It’s no secret that Los Angeles is one of the most health conscious cities in the United States. Wellness is an integral part of the LA lifestyle, perhaps because there’s something about the SoCal sunshine that just makes you want to get up and move your body. Alternatively, it could be that the city is also home to many of Hollywood’s most beautiful people who are also committed to eating well and staying in shape. Or perhaps it’s down to the fact that LA is home to a melting pot of cultures who each bring something unique to the wellness scene. Whatever the reason, there’s no denying that wellness is thriving in the city of angels, so here’s how to enjoy a wonderful wellness weekend in LA.

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Where to Stay 

LA is a huge, spread out city. I recommend staying in the “platinum triangle” of Bel Air, Holmby Hills and Beverly Hills. These exclusive neighborhoods are famed for their glamour and they offer the easiest access to the rest of the city. 

Of course, there’s no way around it – you’ll have to use Uber or hire a car whilst you’re in the city to get anywhere. That’s just how LA works. If you’d prefer to spend a wellness weekend in a more walkable city, check out my guide to New York instead. 

Hotel Bel-Air 

Make like the Fresh Prince and kick back in Bel-Air style at this gorgeous garden paradise where the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly have stayed. 

The property boasts a sumptuous spa, offers private lakeside yoga lessons and is home to the excellent Wolfgang Puck restaurant. A stay here makes you feel like a celebrity retreating from the paparazzi in an exclusive hotel, and isn’t that everyone’s secret dream? 

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Beverly Hills Hotel Spa

The Beverly Hills Hotel Spa offers guests privacy, luxury and all the trimmings you’d expect from one of LA’s most exclusive properties. You’ll feel like a VIP from the very moment you step through the door. The elegant marble bathrooms will make you feel like a starlet preparing for the Oscars.

The spa is one of the best that Beverly Hills has to offer and offers guests a range of treatments, from quatuum flower energy to Ayurvedic massages. And of course, there’s a glamorous palm-tree lined pool, around which The Beatles once partied. 

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The Peninsula Beverly Hills 

Built in a Renaissance style, this picture-perfect hotel is a true oasis from the hustle and bustle of LA. It’s tantalizingly close to the upscale shops of Rodeo Drive – walking distance, in fact! – and it boasts a fleet of Rolls Royces that will take you anywhere you want to go. 

That may not be necessary, however, as it’s unlikely you’ll even want to leave this charming property. The white-glove service at the Peninsula is nothing short of exceptional and my favorite touch is the monogrammed pillowcase that each guest receives (and is encouraged to keep!) 

Another touch I absolutely love is that each room comes with a list of over 90 Oscar-winning movies (one for every year since 1929). 

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Fitness 

It’s practically sacrilege to visit LA and not engage in some form of exercise. Perhaps it’s the fact that it’s so difficult for residents to get their 10,000 steps in, given that they have to drive everywhere, but Los Angeles is a city obsessed with fitness. Here are some of the best ways to move your body during a wellness weekend in LA.

Tracy Anderson Method

Tracy Anderson is one of the most famous fitness instructors in the world. She’s built a career out of transforming her clients bodies in 90 days or less. If you’re into fitness you’ve got to check out her studios in Brentwood, which is about 15 minutes away from the Platinum Triangle. 

Be warned: this is definitely not a gentle workout, but if you’re someone who likes to work hard and be pushed by a trainer, you’ll love the classes on offer.

Body by Nonna 

Ukranian gymnast Nonna will put you through your paces and help you discover that you’re capable of doing far more than you think. She’s a talented instructor who takes a holistic approach to fitness and will appraise you to identify emotional and physical imbalances within your body. 

Speir Pilates 

There’s something so very LA about pilates, so I recommend that you check this Santa Monica spot out during your wellness weekend. Spaces are limited and classes are pretty much always booked up, so plan ahead if you’re keen to discover muscles you didn’t even know you had upon the reformer beds of this pilates studio. 

Facial Bars 

Yep, facial bars are very much “a thing” in LA. And really, would a wellness weekend in LA be complete without one? No, no it wouldn’t. 

Face Place LA 

Face Place is a minimalist facial bar with a strictly scientific approach to skincare. The signature therapy involves oxygen therapy and a galvanic current to tighten and tone the fact for that contoured Hollywood look. And if that doesn’t float your boat, you can also find laser facials, botox, fillers and waxing here, too.

Face Place’s skincare line is also exceptional, so be sure to pick up a few products whilst you’re there. This spot is very popular, which means it’s a good idea to book in advance if you can. 

Face Haus Santa Monica 

There’s also a branch of Face Haus in West Hollywood but the consulting physician at the Santa Monica location is none other than renowned Beverly Hills dermatologist to the stars, Harold Lancer. If you dream of celebrity-worthy skin (and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?) then a trip to Face Haus is an absolute must during your wellness weekend in LA. 

The Face Bar

Offering supercharged skin peels and “peel parties” for you and up to six friends, The Face Bar is an excellent spot for affordable LA facials (not something you hear of very often, believe me.) The focus here is on enhancing your natural beauty and leaving you with beautifully plump, glowing skin that will be the talk of the town. 

Wellness Centres 

At a wellness centre you’ll usually find a team of trainers, coaches, nutritionists, holistic healers and aestheticians – although the exact combination of course depends on your centre of choice. It should come as no surprise that health-conscious LA is home to many wellness centres and I highly recommend a visit to at least one of them during a wellness weekend in the city. 

The Gentle Wellness Centre 

Who doesn’t love a spot of gentle wellness? 

This wellness centre is a must-visit during a wellness weekend in LA. It’s so well known amongst the city’s wellness community that they actually train other wellness practitioners – but why not go straight to the source for treatment?

Whether you’re after colon cleansing, bio electric lymph drainage or an infrared sauna session, it’s always a good idea to relax and enjoy some gentle wellness at this forward-thinking centre. 

Take Care 

Take care (pun fully intended) of every aspect of your physical and mental wellbeing at this wellness centre in Venice. The skilled team of healers and aestheticians offer clients every type of therapy you could think of, from embodiment meditation and human design readings to microneedling, B12 shots and nutritional consultations. 

Remedy Place Social Wellness Club 

As soon as I heard about Remedy Place, I knew I had to pay a visit. This is the city’s first social wellness club and declares itself to be “a gathering place for those seeking to achieve a state of balance.” This is perfect for a wellness weekend in LA, especially if you’re visiting with your girlfriends in tow. 

Remedy Place seeks to shift society’s view of wellness towards a more communal experience. And why shouldn’t wellness be something that we share? After all, human connection is a very important part of our wellbeing – and one that has undoubtedly suffered during the covid-19 pandemic. 

At Remedy Place, you can nourish your body with ultra-healthy and delicious food, recover from your flight in an oxygen chamber, blast fat during a cryotherapy session or embark on a guided meditation journey. Whatever wellness activity you’re interested in, you’re bound to find it at Remedy Place. This spot is unmissable!

Shopping 

Of course, there’s an undeniable lure to the glamorous designer boutiques that line Rodeo Drive, but this is a wellness weekend in LA so I’m going to focus on a very specific type of store (although of course, a trip to Rodeo Drive is definitely good for the soul in my book.) 

The Detox Market, West Hollywood 

I love nothing more than a good detox, so The Detox Market in Hollywood is pretty much heaven for me. This store stocks a huge range of luxurious clean beauty products, including RMS beauty, one of my favorite toxic-free skincare lines of all time.

Shroom Room 

Did you know that there are some amazing health benefits to mushrooms? In LA, it’s not unheard of to see mushroom coffee on the menu of the city’s countless hip cafes, but the Shroom Room stakes a claim to being the first store entirely dedicated to the medicinal benefits of mushrooms.

If you’re new to all this mushroom business and aren’t sure what’s best for you, chat to the super friendly staff and they’ll whip you up a mushroom drink you’ll most definitely love and help you to find the right products.

Violet Grey, Melrose Place

Violet Grey is an online shopping empire but there’s a physical location tucked away along Melrose Place. Stop by here for a very carefully curated selection of goods that will transport you from the USA to an upmarket boutique in Paris or Milan. 

Eat and Drink 

Food, glorious food. 

There are so many wonderful and health-conscious places to eat in LA – remember Ryan Reynolds’ joke about the city being so afraid of gluten you could rob a store with a bagel? Whilst that might be a slight exaggeration, there are many places in Los Angeles that will cater to even the most extreme dietary requirements. Restaurants here tend to focus on healthy, wholesome food that makes you feel your best. Who doesn’t love that?

Sweet Laurel 

Delicious sugar, dairy and gluten-free desserts? Surely it’s too good to be true?

Nope, at Sweet Laurel you’ll find Instagram-worthy and utterly delicious treats like almond-flour snickerdoodles and vegan keto cakes. The bakery was founded by Laurel Galluci, a keen baker whose autoimmune disorder almost prevented her from pursuing her passion. 

Fortunately, she got back into the kitchen and began to experiment. The treats she made were so delicious that Sweet Laurel was born! I highly recommend a trip to this amazing LA bakery for a delicious and healthy dessert, a concept that Laurel has proved is not an oxymoron after all. 

Methodology

Methodology isn’t a restaurant but a food subscription service, and I recommend signing up if you can. It’s waitlist-only but once you make it in, it’s easy to see why it’s so very popular. Methodology caters to even the strictest of vegan, paleo and keto diets, so even the cleanest of eaters will be satisfied with this service. If you’re looking to detox, opt for their four-day signature reset program to kick your healthy eating journey off in the best way possible.

Sweetfin

I’ll admit it: I’m a sucker for a good poke bowl. This super satisfying Hawaiian salad dish is healthy, filling and packed with nutrients, so what’s not to love? Sweetfin responsibly source their ingredients and have a carefully curated menu designed by top chefs. I recommend washing your bowl down with a delicious mango ginger chamomile iced tea afterwards – yum! 

So there we have it: my ultimate guide to a wellness weekend in LA. For more on USA travel and wellness, make sure you take a look at:

• My wellness guide to Miami
• The best spa resorts in the USA that are open right now
• How to create a wellness retreat at home