Alila Napa Valley is an intimate luxury hotel located in the heart of St. Helena, Napa Valley.

Located in the heart of St. Helena in Napa Valley, Alila Napa Valley is a luxurious adults-only hotel set against a stunning backdrop of lush vineyards and distant mountains. Conveniently located a short walking distance from the downtown Main Street area (and directly next door to Beringer Estate Winery), the hotel is an intimate and modern retreat situated in the heart of California’s wine country.

Spa Alila is located in a contemporary farmhouse on the hotel grounds and offers guests the ultimate rejuvenating experience that provides vital replenishment for the mind, body and soul. With a holistic approach to well-being that is rooted in the past yet mindful of the future, Spa Alila blends centuries-old healing techniques with modern expressions. Inspired by ancient healing traditions, aromatherapy and artisanal creations, their treatments incorporate nourishing ingredients and healing botanicals harvested from Napa’s temperate climate and nutrient-rich soil.

We interviewed Gena Price, Director of Spa & Wellness, who shared insider tips, recommended treatments to try, and more.

Why You’ll Love It: Our guests love the ambiance of Spa Alila. Taking the first step into Spa Alila Napa Valley gives the sense of tranquility, the ambiance of calming colors and beautiful architecture guides our guests to a state of being present, willing to let go, tend to their self-care, and well-being.

Alila means “surprise” in Sanskrit and Spa Alila loves adding in small surprises for its guests.

Key Features: Spa Alila features a boutique, indoor and outdoor relaxation; room visual; stunning steam room to awaken, detox, and prepare the skin and body for spa treatments; and hydrotherapy cool plunge rain shower to improve circulation, reduce muscle pain, and improve lymphatic flow.

Spa Snacks: To bring inner balance and harmony, we offer a wellness tea, wellness juice shots, and small nourishing bites from seasonal fruit to nuts, and granola prepared by our culinary team at Acacia House by Chris Cosentino.

With a holistic approach to well-being that is rooted in the past yet mindful of the future, Spa Alila blends centuries-old healing techniques with modern expressions.

Insider’s Tip: I always love to suggest our add-on indulgences to elevate any treatment. The Vitality Beverage Collection has been created specifically with the guests of Alila Napa Valley in mind. The bounty of Be Here Farm + Nature has woven together in unique ways the cleanest and most potent self-care products, resulting in healthful, mouth pleasing, soul nourishing refreshments. This collection includes an Herbal Tonic, Elixir Drops and Earth Lover Tea. The in-room Activation of Soaking Tub with Be Here Farm +Nature Bath Salts is the perfect post-treatment upgrade.

Upon their arrival to the spa, guests can choose from a selection of herbs that will be steeped into a broth and incorporated into their spa treatment.

Bonus: Alila means “surprise” in Sanskrit and we love adding in small surprises from our Burden Bundle Welcome Ritual to our Night Sky Surprise. For example, during the Burden Bundle ritual, upon arrival to the spa each guest is invited to choose from a selection of herbs with listed benefits: lavender, calendula, rosemary, tulsi, red clover, lemon verbena) that have been harvested by Be Here Farm + Nature, which is behind Alila Napa Valley on Spring Mountain.

As the guest makes their selection of herbs, they will place them into a single sachet bag; they are asked to set an intention of what they would like to release or let go of so they can be more present with their time here at Spa Alila. They are then asked to pass their bundle of herbs to their provider, symbolizing the intention of passing on their chosen burden.

During the treatment, the herbs are steeped to create an herbal broth. The aroma will fill the air. Then at the conclusion of the service, the herbal broth will be poured over warmed linens and then used on the neck, shoulders, feet and lower legs, cleansing and leaving behind that which no longer serves on the next steps of their journey.

The spa’s chic relaxation lounge opens to a peaceful outdoor area.

Splurge Treatment: Our Passage to Peace is our signature ritual—a sensory journey bringing balance to mind and body beginning with a soothing massage using herb-infused oils to calm the nervous system. The journey continues with a customized facial specifically for your skin type. This specialized treatment returns the body to a state of equilibrium and instantly rejuvenates the skin.

Guests can enjoy a refreshing rinse under the outdoor cold shower before and after their treatments.

Unique Treatment: All of our treatments are a unique blending of ancient healing techniques from the East and West with age-old recipes featuring curative benefits of fresh, natural and quality ingredients. Our Talisman Massage uses locally sourced obsidian gua sha stones to push lymphatic fluid through the body, then heated with massage oil warm poultices (herbs wrapped in cotton) that are applied to the body with the aid of compression to relax muscles and to ready the body for a Swedish-style massage that invigorates and strengthens, releasing tension and creating balance between the muscles.

Among the spa’s amenities is a luxurious steam room.

Insider’s Favorite: Obsidian Rose is similar to the Talisman, with obsidian and rose gua sha stones, herbal poultices, and then deep tissue massage work that repairs and eases tension, overall working deeper into the muscle tissue to improve peripheral circulation. This 105-minute massage takes you into a true state of calm— relaxed and deeply tended to on all levels.

Spa Alila offers soothing treatments that draw on nourishing ingredients from Napa’s temperate climate and nutrient-rich soil.

Featured Products: From the inside out we pride ourselves in offering products that are nourishing, clean and local: Be Here Farm + Nature, Laurel Skin, Vintners Daughter, and Leaves and Flowers Tea, to name a few.

For more information, visit the website and follow on Instagram: @alila.napavalley

[Photos courtesy of Alila Napa Valley]