Johannesburg for a little indulgence and a lot of relaxation.

Tayla Blaire
Advertising

Jozi has never been known for its chill factor – it’s the pulse of South Africa for a reason. We work hard and play harder, making some downtime all the more important. Luckily, Joburg is home to some spectacular spas, perfect for a well-deserved time out. From high-end crème de la crème options to more affordable packages, this list rounds up the best spas in Johannesburg. From quick facials to day-long pamper sessions, your reset is just a few clicks away. 

RECOMMENDED
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg

The best spas in Johannesburg

1. The Saxon

The Saxon spa now has two branches, the first in leafy Sandhurst and its new sibling, a brighter, more expansive wellness experience in Steyn City’s Clubhouse. Tanya Lopes has been managing the Saxon spa for a decade, curating a staff of impeccable therapists and crafting a transformative treatment menu for guests. The Luxury Soul by Saxon package is a firm favourite with a full-body scrub, mud treatment and top-to-toe massage. The skincare range is purposefully limited: Dr Levy, Babor, Ling NY and the Soul by Saxon line. If you’re unsure what your skin needs, book a time and let the experts advise you. Both branches offer extensive hydrotherapy options that elongate the spa experience, like steam rooms, cold plunge, floatation pools, heated pools and jacuzzis. The Steyn City branch also offers the cutting-edge Quantum Harmonic beds, the first in Africa, with vibroacoustic healing for stress and sleep. 

2. Four Seasons Westcliff

The Four Seasons Westcliff doesn’t just have Joburg’s best view – it’s also got one of the best spas. Locals and international guests alike book treatments at the intimate spa, often opting for full-day experiences in the serene enclave, followed by a meal at the Après Spa with sweeping treetop views. The Jozi Gem is a signature treatment, where a luscious back mud-wrap follows a full-body exfoliation, before moving to a warm lavender and ginger poultice massage with heated shea butter. A hydrating facial wraps up the two-hour experience, though the African Traveller is also popular, focused on cupping and invigoration. Use the steam room or sauna with an ice machine to cool down. Loungers line a heated pool in the sunlit relaxation area where guests help themselves to fresh fruit skewers, muffins, and dark chocolate cake pops as well as coffee, tea, and cucumber-lemon water.

Advertising

3. Fairlawns

For a slice of Bali in Morningside, head to the Fairlawns Spa. Enjoy the hydro facilities (rim-flow jacuzzi, rainfall and Swiss showers, heated pool, sauna, steam room and cold plunge) before or after your treatment. A popular treatment is the coffee, cinnamon and orange body ritual, which is just as delicious as it sounds. Using the Healing Earth range, it’s a targeted treatment aimed at energising and improving circulation. An exfoliation is followed by a gel mask, topped off with a full-body massage. They stock QMS Medicosmetics for facials with choices like the classic collagen facial, the neo-tissuedermie facial and the pure oxygen facial. 

4. Camelot Seven Villa Hotel and Spa

Stone texture, gold touches, and open treatment rooms that overlook quiet gardens make the Camelot Seven Villa Hotel and Spa a tranquil oasis in the centre of Sandton. Guests can unwind in the outdoor pool or enjoy the Rasul chamber. The Camelot Universal Signature Massage blends several techniques (hot stone, Kahuna, Balinese and Indian Head massage) into a single treatment. Facial and body treatments use Thalgo products. The Prodige des Océans facial offers a plumping oxygenation mask along with a Ko Bi Do Japanese facelift technique for wrinkle treatment. 

Advertising

5. Life Day Spa

The Life Day Spa group has been around for ages, and with nine branches in Gauteng, there’s guaranteed to be one near you. The Life Signature Glass Skin facial is a favourite, combining vitamin C, hyaluronic acid, AHA, BHA, rose quartz gua sha and LED light for a bright, dewy result. The Signature Four Seasons Journey is a 75-minute massage with four different components – an autumn-inspired exfoliation, hydrating serum for spring, body butter for summer and a soy candle massage for winter. Life Day Spa clients are regulars – there are even membership tiers and dedicated branches for kids’ treatments. 

6. Africology

Not every spa has an entire product range, but not every spa is Africology. With two branches in Johannesburg (the Maslow in Sandton and Parkhurst), guests can make the most of the spa’s aromatherapy ethos. The Soul of Africa Body Journey is 90 minutes of pampering with marula and neroli oil. A back exfoliation starts the ‘ceremonial process’, followed by warm mud application for toxin elimination. A full-body massage rounds out the experience, perfect for skin in need of some extra hydration. Hydrotherapy is available in the Maslow branch and costs extra with a combination of hot and cold therapies. 

Advertising

7. Woodlands Spa

Muldersdrift is home to plenty of wedding venues, but the Woodlands Spa is reason enough to venture out that way. Set on the banks of the Crocodile River, Woodlands is known for its half and full-day packages. The Time Out package (currently priced at R2990) offers seven hours of spa time, starting with a welcome drink and breakfast, followed by hydrotherapy, a 90-minute full-body massage and an hour-long Lamelle facial. After a light lunch, the spoils continue with a manicure and pedicure, completed with your choice of scalp or pressure-point foot massage. They also have ongoing workshops and retreats, so reach out to find out what’s on offer when you plan to visit. 

8. Riverview Spa

Another Muldersdrift getaway, Riverview Spa is loved by repeat guests for their packages, some including overnight stays in their cosy chalets. The peaceful space is a favourite for couples treatments and mom-and-me getaways. The Joys of Life is a signature top-to-toe package that offers breakfast, an aroma spa facial, steam mud wrap, 90-minute de-stress aromatherapy full body massage with hot stones, a hand treatment, pedicure, Indian head, neck and shoulder massage as well as lunch and non-alcoholic beverages, priced at R2500 per person on weekdays and just R300 more on a weekend or public holiday. They’ve just celebrated their 21st birthday and launched a detox cleanse package (rosemary body scrub, steam room, dry body brush, gel body mask, foot massage, hot stone lymph drainage massage and lunch). 

Follow Time Out Johannesburg on FacebookTikTok and Instagram!

Recommended
    You may also like
    You may also like
    Advertising