Located just a few steps from the beautiful beach in Santa Barbara, Hotel Californian is a stunning property with rooms and architectural design that combine classic Spanish Colonial Revival architecture with Moroccan influences. The hotel features over a million tiles in its decor, many of which have been hand painted and flattened in Morocco.

The hotel’s luxury spa Majorelle is named after and inspired by a distinct Moroccan blue shade known as Majorelle that is featured in the traditional tiles, windows and doorways of Marrakesh. While the spa’s design evokes a sense of tranquility and inspires revitalization, the treatment menu offers unique services that are customized according to individual needs and preferences.

We interviewed Meagan Johnson, Director of Spa at Majorelle, who shared insider tips, recommended treatments to try, and more.

Read more: The Best Santa Barbara Spas

Why You’ll Love It: It’s tough to say what guests love most, only because our tailored treatments are competing with such a beautiful space. Our spa was designed by interior designer Martyn Lawrence Bullard, and our name and color scheme was inspired by a distinct blue found in the traditional doorways of Marrakech.

Our décor also features healing crystals and Himalayan salt lamps throughout the spa, something guests notice and appreciate. We diffuse our signature Neroli essential oil throughout the spa and invite guests to take a breath and set an intention before beginning their spa treatment. We’ve very carefully curated Majorelle to be a place that is not only welcoming, but with therapists who can deliver world-class spa treatments.

Key Features: We are a very intimate facility comprising four treatment rooms, men’s and women’s eucalyptus steam rooms, showers featuring our signature Neroli shower amenities, and a beautiful relaxation lounge. We also offer a single chair hair and nail salon with a view of our Court of Fatima courtyard. By design, Majorelle is a space meant for a more personalized, private spa experience that is enjoyed by hotel guests and some of our high-profile guests who are looking for a retreat.

Our appointment times are staggered, which enables guests to enjoy even more privacy, and the level of service and attention we’re able to give to each and every guest is something we pride ourselves on and something you just don’t find at most larger format spas.

Spa Snacks: As we are in one of the world’s best wine regions and next to the vibrant Santa Barbara Funk Zone, we couldn’t miss an opportunity to welcome guests with a glass of prosecco. We offer amethyst-infused water which is on display in our lounge, and our therapists are always happy to educate interested guests about the benefits.

We also serve tea from Good Pharma, an emerging brand made in Morocco and started by the founders of Mighty Leaf Tea. Their teas are not only delicious, but they also have Reishi, Lions Mane, and Chaga Mushrooms in their various tea blends, which have many antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and nootropic benefits to nourish the body and mind. It’s a beautiful ritual with their unique pour-over style infuser which allows the tea, roots and herbs to infuse into the cup for flavor and function, and the mushroom and botanical extracts dissolve for optimal bioavailability.

Insider’s Tip: ​Very recently we launched a spa membership to allow Santa Barbara locals to enjoy full access to our property, which is otherwise limited to Hotel Californian guests only. With the new membership, members receive complimentary spa treatments each month, a 20% discount on additional spa treatments, access to our fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment from TechnoGym, discounts at all of our dining outlets, a special valet rate, complimentary access to our Saturday Sessions group fitness classes, and access to Tan Tan—our rooftop pool deck.

Members also receive 10 guest passes complimentary and may purchase additional passes for a small fee. Due to occupancy limits post-pandemic, we are not bringing back our Resort Pass program, so we’re excited to provide a way for our locals to experience all that our beautiful property has to offer and experience the Essential Luxury that is regular bodywork.

Bonus: ​Guests are served a complimentary glass of prosecco upon arrival to the spa. If arranged in advance, we are happy to coordinate flowers, a personalized dessert from our pastry chef, or a special bottle of wine. We act as a concierge to truly elevate the guest experience and make each visit even more memorable.

Splurge Treatment: Our Couture Treatment, which is a minimum of three hours, is a true made-to-measure experience. It starts with a consultation with one of our wellness experts at least 48 hours in advance to understand your needs and curate a treatment plan. This could include anything from a cranial sacral session to a tarot card reading, chakra balancing, reiki healing, or custom facial. All of our Couture Treatments include a guided meditation as well as aromatherapy selected for that individual, on that day, in that moment. Scent being our strongest tie to memory, guests are invited to take home the aromatherapy that is created for them to continue the experience at home and remember their time with us at Majorelle.

Unique Treatment: Our chakra balancing and guided meditation is very unique. We use healing crystals and specific oils for each chakra, while our therapist guides guests through a meditation to mindfully relax each part of the body.

Insider’s Favorite: I’ve always loved skin care, and our skincare treatments are my absolute favorite. We use all-natural organic products and incorporate gua sha, jade rollers, and ice globes into our custom facials, leaving the skin with a healthy glow. Our primary skincare line is Naturopathica and the philosophy is that everything we need to heal the body can be found in nature. It was a process of detoxing the skin from years of chemical skincare, but now that I’ve discovered and my skin has adapted to natural skincare products, it’s become an essential luxury I can’t live without.

Featured Products: ​We have aligned ourselves as a natural, holistic place of healing. We also care deeply about sustainability and being a Green Spa, so all of our retail partners must align with that philosophy. We’ve partnered with Naturopathica skincare, Body Bliss Intentional Aromatherapy, Margaret Dabbs for hand and foot care, Well CBD products, and we’re releasing our first Majorelle body lotion this fall in our signature Neroli scent. We also routinely feature new natural and organic brands in our retail space and our treatment rooms.

For more information and to book a treatment, visit the website and follow on Instagram: @hotelcalifornian

[Photos courtesy of Majorelle/Hotel Californian]

Hotel Californian

36 State Street

Santa Barbara, CA 93101

805-882-0100