From Anitra Brown,
Your Guide to Spas.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

California is a spa lover's paradise, with more hotel and resort spas found here than in any other state.

This list represents my top picks for the best overnight spas in California. It includes both hotel and resort spas, where you can sample as little or as much of the spa experience as you want, and destination spas, which offer a complete immersion experience with an emphasis on transformation and self-improvement. Many resort spas welcome clients on a day spa basis.

Best Spas in California

Golden Door , Escondido. The ultimate in intimate luxury, Golden Door in Escondido is a woman-only spa that serves no more than 40 guests. Wooden walkways link a series of serene garden courtyards inspired by the ancient inns of Japan. Men are welcome during men-only weeks. Type: destination spa

Cal-A-Vie, Vista. This elegant weight-loss spa is set on 200 rolling acres north of San Diego. Its 24 guest cottages are decorated in elegant European style. Type: destination spa

Spa Montage at Montage Resort, Laguna Beach. This oceanfront spa is the only five-star winner. It's known for its "Surrender" experience, where the therapist prescribes the ideal treatment or series of treatments to heal and address individual needs. “Surrender” can be booked for as little as two hours or as long as a full day. Type: resort spa

The Peninsula Spa, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills. The Peninsula Spa has a rooftop garden oasis. A 60-foot lap pool is surrounded by ten private cabanas with views of the city. Type: resort spa

The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa by La Prairie, Beverly Hills. The famed "Pink Lady" is home to The Polo Lounge and has a luxe but pricey spa. Type: resort spa

Ojai Valley Inn & Spa Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is a luxury resort spa that has it all: a gorgeous Moroccan-inspired spa, challenging golf, and beautiful new rooms in a Shangri-La setting. Great shopping is just a ramble away in the charming, historic village of Ojai. Type: resort spa

Spa Gaucin, St. Regis Monarch Beach, Dana Point. Type: resort spa

The Spa at Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur. Type: resort spa

Spa at Four Seasons Resort Aviara, North San Diego, Carlsbad Type: resort spa

The Spa at Bernardus, Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley. Type: resort spa

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Half Moon Bay. Type: resort spa

Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. Type: resort spa

The Carneros Inn Spa, The Carneros Inn, Napa. Type: inn spa

The Spa at Pebble Beach Resorts, Pebble Beach. Type: resort spa

Spa du Soleil, Auberge du Soleil, Rutherford. Type: inn spa

The Spa at CordeValle, The Lodge at CordeValle, San Martin. Type: resort spa

Spa at Four Seasons Resort Santa Barbara Santa Barbara. Type: resort spa

The Spa at Torrey Pines, The Lodge at Torrey Pines, La Jolla. Type: resort spa

The Well Spa at Miramonte Resort & Spa, Indian Wells. Type: resort spa

Spa Mystique at The Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles. This hotel's 35,000 square foot spa draws on Eastern traditions, and has two Japanese furo pools. It has 27 indoor treatment rooms and four outdoor cabanas. Type: resort spa