Here’s Where to Go for Your Next Big Spa Reset

The Sunset Wellness & Beauty Awards celebrate the rituals, retreats, and remedies that actually move the needle. These 10 locales are the 2026 winners of the Best Spa Destinations category. Check out the complete list of winners here. For our definitive and searchable guide to wellness in the West, click here.

Inn at Moonlight Beach

Tomoko Matsubayashi

Perched above the Pacific in sun-soaked Encinitas, this regenerative coastal hideaway invites guests to slow down with herb-infused baths, garden-to-cup teas, and hands-on experiences in its biodynamic urban farm. With fresh herbs harvested for in-room rituals and design rooted in biophilia, every detail is crafted to help guests reconnect with the natural rhythms of coastal California life.

Four Moons Spa

Shawn Kallio

This hidden gem in Encinitas feels like a tropical sanctuary, with Balinese bales over koi ponds, an ethereal hammam room, and outdoor soaking tubs beneath the palms. Beyond the usual massages and facials (which are indeed noteworthy), guests can dive into sound baths, somatic healing, or intuitive readings—transformational experiences that capture the effortlessly Western spirit of mind-body wellness.

The Ranch Malibu

The Ranch

In the Santa Monica Mountains on 200 acres, The Ranch’s programs prioritize movement, nourishment, nature immersion, human connection, and restoration. Days begin with stretching and a two-to four-hour group hike, followed by strength training, restorative yoga, and daily massage. Plant-forward cuisine fuels recovery. Amenities include a Regenerative Organic-Certified garden, The Barn fitness center, Massage Village, heated pool, hot tub, cold plunge, infrared sauna, and elective health services. Next-level nearby L.A. renewal.

Love.Life

Love.Life

This El Segundo destination is rewriting the rules of modern wellness, uniting functional medicine, precision therapies, and plant-forward cuisine under one luminous, 45,000-square-foot space that doubles as a social club. With everything from pickleball courts and red-light therapy to acupuncture, IV nutrients, and chef-driven meals, it’s where cutting-edge science meets soulful self-care—a bold new model for living well in California.

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs

A charming throwback updated with modern wellness, this Napa Valley icon helped introduce therapeutic mud baths to California. Soak in three geothermal mineral pools rich in magnesium and calcium, then join wellness workshops led by board-certified nutritionists on cardiovascular care, thyroid health, and mindful eating. House of Better complements spa time with health-forward Southwestern cuisine and herbal tonics infused with adaptogens and botanicals.

Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge

Sunny’s Spa & Beauty Lounge

Located within Oceanside’s The Seabird Resort, Sunny’s Spa blends California ease with cutting-edge science. Offerings include Shiftwave, a nervous-system regulation device designed to calm stress, improve sleep, and boost vitality. Pair the experience with NAD+ IV drips, B12 injections, and targeted facial and body treatments for visible, measurable results. With bio-optimization therapies, lymphatic flows, and craniosacral sessions, Sunny’s redefines modern self-care.

facile dermatology + boutique

facile

Since its founding in 2016, facile has been a go-to skincare destination in Los Angeles. Both the West Hollywood and Pasadena locations offer cosmetic dermatology services, such as microneedling, facials, lasers, and more, provided by a medical team led by famed dermatologist Nancy Samolitis, MD, FAAD. The facile brand has evolved to include a skincare line of effective and dermatologist-developed products, which you can purchase at the brick-and-mortar boutiques and online.

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

Naviva, A Four Seasons Resort

You’ll feel as if you’re on your own private resort at this quiet, adults-only sanctuary situated on 48 acres of pristine coastline in Nayarit. Each of the 15 luxury tents at Naviva blends seamlessly with nature, embracing biophilic design, making you feel one with the forest. Whether seeking tranquility or adventure, guests craft their own journey—from transformative temazcal ceremonies to bespoke customized massage treatments in their jungle safari tents, where you’ll unwind to the sounds of tropical birds and rain pattering on the canvas.

The Spa at Auberge du Soleil

Auberge Resorts Collection

Set within a sun-drenched olive grove overlooking Napa Valley, the sprawling 7,000-square-foot Spa at Auberge du Soleil offers an intimate, adults-only sanctuary that feels like a real escape. Its French-inspired design, sweeping valley views, multiple pools, and signature couples’ experiences like the wine-infused Premier Cru and after-hours nighttime treatments make it a uniquely romantic and restorative space to visit, no matter the time of day or year.

The Spa at Esperanza

Auberge Resorts Collection

There are a lot of incredible spas along this stretch of the Sea of Cortez, but this Cabo property stands out for its holistic approach, blending ancient Mexican healing traditions with modern therapies in an intimate desert oasis. Take part in a temazcal-inspired Pasaje de Agua hydrotherapy circuit for a transformative journey of renewal, or book in for an ultra-exclusive massage at one of its well-appointed beach cabanas to unwind in an intimate setting with the ocean as your own personal sound machine.