There’s something so relaxing about getting into a hot bath, letting the warm water ease the stress away. And when you can share a bath with your partner, you both come away feeling reset, recharged, and reconnected.
From day spas with a view to mineral mud baths to splurge getaways with private hot tubs, there’s no better way to bond than with a romantic couples soak.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, Monterey
(Courtesy of @montereyplaza)
From the private spa suite at the Vista Blue Spa on the top floor of the Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa, you and your loved one can enjoy panoramic views out over Monterey Bay. The suite is equipped with large soaking tubs and a rain shower, and they can set you up with extras like a charcuterie board, Champagne, and fruit. Choose from a variety of different baths including coconut milk, Himalayan salt with lavender, or the custom-blended chamomile, lavender, lemongrass, bergamot, and Epsom salt. “Our guests love to mix them and create their own personalized blend,” says spa manager Beatriz Diaz.
The spa also has two large hot tubs on the roof, and you can have food delivered to enjoy on the deck chairs next to the hot tubs and a cozy fireplace. Make it a day trip or keep the luxury going by spending the night at this hotel built right over the water. If you book the Spa Terrace or Presidential Suite, you’ll have your own private outdoor whirlpool.
// 400 Cannery Row (Monterey), montereyplazahotel.com
Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, Calistoga
(Courtesy of @drwilkinsonsresort)
Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs in Calistoga has been around since the 1950s, and it’s still got retro, mid-century vibes paired with renovated modern comforts. The centerpiece of the resort is the mineral mud baths, which contain a combination of volcanic ash from St. Helena, mineral rich natural hot water from the property, and peat from Canada. Specially designated couples treatments—like The Works, where the two of you start with side-by-side mud baths, followed by a mineral bath and a mud mask, then a steam, a blanket wrap, and a Swedish massage—let you enjoy the spa’s healing properties together. There are also several couples massage options, including salt stone, CBD deep tissue, and an amethyst bio mat massage.
“There’s a real joy in doing something completely different together, says Avery Winter, director of spa and wellness at Dr. Wilkinson’s. “Our couples’ mud baths strike a balance between relaxation and play, giving guests space to unwind, reconnect, and not take things too seriously. The warmth of the mineral water, volcanic ash, and peat moss helps relax the body and soften the skin, but just as important is the shared moment of slowing down and experiencing something playful, unexpected, and genuinely memorable.”
If you’re an overnight guest, you can soak in any of the three large mineral water pools at the resort; each is at a different natural temperature, and they all contain healing natural minerals. The resort has 50 guest rooms, including some spacious private cottages, all of which underwent a renovation in 2021. And while you can make any visit here romantic, their VDay Getaway special nails it with wine, breakfast and dinner at the onsite House of Better (try the pie!), mud bath treatments, and chauffeured Napa Valley wine tastings included. For day trippers, The Sweetheart’s Escape features mud baths, massages, Champagne, and chocolate-covered strawberries.
// 1507 Lincoln Ave. (Calistoga), drwilkinson.com
Sweetwater Inn and Spa, Mendocino
(Courtesy of @sweetwaterinnspa)
With its sweeping ocean views and charming streets, the picturesque village of Mendocino is a perfect romantic getaway all on its own. To really top it off, book some time in a tub at the Sweetwater Eco Spa at the Sweetwater Inn and Spa. It has two private outdoor redwood hot tubs with decks that you can reserve for 60 or 90 minutes at a time. (One comes with your own sauna, as well.) There’s also the classic, clothing-optional communal hot tub if that’s more your vibe.
If you find yourself so relaxed that you can’t bear the thought of driving home, Sweetwater Inn has a unique mix of guestrooms: two suites in restored water towers from the 1870s, three rooms in the renovated Victorian mansion, and three private cottages, two of which have their own redwood soaking tubs.
// 44840 Main St. (Mendocino), sweetwaterspa.com
Casa Palmero, Pebble Beach
(Courtesy of Casa Palmero)
California’s Pebble Beach is a bucket list destination, and if you want the best of the best, you’ll want to stay at Casa Palmero: a hidden, high-end hotel with just 24 rooms in the heart of Pebble Beach that underwent a major update in 2025. It’s like walking into a sun-washed Mediterranean escape with palm trees, fountains, red clay-roofed buildings, and warm stucco walls. The staff will greet you by name, and they’ll go all out to make for a memorable stay; if you want French macarons, scented candles, and a signature bottle of bubbly to enjoy in the bath, they can do that.
All the ground-floor spa rooms have their own private outdoor hot tubs with plenty of room for two to watch the stars. If the waves are big enough, you can even hear the ocean. Every room has a large indoor soaking tub that comes with bespoke bath salts. At the Spa at Pebble Beach right next door to Casa Palmero, you can get a couples massage (also available in your room) or indulge in side-by-side flotation wraps that leave your skin feeling satiny smooth.
// 1518 Cypress Dr. (Pebble Beach), pebblebeach.com
The Inn Above Tide, Sausalito
Right on the water in Sausalito, The Inn Above Tide is a boutique getaway basically made for romance with fireplaces, luxe furnishings, and, of course, fantastic, large spa tubs in all the suites. "For couples seeking an intimate and unforgettable escape, The Inn Above Tide offers a uniquely romantic setting unlike anywhere else on the Bay,” says general manager Mark Flaherty. “Our waterfront rooms, private balconies, and panoramic views of San Francisco’s skyline create a serene backdrop for cherished moments together."
For the best view from the bath, book the Penthouse Suite, which has floor-to-ceiling windows visible from the freestanding bathtub. Coming in a close second is the Panorama Suite, where you can see out to the bay as you soak in a jetted tub. You can get customized aromatherapy bath salts and candles for the room and, for an extra treat as (or after) you soak, book the Fire & Fog Winter Series package, which features California Caviar Company caviar and two half bottles of Champagne delivered to the room.
// 39 El Portal (Sausalito), innabovetide.com
