California Spa Guide: The Best Spas in Pasadena
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Located 10 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains, Pasadena is home to historic buildings and homes, world-class entertainment and dining, renowned educational institutions, and many other attractions. The annual Rose Parade (also known as the Tournament of Roses Parade) is held in Pasadena every year and draws more than 800,000 people from all over the world.
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Some of the most popular local hotspots in Pasadena include The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens; the Rose Bowl Stadium, Norton Simon Museum, Ambassador Auditorium, the Pasadena Playhouse, The Langham Huntington Hotel, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the Athenaeum, among others.
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Pasadena is also the perfect place to relax and recharge with numerous spas and wellness offerings, ranging from luxurious hotel spas to express massage places and San Gabriel Valley’s first Korean spa. We’ve put together a guide to the best spas in Pasadena (and South Pasadena) to help you plan the ultimate day for pampering and relaxation.
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Cheeks + Co
20 S. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105; (800) 955-0469
Founded in 2019 by seasoned esthetician and clean beauty veteran Christina “Tina” Uzzardi, Cheeks + Co is a facial spa in Pasadena that offers clean, advanced skincare treatments in a luxurious and approachable environment. Uzzardi also has more than a decade of experience working as Director of Operations at clean beauty brand ILIA and opened Cheeks + Co to disrupt the clean skincare spa experience and fill the void she saw.
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Cheeks + Co specializes in customized facials that are tailored according to the specific needs of each client, in addition to waxing services. They also offer a Facial Membership that includes numerous perks including one facial benefit a month, discounts on additional services and merchandise, VIP access to events and more.
The facial spa retails the best products from its favorite clean, female-founded and mostly California brands. They carry the entire OSEA line and also incorporate their products into treatments, and all of their products encourage great results while maintaining skin health. Due to popular request, Uzzardi is also opening a second Cheeks + Co location in Los Angeles’ West Adams District in Fall 2023.
Chuan Spa at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena Hotel
1401 South Oak Knoll Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106; (626) 585-6414
Chuan Spa at The Langham Huntington Hotel offers signature treatments inspired by TCM (traditional Chinese medicine).
Located in Pasadena’s stunning Oak Knoll neighborhood at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Chuan Spa offers the finest international spa treatments based on the ancient traditions of the Orient. From the minute guests step through the Moon Gate, they embark on a journey of balance and relaxation.
Chuan Spa has 12 treatment rooms including a couple’s suite and VIP suite, along with a full-service nail and hair salon, locker facilities with showers, sauna, herbal steam and whirlpool, in addition to a fitness center. Guests start their experience in the Contemplation Lounge, where they are served traditional Chinese five element teas and their individual element of the day is identified and nourished.
Guests love the spa’s signature treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine such as the Chuan Tao of Detox, which includes a full-body exfoliation that stimulates circulation, a warm marine algae wrap infused with oils, an acupressure massage, and a a Kerstin Florian Customized Advance Repair facial. The spa can also accommodate a few special requests that aren’t on the menu as well, such as pre-natal massages. All guests’ visits end in the Dream Room, which features relaxing water beds with privacy curtains.
Check out our spa profile to learn more about Chuan Spa at The Langham Huntington Hotel.
Cote d’Azur
41 West Bellevue Drive, Pasadena, CA 91105; (626) 396-3030
Cote d’Azur is located in a historic home in Pasadena, California.
Tucked away on a quiet street just a few blocks south of busy Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena sits a quaint Victorian cottage surrounded by a lush garden. Owned by husband and wife team, Darrin and Carolyn Jaques, Cote d'Azur is an award-winning day spa that has been open since 2003.
Cote d’Azur combines the high-quality body work, subtle energy therapy and time-honored indigenous practices into its treatment menu which includes acupuncture, energy balancing, massages and facials, custom aromatherapy, and Gleeminex for pets (energy clearing and balancing for four-legged friends!)
The spa’s amenities include a spacious outdoor patio, retail area that carries natural beauty products and healthy snacks, and a relaxing lounge area where guests can opt to enjoy foot soaks and treatments for an additional cost. Cote d’Azur is also a certified green facility that doesn't offer hydrotherapy services.. Their focus is to provide guests with the best massage and holistic treatment services found anywhere. Read the complete Spa Diary to learn more.
Massage Envy South Pasadena
1136 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena CA 91030; (626) 403-6000
Perfect for busy moms and executives, Massage Envy South Pasadena offers express spa treatments and skincare services in a relaxing and tranquil environment.
For those that don’t have the time to spend an entire day at the spa, Massage Envy is a chain of franchised locations that offer express spa treatments designed for people who are pressed for time and constantly on the go like busy moms and corporate executives. Founded din 2002, Massage Envy has more than 1,000 franchise locations across 49 states and is the largest provider of therapeutic massages and skin care in the United States.
Massage Envy South Pasadena is located on bustling Fair Oaks Avenue within walking distance to stores and restaurants. They have a team of highly-trained employees who have been trained to meet industry-leading standards, offer customized experienced to personalize your sessions with services and products, and have a retail area with curated product lines to complement your services and home care.
Guests can choose from various services include massages, stretch sessions and facials. They also offer add-ons like CBD enhancements, aromatherapy, rapid tension relief, exfoliating hand and feet treatments, and enhance muscle therapy. Another thing that people love about Massage Envy is their reasonable prices and how easy it is to book an appointment over the phone or online.
Muscle Lab
2381 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107; (626) 765-6222
Muscle Lab is a muscle recovery and wellness lounge in Pasadena that offers the most integrative and comprehensive approach to health.
Muscle Lab in Pasadena is a muscle recovery and wellness lounge that combines a variety of services with the advancements of modern sciences, offering the most integrative and comprehensive approach to health. Whether you’re looking to relax, recover after a strenuous workout or treat chronic pain, their menu includes treatments such as IV therapy and vitamin drops, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, cupping and stretching that are designed to help you feel your best.
Their Recovery Plans put you on the right track to recover from common injuries and are targeted towards strengthening your body, evaluating your range of motion, and assessing the most effective treatment options. Their different plans individually focus on injuries including ankle sprains, back aches, hamstring pulls and more, while their stretch therapists will work with you to help you reduce pain and promote full-body mobility.
Muscle Lab’s Health & Wellness plans bring a new approach to wellness centers in LA with custom wellness plans to encourage better sleep, improve mobility, boost energy and stimulate the brain. To learn more and book a treatment, click here.
The NOW Massage Pasadena
75 West Walnut Street, Suite 120, Pasadena, CA; (909) 966-1960
The NOW Massage is disrupting the wellness space with high-quality, affordable massage services in an inspired setting.
Popular wellness franchise The NOW Massage, known for offering high-quality, affordable massage services in an inspired setting with the convenience of a walk-in, recently continued its expansion by opening its first location in Pasadena. The boutique is owned and operated by local resident Sarah McMurray, who brings decades of business management experience to her new endeavor with The NOW Massage.
Just like other NOW Massage locations, The NOW Pasadena offers three different types of Swedish-based table massages and a wide variety of enhancements starting at $10 ranging from Gua Sha and a scalp renewal add-on to soothing eye masks and more. The soothing interior design is inspired by nature and beachside locales around the world, providing guests with a soothing environment where they can relax and rejuvenate.
The NOW Massage also includes a retail area where guests can purchase an assortment of signature NOW products including their namesake product lines Nourish, Room and Scent by The NOW. The products are formulated with top-of-the-line ingredients to extend the benefits of one’s massage experience at home or on-the-go.
The Salt Studio
1380 E. Walnut Street, Pasadena, CA 91106; (626) 765-6180
The Salt Studio in Pasadena is home to a tranquil salt relaxation room.
Located in charming Pasadena and owned by Diana Leone, The Salt Studio is a unique urban sanctuary that offers various healing services and treatments ranging from massages and facials to energy work. The spa is also home to a tranquil salt relaxation room, which helps provide relief from respiratory disorders, skin conditions and allergies.
They offer aromatherapy and heat therapy with services (which are normally add-ons at other spas) and guests appreciate the spa’s holistic approach. The salt room is a tranquil, negative ion-rich environment and the perfect place to relax and recharge. Recommended treatments include the Detox Mud Wrap and the AG Facial, which addresses fine lines and hydrates, lifts, tones and stimulates collagen production using ultra-sonic vibration, negative ions and light therapy. The Spa Works Treatment is a two-hour service that includes a salt body scrub, a Dead Sea Mud Wrap and a massage, and is a popular treatment for gifts and birthdays.
Their retail area carries a variety of products including salt lamps and salt candle holders, Fair Trade salt products, their own line of aromatherapy sprays and roll-ons, high mineral bath salts, smudging tools, and crystals collected from the desert. To learn more about The Salt Studio, check out our spa profile.
Timeless Aesthetics
380 S. Lake Ave, #206, Pasadena, CA 91101; (626) 298-2317
If you’re looking to transform your skin, lashes, and brows, Timeless Aesthetics offers a wide variety of results-driven facials and cutting-edge skincare treatments and beauty services featuring state-of-the-art technology. Founded by longtime esthetician and skincare expert Christy Puente (who is also oncology certified), the cozy facial studio is located in the historic Burlington Arcade on South Lake Avenue in Pasadena, which is home to some of the area’s best shopping, dining, and entertainment.
Treatments are designed to treat a variety of skin issues from hyperpigmentation and melasma to dry skin, with offerings such as the CryoSkin Facial (for radiant, bright, and toned skin), the Geneo-Glo2Facial (aka “Facial of the Future,” a non-invasive facial treatment that combines three technologies for maximum results), highly customizable and non-ablative fractional skin resurfacing with Tixel, and dermaplaning, among others.
Puente also recommends and retails a variety of the best skincare products from top brands including skinbetter science to her clients to maintain and enhance results in-between appointments, and she also offers Yumilashes Keratin Lash Lifts for gorgeously lifted lashes.
V Spa Korean JimJilBang
1130 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030; (626) 799-0118
South Pasadena’s V Spa is the first Korean spa in San Gabriel Valley and features modern amenities such as a steam sauna, Himalayan salt room, and cold and hot baths.
The first Korean spa in San Gabriel Valley, V Spa is inspired by the spas in LA’s Koreatown and was founded by Mei Vieth, who wanted to offer a Korean spa closer to home. It features an array of modern amenities such as a steam sauna, Himalayan salt room, red clay detox room, and cold and hot baths.
The menu of services offers various relaxing and affordable treatments including the popular Korean body scrub treatment, reflexology, facials, massage, and hair services in the salon area. The V Spa Special costs $80 and also includes admission, along with a traditional Korean body scrub and hair wash, followed by a moisturizing oil massage and a cucumber face mask.
Admission to the spa is $25, which provides access to the hot and cold baths, steam sauna room, clay detox sauna room, and Himalayan salt room for the day. The spa accepts walk-ins, but reservations are always recommended. Learn more about V Spa here.
Well Studio
609 E. Green St., Pasadena, CA 91101; hello@wellstudiola.com
Well Studio in Pasadena, which has been featured in Vogue Magazine, was founded by local resident Colette Connor after she discovered the incredible benefits of lymphatic drainage to help treat her various autoimmune symptoms. She had devoted more than a decade to experimenting with alternative healing for her personal health journey when she experienced the Icoone®, a cutting-edge medical grade technology imported from Italy.
The LED/Laser Icoone® machine provides a gentle deep tissue massage that stimulates the lymph system to drain out toxins and fats from the body. Used throughout Europe’s most luxurious spas, the rejuvenating and relaxing experience is now available for the first time in East Los Angeles.
At Connor’s welcoming and cozy studio, which includes a private changing room and studio, she offers several different services that utilize the state-of-the-art machine to sculpt, remodel, and detoxify the body. The machine can also incorporate LED and laser light to target chosen focus areas that may be resistant to diet and exercise, making the treatment even more beneficial and results-driven.
Treatments to try include the Transcendent Revival for the body and face, which is available in 70 and 100-minute experiences. It begins with an energy cleanse and sessions are tailored to guests’ specific needs, from firmer skin texture and reduced puffiness to a more sculpted silhouette, boosting immunity, and flushing toxins. The session ends with a chakra rebalance and clients leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
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[Images courtesy of their respective hotels and spas]
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Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk