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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
California’s Ojai Valley has long been known as a sacred destination for healing—or, at the very least, good vibes. And though its largest and best-known resort definitely embraces the area’s transcendent mystique, it’s decidedly more high-end than hippie. Occupying a 31,000-square-foot Spanish-style villa tucked amongst mature cypress, oak, and olive trees at the edge of the resort, the state-of-the-art Spa Village is an oasis of cream-and-white minimalism complete with several treatment rooms, hot tubs, pools, fireplaces, relaxation lounges, an artist cottage, an apothecary, and a courtyard cafe. There’s also a glass-walled fitness center with a full roster of mind-body programming that includes classes on everything from aerial meditation to TRX, as well as a daily schedule of guided hikes, nature walks, and geocaching excursions (a sort of GPS-led outdoor treasure hunt). But just in case you do want to go all-in on the metaphysical—Ojai is often referred to as an “energy vortex,” after all—Spa Ojai also offers a separate Spiritual Wellness menu that allows for one-on-one sessions with resident intuitives, Reiki practitioners, sound healers, and life coaches. There truly is something for everyone, and there’s everything a modern-day wellness seeker could desire. “Everybody needs an escape from their day-to-day,” explains spa director Kate Foster Morrison. “We can be that for so many people.”
What’s the vibe?
Upscale country club with a charming dose of classic California ranch. Every single building features pristinely maintained Mission Revival architecture—complete with hand-painted tiles, Spanish roofs, and soaring archways—while winding brick pathways and patios anchored by large fireplaces offer endless vistas of the surrounding golf course, horse pastures, and the Topatopa mountain range. The laid-back luxury extends to every corner of the tree-studded 220-acre property—including the spa, where guests lounge languidly wearing royal blue silk-and-terry-cloth bathrobes in a coed tranquility room surrounded by fuzzy beige blankets, trays of gluten-free shortbread cookies, and books about herbs. According to Morrison, it’s all designed to complement the sense of serenity and awe that the valley itself evokes: “We want everyone to understand that Ojai is a very special, different kind of place,” she says.
The history?
Those country club vibes are no accident. The property was, in fact, originally developed as a high-end 18-hole golf course in 1923. In the 1940s, it was expanded to include a full-service resort, complete with a swimming pool. That’s when it really began to draw in the VIPs. In subsequent years, the inn received Clark Gable, Judy Garland, and President Ronald Reagan as guests—among many others. The spa itself wasn’t actually built until the late 1990s. In 2021, it underwent a $5 million overhaul that introduced a ton of high-tech features, as well as expanded relaxation spaces, soothing minimalist decor, and a cold plunge pool.
What should you try?
“We really try to pay homage to the sense of place here,” says Morrison of the treatments, which often incorporate the essences of produce, flowers, and herbs. There’s a wrap that features a dry body brushing followed by an application of warm local honey infused with orange blossom, for example. There’s also an ocean-inspired scrub that uses sea salt infused with Ojai citrus. Each treatment also includes an “aromatic journey,” in which essential oils like citrus, eucalyptus, and lavender—all of which grow on the property—are inhaled at different points. The Relaxation Massage I tried was much more in-depth than its name suggests: In the expert hands of my therapist, Claudia, who has worked at Spa Ojai for 25 years, it felt like an intuitive energy healing session and transformative Swedish massage all at once. And while the spa pedicure—which is completely waterless and enhanced by a gravity-defying reclining chair, eye mask, and noise canceling headphones—resulted in total rejuvenation for both my feet and spirit, next time I’ll angle for a session in the Kuyam, a traditional Chumash sauna in which essential-oil-infused desert clay is self-applied. But you might need a group for that: “Kuyam means ‘a place to rest together,’” explains Morrison. “It’s a communal treatment, and together you listen to a traditional Chumash meditation that emphasizes the importance of daily rest.”
How environmentally friendly is it?
Spa Ojai has been free of single-use plastic since 2017, and it was one of the first spas in the country to do waterless pedicures. In fact, sustainability is a personal passion for Morrison, who created the spa’s Green Ambassador Team in 2020 as a way to identify opportunities for eco-friendly practices across the entire resort. “Most of our ideas have come from different staff members,” she explains. The green initiatives have resulted in property-wide upgrades. Though the golf course was originally created in harmony with the natural topography, it now uses water-reducing watering systems. The pool, restaurants, and restrooms also feature energy-conserving and solar-powered systems, and the resort is a member of the Clean the World recycling program.
What else do we need to know?
Long before bohemians and artists started taking up residence in Ojai, the indigenous Chumash people called the valley the “nest of the moon,” in honor of its wide-open skies. The east-west geography of the Topatopa Mountains truly is a rare delight allowing for magnificent sunsets in which the entire sky is aglow with magenta light. Locals call it this the “pink moment,” and it’s such a big deal in Ojai that the resort even has signs around the property noting what time you can expect it to hit each night.
Who can go?
The spa is open to hotel guests and day visitors over the age of 18. “About 25% of our business are guests who just come in for the day to have treatments during weekdays when the resort is less busy,” Morrison says. “We have a lot of locals who are extremely loyal and come back to their favorite therapists.” For outside guests who don’t want a treatment but just wish to enjoy the spa facilities, there’s also a limited number of day passes priced at $150.
Booking details for Spa Ojai at Ojai Valley Inn
Address: 905 Country Club Rd, Ojai, CA 93023, United States
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
