San Diego is a prime vacation destination and one of America's best cities to reside in. From beach days full of surf, sun, and seafood to city parks, libraries, restaurants, and sports events, there are many activities around America's Finest City.
Regardless of whether you are on a trip or just need a relaxing day off from your busy daily life, the spa experiences open to you in this Southern California city should not be overlooked. Hitting the spas around San Diego can also be a fantastic way to get acquainted with different areas of this unique, diverse city. Find spas in downtown San Diego all the way up to north inland San Diego, and even out on Coronado Island.
From resorts and tourist hubs to local spots and day spas between both extremes, you will surely have an enjoyable experience with your traditional spa treatments, body treatments, led light therapy, steam rooms, nail services, scalp treatments, and more. We'll dive into some of our favorite spots below!
The Catamaran Spa San Diego – Mission Bay
We'll start off strong with San Diego's only beachfront spa, located right on scenic Mission Bay at the Catamaran resort hotel. South Asian and Pacific healing traditions and rituals inspire this spa's techniques which include reflexology and island stone massage, as well as sea mud deep-cleansing facials and ginger root detox body wraps.
Try out balneotherapy, a heated saltwater pool that soothes muscles and aims to relax, or the Vichy scrub, a body scrub that works to refresh before lotion is applied to help the skin rehydrate.
Fiji inspires the tropical catamaran ritual and includes an exfoliating scrub, shower, body wrap, and coconut milk bath before ending in a milk and honey massage.
Typical Hours of Operation:
Spa Services: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Spa Boutique: 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fitness Facility: 7:30 am – 8:00 pm.
Yoga on the Bay: 8:30 am – 9:30 am.
Spa Terre at Kona Kai Resort & Spa – Shelter Island
This Shelter Island resort and spa is surrounded by lush tropical gardens that make it feel like you could be in Hawaii instead of San Diego and aims to support the mind, body, and spirit of clients.
Enjoy an open-air massage in private beachside cabanas or one of 6 treatment rooms, private yoga and meditation sessions, a eucalyptus steam room, resort pool and jacuzzi access, heated treatment tables, and a relaxation room.
Services will include cranberry glow facials, spa happy hour, salt stones massage, island therapy, hydra facials, kona breeze body treatment, and many other unique, relaxing treatments.
Typical Hours of Operation:
Sunday – Thursday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday & Saturday 9:00 am – 7:00 pm
The Spa at Rancho Valencia Resort – Rancho Santa Fe
Known for its state-of-the-art fitness center, poolside cabanas, relaxation spaces, and gorgeous outdoor areas, this Forbes 5-star-rated spa has everything it takes to recharge you, no matter how tired and run down you may be.
Stop by the Pilates studio or yoga pavilion for a fitness class, the lush gardens, or grab some organic fruit and vegetable juices to enhance your experience.
Try the lift and tone facial's microcurrent technology, marine mineral wrap, manual lymphatic drainage, Therma stone massage, Swedish massage, Valencia signature massage, vitamin injections, IV hydration therapy, body sculpting, hair and nail services, and plenty of fitness offerings.
See here for more information about all of the specific offerings.
Typical Hours of Operation:
Spa and Spa Pool: 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Fitness Center: 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
Spa Appointments: 7:30 am – 6:45 pm
Salon: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saffron & Sage – Little Italy
This is San Diego's premiere holistic health club and wellness center, located near downtown, with easy access to much of the city. The neighborhoods of Mission Hills, Little Italy, Hillcrest, and Balboa Park are conveniently located nearby this spot. Experience the traditional Chinese medicine ritual of acupuncture, botanical medicine that uses herbs, flowers, and blended teas to support health and immunity, and breathwork to target the body's vibrational state.
They offer self-care consultations, energy therapy, facials, fire cupping, hypnotherapy, immunity treatments, IV therapy, life coaching, massage, meditative, nutritional, sound, movement therapies, spiritual direction, and women's health ceremonies. This is truly a destination spa on your journey to more well-rounded and holistic wellness practices.
Community is at the center of this health club's intersectional practices, ranging from traditional Chinese medicine to Ayurveda and other traditional techniques from all over the world.
See here for more information.
Typical Hours of Operation:
8:00 am – 8:00 pm Monday – Thursday, Saturday
9:00 am – 8:00 pm Friday
Closed Sunday
The Spa at Rancho Bernardo Inn – Rancho Bernardo
Voted the 'Best Day Spa of North Inland San Diego' in 2022 by Union-Tribune readers, this is a great place to head for a spa day.
With outdoor pool and relaxation spaces in addition to the rest of the gorgeous touches that the inn brings to guests and visitors, this North County spot is the vision of relaxation.
Enjoy classic sports and deep tissue massage, holistic wellness massage, eminence arctic berry facial, collagen infusion facial, immune defense IV, signature pedicure, or one of the many other services.
For more information about spa services, see here.
Typical Hours of Operation:
9 am – 7 pm daily
Thérapie Day Spa – Ocean Beach
Spas don't have to be at huge beachfront resorts, though those are great. You can always head to a day spa like this one in Ocean Beach for great treatments, sometimes which come at a lower cost.
Try out the signature aroma-thérapie massage or structure massage, glow signature facial, epicurean facial, sugar body scrubs, waxes, or even massages and facials geared toward teenagers (with a parent or guardian present.)
With a whole team of highly experienced massage therapists and estheticians, this is a spot that you don't want to overlook, especially if you're in the Ocean Beach, Mission Bay, or Pacific Beach areas.
Typical Hours of Operation:
9 am – 8 pm Monday – Saturday
9 am – 3 pm Sunday
The Spa at Omni La Costa – Carlsbad
The La Costa spa offers a wide range of treatments and therapies, from an Ayurvedic Kansa facial to hot stone therapy, prenatal massage, and even a package that allows you to add a hot tub experience in the couple's sweet to your other spa services.
This space is not only deeply relaxing but also has amenities galore. They just introduced an award-winning spa product line called Shankara, which is made of responsibly sourced ingredients and whose profits are given 100% to humanitarian causes. So you can feel good about your purchases, too!
Enjoy a relaxation room, steam room, dry sauna, co-ed lounge, and indoor whirlpool before or after your treatments. The spa café and boutique are just two more spaces to explore as you make an entire day out of your spa experience.
Typical Hours of Operation:
Spa Services: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm Monday- Thursday, 8:30 am – 7 pm Friday – Sunday
Salon Services: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Wednesday – Sunday
Spa and Salon at Hotel Del Coronado – Coronado Island
The 'Hotel Del' is an already-popular historical spot in San Diego that attracts tourists and locals year-round for events, beautiful beaches, and beautiful rooms. The spa is just another reason to experience this space at least once. Marilyn Monroe was once a guest and filmed here, so it's only fitting that the beauty bar is inspired by the iconic American actress and her style.
Enjoy massage services, facials, and body treatments, or spend time in the relaxation lounge, oceanfront pool, and spa terrace. Services include table Thai massage, foot reflexology, marine peptide facial, seaweed leaf wrap, hair treatments, and nail treatments.
Typical Hours of Operation:
Sunday – Wednesday: 8:30 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday: 8:30 am – 7:00 pm
The Spa at Torrey Pines – Torrey Pines
With a location among the Torrey Pines that are native only to this area of the state, and a view that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and its waves, this spa brings tranquility up a notch, and we haven't even gotten to what they offer yet!
The space and the treatments offered are inspired by the location and indigenous plant life that can be found around the Torrey Pines Natural Reserve space, making this a holistic, intentionally designed experience. Enjoy 14 treatment rooms, cardio and strength rooms, steam and sauna rooms, a relaxation lounge with a fireplace, and an outdoor grand-scale pool and whirlpool.
Try the Torrey Pines cobblestone massage, a rejuvenating hand treatment, nourishing stem cell wrap, or the in-depth spirit-to-soul ritual.
Typical Hours of Operation:
Spa Services: 8:00 am - 7:00 pm.
Spa Boutique: 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fitness Center: Open 24 hours
Searching for Specifics (Like a Eucalyptus Steam Room)
When it comes to your spa experience, it is essential to be mindful of what services you are looking for, your price point, and how much time you can dedicate to your time there. You can always check out the spa menu, which might be larger at luxury resort spaces, versus a smaller spa with limited spa treatment offerings.
Whether it's a spa day or a lunch break that allows you to stop at a nearby spa for a 45-minute treatment, we all deserve to treat ourselves sometimes!
So, take a little time to look through these spots' hours, services, and locations, but don't forget about amenities. Some centers will have things like steam rooms, private yoga, fitness centers, a hot tub, and other extras that spa guests in San Diego, CA might want to utilize.
Body massage, scalp massage, facials, nail treatments, and any other treatments will vary based on the spa, amenities, and staff. So, be sure to have an idea of what you'd like to ensure you have the best experience!
Enjoy your time at the Best Spas in San Diego.
Now that you know what you want to get out of your spa trip, where in San Diego you may want to go, and how you want to maximize your relaxation, it's time to go! Enjoy any of these top spas in Southern California's southernmost city.
We hope you find the relaxation and rejuvenation you deserve at the best San Diego spas. Are you a local or a frequent visitor, and have something you wish we would have included in this list? Let us know @sandiegodotcom on socials!
Happy relaxing, friends.
