We know, we know—it’s Valentine’s week, the time of year you should be pampering people in your life and they should be doing the same for you.
But who says you shouldn’t spoil yourself, too? We’re all for self-love year-round, and there are few better gifts for your body and mind than heading to the spa. Luckily, the Bay Area’s spa game is next level.
Not only is it home to some of the most luxurious, beautiful spas in the country, but there are also plenty of budget-friendly and culturally diverse options that make a spa day possible without breaking the bank.
From mega Wine Country sanctuaries to globally inspired urban bath houses, we’ve rounded up the best spas in the Bay Area for any budget. (And hey, if you're feeling generous, gift cards to these spots also make great gifts any time of year.)
Luxury Spas in the Bay Area
The cedar sauna at Halehouse Spa at Stanly Ranch.
(Courtesy of Stanly Ranch)
Bamford Wellness Spa at 1 Hotel
A rooftop bubble bath with Champagne while gazing out at the Bay? That’s the situation over at Bamford Wellness Spa, which is perched on the top floor of the trendy 1Hotel in downtown San Francisco. While the spa is small and doesn't offer extra amenities (like a sauna or showers), the views make up for it. The Bay Bridge is a bold backdrop to every treatment room, and the private rooftop terrace features two stone spa tubs you can book for 30 minutes, letting you soak in a mineral-rich salt bath while enjoying prepared snacks, tea and a mimosa, all while being surrounded by skyscrapers. Holistic treatments use natural and organic products in both the massages (50-minutes, starting at $220) and facials (starting at $230), with plenty of upgrades available including red light therapy, microcurrent lifts, and a 24-karat nanogold “repair” meant to reduce inflammation and puffiness. // 1 Hotel, 8 Mission St 8th floor; reservations are available at 1hotel.com.
Halehouse Spa at Stanly Ranch
If you want a spa where you can spend an entire day and still not want to go home, head to one of the newest Auberge resorts, Stanly Ranch, which sits on 700 acres of ranch land in Napa. Set on a hilltop surrounded by vineyards, the property's spa is stunning from every direction. It's comprised of three main buildings: Halehouse (treatment rooms), Fieldhouse (a movement studio), and Springhouse (a wellness circuit that includes a cedar sauna, steam room, salt therapy, cold plunge and a hyperbaric oxygen chamber). In the center of the spa, you'll find a large pool overlooking the vines that's yours to enjoy for the day. Treatments range from classic ($250 for a 60-minute Swedish massage) to less traditional options like dry brushing, reiki, lymph drainage, and even $495 facial that uses a “remodeling face machine.” // 200 Stanly Crossroad, Napa, reservations aubergeresorts.com
Healing Arts Center & Spa at Cavallo Point
Looking to try something new but still get the luxurious atmosphere? Head to this 11,000-square-foot sanctuary within the historic Cavallo Point Lodge, situated at the base of the Golden Gate, which is far more than a spa. Yes, you can get an excellent massage here (starting at $220) but it's the more unique offerings that set it apart, including chakra energy balancing, sound healing, reiki, and a fully integrative medicine program directed by primary care physician Dr. Bradly Jacobs. Jacobs sees individual clients and also leads lectures, workshops and other experiences. With any treatment, you get two hours of access to the full facilities, so be sure to relax in the zen garden, take a dip in the meditation pool, spend time in the eucalyptus steam room, and enjoy the outdoor fire pits. // 601 Murray Circle (Sausalito), reservations at cavallopoint.com
SenSpa
Located at the edge of the Presidio, this former army building has been transformed into a 13,000-square-foot oasis that blend Eastern and Western techniques. On the menu is everything from acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine to classic spa offerings like massages and facials, but the best experiences are the hybrid treatments that incorporate both East and West—take the "healing alchemy," a 75-minute session involving anything from lymphatic massage to reiki to Chinese reflexology, all personalized to your body's specific needs. Plan to spend hours exploring this large facility before or after your session, including three lounges, an aromatherapy steam room, a sauna, and a tea garden. //1161 Gorgas Ave., reservations available at senspa.com
Mid-Budget Spas in the Bay Area
(Courtesy of Redmint)Burke Williams Day Spa
You might have not taken a trip to the (former Westfield) San Francisco Centre much lately, but here's a good reason. With more than 10 locations throughout California (including SF and San Jose), Burke Williams is known for its large, high-end facilities packed with amenities. The SF location in the downtown mall is comprised of more than 16,500 square feet. Book a treatment and get full access to amenities including separate women's and men's lounges, jacuzzis, a steam room, sauna, showers and dressing areas. Membership is another option: For $145 a month, you can choose from a 50-minute massage or facial plus other perks. // San Francisco Centre, 845 Market St Suite 510, reservations at burkewilliams.com
Rockridge Day Spa
Spa options are not as prolific in the East Bay, so Rockridge Day Spa is a locally beloved gem. The menu of services here is extensive: hair cuts and colors, microdermabrasion, wraps, rubs, threading, waxes, facials, and more. If a decadent massage is what you're after, the quality of massage here is consistent. The spa is an easy walk from BART and there are plenty of lovely places to eat and shop before or after your visit. // 5413 College Ave, Oakland, reservations at rockridgedayspa.com
Pearl Spa and Sauna
This one is for the ladies. Located in Japantown, Pearl is a Korean-style, women-only spa. The most popular treatment here is the body scrub, inspired by traditional jjimjilbangs (South Korean bathhouses). Trust us and book it—it's extremely satisfying to watch sheaves of dead skin just fall off your body. For the full experience, the scrub-massage combo is the way to go. All booked services include two hours use of the amenities, which include a hot tub and eucalyptus steam room. // 1656 Post St., reservations are available at pearlspasf.com
Redmint
Redmint expertly blends Western and Eastern rituals, infusing both traditional Chinese medicine and modern wellness techniques. At both locations in San Francisco—on Fillmore Street and in the Marina—you can truly get any treatment you dream of: acupuncture, massage, foot reflexology, sound bath meditation, LED therapy, scalp massages, facial peels, and more. Redmint focuses on natural elixirs and Eastern herbs to promote healing, so stop at the herbal bar, which you can walk in off the street, for medicinal and herbal lattes, teas, and more. Membership is $155 per month, which includes a credit toward any service plus half off drinks at the bar. // Multiple locations, reservations available at redmint.com
Budget-Friendly Spas in the Bay Area
One of the many pools available at the four-level Archimedes Banya.
(Courtesy of Archimedes Banya)
Imperial Day Spa
A brutal scrub down at Imperial Day Spa is all you need to feel human again. Watch the dead skin peel away as a worker gets into all your crevices while you stand helpless in the nude. It's a bit much, yes, but the exfoliation leaves you feeling like a newborn baby. While the facilities at this Korean-style communal bathhouse aren't the most modern or fancy, they are clean and well-maintained. Spaces for women and men are separate, and going nude is the norm. Enjoy the jacuzzi, cold plunge, dry and steam saunas; in the women's space, there is also a red and yellow clay room. Enjoy the space for $40 day pass, opt for a signature scrub ($70-$80), or choose from a variety of other treatments ranging from foot acupressure to massage. //1875 Geary Blvd, reservations at imperialdayspa.com
Kabuki Springs & Spa
Inspired by Japanese bathhouses (sentos), this Japantown spa has been a place of reprieve for San Franciscans since it opened in 1968. Located within the Japan Center, the communal facilities include a hot pool, cold plunge, dry sauna, steam room, and showers with all-natural products. Access to the facilities is only an extra 20 bucks on top of any treatment (massages start at $130) or you can access them with a $45 day pass. Be prepared for lots of nudity, as bathing suits are only required on Tuesdays when the facilities are co-ed (otherwise, it’s open to men on Saturdays and Thursdays and women on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays). // 1750 Geary Blvd, reservations at kabukispringscom
Piedmont Springs
Sometimes you want an expansive luxury spa. Other times, you just want a hot tub. Or a sauna. Or a steam room. Piedmont Springs in Oakland offers these at an affordable price. The facility offers four private, outdoor hot tubs with a covered shower and dressing area. Great to book solo, with a date or a small group of friends, the hot tubs are $30 per person per hour. Some of the rooms come with a sauna as well. A separate sauna and steam room are both available to book for $22 (45 minutes). Piedmont Springs also offers massages, scrubs, wraps, waxing and facials. // 3939 Piedmont Ave., reservations at piedmontsprings.com
Archimedes Banya
If you’re up for an adventure—with lots and lots of nudity—we have the place for you. This four-story facility in Bayview is truly massive. Inside you’ll find treatment rooms, a Finnish sauna, a Russian banya, a hot tub, an ice-cold plunge pool, quiet lounge rooms, a restaurant and a rooftop deck with sweeping views. Word of warning: Aside from the locker rooms and restaurant, all spaces are clothing-optional and co-ed. If you don’t feel like mingling naked with the opposite sex, they host women's and men's only nights once a month. While traditional services like massage and facials are not necessarily cheap (starting around $135 each), you can get a pass just to use the amenities (weekday happy hour passes are $52). The many ancient wellness rituals from across the globe also are wallet-friendly. Get scrubbed down in a Turkish hammam (starting at $65) or get a real taste of the Russian banya experiences with a venik platza ($47), in which a masseuse slaps birch and oak leaves soaked in hot water against your body to increase blood circulation. // 748 Innes Ave., reservations available at banyasf.com
