Whether you're a native Angeleno or just visiting Los Angeles for a few days, one of the city's "hidden gems" is Larchmont Village—a half-square-mile neighborhood near fancy Hancock Park that has a weekly farmers market and lots of shopping and restaurants located along a pleasant, tree-lined street known as Larchmont Boulevard. 

If you're looking to take a break from all of the walking and shopping, Larchmont Sanctuary Spa  is an award-winning boutique spa that is located right along the main drag. It's hard to miss the bright orange exterior as you walk by, and trust me when I say you'll definitely want to make a stop here as I did on a recent Sunday morning.

Constructed from a 100-year-old home, the spa was also blessed by nine Tibetan monks from the Garden Shartse Monastery in order to create an intimate, nurturing and spiritual environment that offers the chance to disconnect and find balance away from the daily grind.

There are separate men's and women's locker rooms for changing, and the women's area was adequately stocked with all kinds of essentials, from blowdryers to cotton pads and a range of body products to use while you're there.

I changed into one of the plush robes that are available for guests to wear, along with a pair of slip-on sandals.

Next, I retreated into what was probably my favorite room at the spa (aside from the amazing bath, more on that shortly!) The inviting co-ed lounge area features a relaxing fireplace, several comfy sitting areas, refreshments and books for leisurely reading.

The space is nicely designed with a relaxing Zen ambiance—it's perfect for a group of friends post-brunch, bachelorette parties, or couples just wanting to have a relaxing day together! 

The Himalayan salt lamps use throughout the spa are believed to have various health benefits, such as boosting one's mood, soothing allergies, cleaning the air, and contributing to better sleep.

Beverage options included freshly made pomegranate tea and watermelon-infused water (which I'm now addicted to.) Bonus: On Sundays, they serve complimentary mimosas!

They also offer a variety of Yogi teas, fresh nuts and dried fruit to snack on before or after treatments.

There's even a mini Zen sand garden, which encourages creativity and meditation on the meaning of life. Simply take the mini rake and create various patterns and designs in the sand!

They also had various decks of manifestation and positivity cards, which I enjoyed reading as I awaited my treatment.

The spa also has a dry sauna, which guests are welcome to use.

Dry sauna benefits include reduction of stress and pain, speeding up your metabolism, releasing toxins by causing your pores to open as you sweat, and helping to relax you.

For those needing a breath of fresh air, the outdoor garden patio features a pretty display of succulents and plants, and also has a relaxing water fountain for a calming effect.

For the first half of my treatment, I received the Coppertino Bath Experience. I spent about half an hour soaking in an oversized copper tub infused with soothing essential oils and healing algae-essence while jets of water washed over me. Copper is also known to provide relief from tension, headaches and arthritis. The spa also offers a CBD Bath and a Champagne Bath for Two. To view their other hydrotherapy offerings, click here.

We often don't take enough time for ourselves on a daily basis, so soaking in a private bath was exactly what I needed to feel rejuvenated and refreshed. There was even champagne and ice water for me to sip on while I lounged!

Afterwards, I was led to the private outdoor bungalow to receive the second part of my treatment: the Jade Stone Massage. This unique therapy uses hot and cold carved jade gemstones of various shapes, combined with acupressure and reflexology, to balance one's yin and yang.

The heat helps increase blood flow to affected areas, reduces muscle spasms, and increases flexibility and range of motion, while the cold helps relieve inflammation and draw out toxins. Talk about getting the best of both worlds!

I left the spa feeling refreshed and relaxed, and was already planning my return visit—that's when you know you've had a successful trip to the spa!

Additional Info:

Parking: The spa has several private spaces directly in front of the entrance, and there is metered parking on both sides of Larchmont Boulevard. 

Pricing: On average, massages start at $125 to $175 for a 60 to 75-minute massage. Enhancements such as reflexology and scalp therapy start at $30. Facials start at $89.

We also did an in-depth interview with the spa's director, Bevin Hamilton, who shared insider tips, favorite treatments, and more. To read, click here.

Visit www.larchmontsanctuaryspa.com and check them out on Instagram @larchmontsanctuaryspa

[Images courtesy of The Spa Insider]