Fairmont Century Plaza

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?

Silicon Valley may be the biohacking capital of the world, but a quick trip to the Fairmont Century Plaza will convince any guest that the drive to optimize has made its way south in the Golden State. Aided by antigravity beds, magnetic waves, lymphatic-drainage boots, and sound-wave therapy, the spa isn’t pursuing eternal youth but optimized wellness. The Fairmont prioritizes purification, from Hydrafacials to manifestation practices. Call it the new New Age, and, really, where better than Los Angeles to delve into the far reaches of the woo-woo? Make no mistake, though: The spa isn’t focused on fads. See, for example, the Matahari journey, a 90-minute service that utilizes Tibetan sound bowls, Turkish Rhassoul masks, and chakra-focused massage. Be it old school or new, every treatment at the Fairmont aspires to leave the client physically and mentally refreshed—an ethos that applies across the chain’s 62 locations worldwide.

What’s the vibe?

Despite its impressive 14,000 square feet, the spa is cozy and womblike. While the sterile, corporate Century City—nestled between the starry Beverly Hills and Westwood—is already a somewhat insular city within a city, interior-design firm Yabu Pushelberg has ensured that the spa feels a world away from the hustle of Los Angeles. Dark tiles and rounded walls give the spa a warm, cavelike feeling, and there’s no skimpy culinary asceticism here. Instead, you’ll find hors d’oeuvres galore. (The spa hasn’t severed all its Hollywood connections: The behemothic Creative Artists Agency HQ is connected via an underground tunnel.)

The history?

From 1966 through 2006, the Fairmont was known as the Century Plaza Hotel, which broadcast the Grammys’ first-ever live telecast from the hotel ballroom in 1971. It is also a notable West Coast political satellite: In 1969, President Richard Nixon hosted a state dinner, the first outside of the White House, to celebrate the Apollo 11 moon landing. From 2006 to 2016, Hyatt assumed ownership of the hotel. After $2.5 billion in renovations, it reopened in 2021 as the Fairmont and resumed its position as a regular site for awards shows like the SAG and Critics Choice awards and the Oscar Nominees Luncheon.

What should you try?

Go for a mix of old- and new-school treatments. After being gently squeezed by a pair of lymphatic-drainage boots while lying on a zero-gravity bed, I felt like I’d taken a post-workout nap. But the recovery massage is truly not to be missed. (My massage therapist, Allison, was instantly warmhearted and welcoming and nothing short of thorough.) Make sure to spend plenty of time cycling between the rain shower, cedarwood sauna, eucalyptus steam room, hammam, and Himalayan salt room to maximize your experience.

What else do we need to know?

For anyone interested in leveling up their ’do, the spa is also home to the Cristophe Privé salon. And if the itch to shop strikes, the hotel is just a few minutes’ walk from the famed Century City mall, the area’s crown-jewel outdoor shopping center.

Who can go?

There’s no need to be a hotel guest to enjoy the spa. Book individual treatments, or purchase a guest pass, which grants you access to the Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, hammam, rain shower, gym, and the coed lounge.

Booking details for Fairmont Century Plaza