Spa Review: We Tried the Earth Experience at Pendry West Hollywood's Spa Pendry
One of my top resolutions this year is to integrate more wellness and self-care into my routine, so when I had the opportunity to kick off 2023 with a spa visit to Spa Pendry at Pendry West Hollywood, I jumped at the chance. As an added bonus I went with my friend Patty Serrato, who shares details about her spa experience and treatment here.
Spa Profile: Spa Pendry at Pendry West Hollywood
It was also my first time visiting Pendry West Hollywood, a chic and tastefully designed hotel located on one of the best parts of the Sunset Strip. It’s directly across the street from the iconic Comedy Store and is within close proximity to entertainment venues, restaurants and other iconic properties such as Sunset Tower Hotel, Chateau Marmont, Mondrian Los Angeles and Andaz West Hollywood, among others.
Both the hotel and spa feature a stunning Art Deco-style design by award-winning international interior designer Martin Brudnizki, with beautiful details that range from a black-and-white checkered floor pattern in the lobby and bold blue walls to a unique 70’ Icosahedron sculpture in the entryway by British/American artist Anthony James.
One of the aspects I really like about the hotel is that it celebrates local Los Angeles artists with a curated art collection that can be seen throughout the property (including the spa). I appreciated the opportunity to discover more artists whose work I fell in love with like Lilian Martinez (whose work can be found in the women’s locker room) as well as Little Dean (whose artwork can be seen in the nail salon). To view the rest of Pendry West Hollywood’s art collection, click here.
Here’s what you’ll love about Spa Pendry at Pendry West Hollywood:
Spa Pendry is located at Pendry West Hollywood, a chic boutique hotel in a prime location on the Sunset Strip.
The hotel and spa feature a stunning art deco-style design by Martin Brudnizki and a curated in-house art collection by local LA artists.
In addition to the spa, Pendry West Hollywood also has two exclusive dining venues designed by Wolfgang Puck and The Britely, a private membership-based social club.
Spa Pendry is an intimate urban sanctuary that infuses Old Hollywood glamour into its design for a more modern and classic look and feel.
The spa offers custom treatments using high-quality skin and body care products, and has developed a signature menu in partnership with top skin care brands Babor and Priori.
Amenities include four treatment rooms, a couples room, nail salon, locker rooms, tranquil lounge, and eucalyptus-infused steam rooms (one in the men’s changing room and the other in the women’s changing room).
Spa guests also receive all-day access to spa amenities as well as the movement studio.
I pulled into the hotel’s valet area, which is directly across from Pendry Residences West Hollywood by Montage Hotels & Resorts, a collection of 40 stunning luxury residences (what a dream!) The ground outside of the hotel and residences also features the same black-and-white checkered floor pattern that extends into the interior of Pendry West Hollywood, a whimsical detail that I found to be positively charming.
The hotel’s downstairs area includes a reception desk, Bar Pendry (perfect for cocktails and small bites), and The Britely—a membership-based social club. I took the elevator up to the spa, a cozy and intimate space that includes a shopping boutique and nail salon. It features stunning design details like pink tile walls and more curated artwork for a touch of Old Hollywood glamour.
After receiving my assigned locker, I changed into an incredibly soft and plush bathrobe—one of the comfiest I’ve ever experienced at a spa. In addition to private showers and a vanity area, the spa also has a eucalyptus-infused steam room (the men’s and women’s changing rooms each have one), so I made sure to enjoy a quick steam session to open my pores before my treatment (which helps products absorb into skin during a spa service).
The spa is also fully stocked with all of the amenities one could want during their visit including blow-dryers, hair ties, as well as hair care and skin care products by MiN New York. Spa guests also get access to the fitness center, so I recommend bringing workout clothing for those who want to partake in either.
When I was done in the steam room I made my way to the relaxation lounge, which had a tranquil vibe with light blue walls and comfortable armchairs. Various healthy snacks including nuts and apples were available to nibble on along with reiki-infused water and hot tea. A stack of magazines was also provided as reading material.
Shortly after I sat down, my massage therapist arrived to greet me and brought me past a set of curtains that led to the spa’s treatment rooms. Spa Pendry has four treatment rooms including a couples room, but despite its intimate size, the spa never once felt crowded during my visit. In fact, I had the entire changing room and relaxation lounge to myself when I was there, so Spa Pendry does a great job of timing its guests’ treatments in order to ensure their comfort and sense of personal space while there.
My treatment room felt very calming with the same light blue walls as the relaxation lounge, and in the corner of the room there was a chair, table and small bowl for personal items like jewelry. My therapist proceeded to explain to me what the treatment would entail, then she asked if I had any areas of concern that I would like her to focus on during the massage portion, as well as any areas I wanted her to avoid.
She stepped out of the room so that I could remove my robe before slipping under the covers of the heated massage bed. The temperature of the bed felt perfect and I found the head rest to be extremely soft and comfortable as it supported my face, which was a huge plus. Once I was settled in, she knocked before coming back in and started my treatment.
I was going to experience the 60-minute Earth Experience, which came highly recommended. The service started with a a full-body dry brushing to lightly exfoliate skin and stimulate circulation, and included an application of Babor Shaping Peeling Cream to soften and smooth skin with exfoliating celluose granules. It also boosts skin’s ability to absorb other products that are applied afterwards, and it had a pleasant scent of orange, mimosa, cedar, amber and musk.
During the dry brushing portion, my therapist offered several for tips for me to follow at home so that I could incorporate it into my personal self-care routine. She suggested that I dry brush my skin prior to taking a shower or bath once or twice a week, and she reminded me to use firm and small strokes upwards or to work in a circular motion. She emphasized the various benefits of dry brushing, which include stimulating the lymphatic system, removing dead skin cells, and increasing circulation.
Then she applied Babor Shaping Body Lotion to my newly exfoliated skin and wrapped me in a warm sheet that served as a comfy shaping cocoon to absorb the ingredients which include active stem cell complex and yellow poppy to repair and improve firmness. The lotion has the same lovely scent as the peeling cream, and my skin (which tends to get quite dry during the winter months) soaked up the product and was feeling more hydrated by the minute.
For the last segment of the treatment, she performed a full-body massage with nourishing oils that further moisturized my skin while relaxing my muscles and targeting any knots and stiffness. She was extremely intuitive and knew exactly what points on my body needed extra attention, and she knew the right amount of pressure that needed to be used in each spot.
The Earth Experience is also available in a 90-minute version (another 30 minutes of heavenly relaxation? Sign me up!) My therapist mentioned that the spa also offers an Ocean Experience, which is a treatment that includes a detoxifying and hydrating algae wrap, and the relaxing scents of apple, lemon, lavender, spearmint and Lily of the Valley. Looks like I know what I’ll be getting next time I visit!
After my treatment had concluded, my therapist stepped out of the room so that I could put on my robe. When I came out of the room she was waiting with a glass of water and reminded me to stay hydrated for the rest of the day. I met up with Patty in the locker room and after we changed back into our clothes (it was so hard to say good-bye to my comfy robe!), we walked past the spa’s nail salon on the way to the reception desk.
The nail salon is another beautiful space with more artwork on the walls, two pedicure chairs and a manicure station. In addition to manis and pedis, they offer various nail service enhancements such as paraffin wax to boost moisture levels, a peel-microderm scrub for hands and feet, and a massage with warm, hand-carved salt stones to relieve stress.
My therapist had also been kind enough to set aside the Babor products at the front desk for me in case I was interested in purchasing them to use at home. She also left me a hand-written note thanking me for coming in and said that she looked forward to welcoming me back in the near future. From the wonderful amenities and spa treatment to the excellent service that made me feel instantly at home, Spa Pendry left a positive impression on me and already has me looking forward to my next visit.
Spa services always manage to work up my appetite and fortunately Patty and I had lunch reservations at downstairs at Ospero, one of the hotel’s restaurants by Wolfgang Puck. The cozy neighborhood trattoria features a menu with Italian influences paired with fresh California cuisine, and it also has a coffee bar and pastry corner that was stocked with delectable treats including colorful macarons.
The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating—because the weather was so lovely, Patty and I opted to sit out on the patio that overlooks the front entrance of the hotel, the Pendry residences, and offers views of the DTLA skyline, which we were fortunate enough to see that day!
The menu at Ospero had everything from house-made pizzas and pasta dishes to vegan dishes and health salads. Because Patty and i were trying to start the new year off on a healthy note, we opted to split a few items including the Meatballs ‘Al Forno’, Burrata with arugula, prosciutto and pear; and Char-Grilled Jidori chicken served with a side of Tuscan potatoes and broccolini.
The food was delicious and we could tell that a lot of time and thought had been put into the preparation of each dish, which we thoroughly enjoyed. After we finished our meal we lingered a bit because we were having such a nice time enjoying the beautiful views.
Although it was hard to leave after such a wonderful spa experience and meal, I already knew that another visit to Pendry West Hollywood was in my future. Whether it will be in the form of another spa day or a dinner date with my husband at Merois (the hotel’s rooftop restaurant) is yet to be determined, but either way I know it’s going to be another incredible experience that I get to look forward to.
Cost: Earth Experience ($300/60 min, $425/90 min)
Insider Tip: Arrive 15 to 30 minutes early to enjoy the spa’s amenities like the steam room and showers. Spa guests get all-day access to the various amenities including the movement studio, so bring workout clothes if of interest.
Hours: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. (Daily)
Address: 8430 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Phone: 323-918-3424
Email: pwhspa@pendry.com
For more information and to book a service, visit the website. Follow on Instagram: @pendrywesthollywood
[Images by Kamala Kirk]
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