The best spas in Los Angeles for your pampering needs

The sprawling 50,000-square-foot spa facility at Terranea is a destination in and of itself. It has a boutique, pool, cafe and gym, with free fitness classes. Open-air spin, anyone? Make sure you enjoy the steam rooms, women’s and men’s lounges as well as outdoor cold plunge pools and spas on the grounds. Opt for the Ocean’s Renewal massage, a full-body treatment that incorporates elements of the sea with a laminaria seaweed oil, rich with minerals to revitalize the skin.

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

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 8am–6pm; Fri, Sat 8am–8pm

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: Mon, Tue, Thu–Sun 10am–9pm; closed Wed

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

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

Address: 2 Dole Dr, Westlake Village, CA 91362

Opening hours: Daily 8am–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).

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

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

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. And, bonus, the prices are more affordable than many of the other spas on our list.

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

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