Can you recall the last time you treated yourself? Really, think about it. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in work, relationships, and the issues facing the world at large that we often forget to reward ourselves with a moment to recharge. Perhaps that means a simple moment of meditation, a large pepperoni pizza delivered to your door, or something more extravagant, like a trip to the spa.
We vote for the spa, and if you’re on the same page, we have suggestions. Whether you plan to go alone, with a partner, or with a group of friends, consider trying out any of these 20 day spas in Houston for prime pampering and much needed time to unwind.
Montrose, Tanglewood
Offering everything from Swedish and deep tissue massages to hydrafacials and microdermabrasion facials, Bare Necessities is really a one-stop-shop for all your spa-related needs. As you may have guessed from the name, the place specializes in “near-painless” waxing services. A certified pro will literally wax your eyebrows, your toes, and everything in between here. Bonus: Bare Necessities uses Eminence, one of the best organic beauty brands out there.
Uptown
Thanks to its Tuscan-style touches, this boutique spa will immediately transport you to a place of relaxation. Fiori Spa offers every luxury treatment you can imagine, including some that may sound slightly embarrassing. Struggling with back acne? Try the “Backne Rescue Facial and Microderm” service to treat those stubborn, hard-to-reach blemishes. One massage therapist not enough? Book their “Massaggio A Quattro Mani” to double-up on the amount of hands.
Downtown
Treat yourself to the good life at the Four Seasons Hotel Houston on Lamar Street. Indulge in the spa’s signature “Southern Scrub and Sip” treatment, a full-body treatment that begins with a bourbon-and-brown sugar scrub and ends with a glass of “limited-batch Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength” bourbon. Want something a little less flashy? Try reflexology kneading, in which a massage therapist focuses on pressure points within your hands and feet to promote stress relief and smooth energy flow.
Addicks / Park Ten
This “Healing Paradise” encourages you to get your sauna on. The traditional Korean spa is all about a wholistic experience, offering facilities both co-ed and separated by gender. Sure, there are signature massages and body scrubs, but the most unique thing about this spa is its breadth of amenities. There are newly-improved Bul-Ga-Ma hot rooms, 20 individual topaz caves, an O2 lounge, a dedicated foot spa that gently massages your feet (like a hot tub, but just for your feet), and an igloo ice room. The gender separated location offers dry and steam saunas, refreshing showers, and hot and cold baths to melt the stress away. Plan to spend the whole day here.
Montrose
Prepare to get plucked, scrubbed, brushed, waxed, and tinted at this Montrose spa. While it offers the traditional suite of treatments, The Greenhouse Day Spa is all about customization. Sign up for a Swedish massage and request add-ons like hot or cold stones, reflexology, body brushing (you get to take the brush with you!), and aromatherapy. This location is also great for hosting a bachelorette party—they offer discounts for larger groups.
Uptown
Go beyond skin-deep at the Hiatus Spa + Retreat. While their services include the usual suspects (body massages, skincare, and waxing) Hiatus is also a certified med-spa, offering Botox, fillers, lip-plumping, micro-needling, and other dermatologist-grade treatments. Looking for a deeper level of relaxation? You can enhance any massage with the “Knot Today” upgrade, which swaps out the regular oil for organic, 100mg PureForm CBD oil. Hiatus has locations spread across Texas, so you can also visit them in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, Plano, and San Antonio.
Spring
It’s all in the name. The Luxurious Massage and Spa offers a variety of services aimed to help you unwind and destress. Choose from options like “The Tension Blowout” massage to eliminate knots and chronic pain or “The Ritual Rebirth” massage to reduce anxiety, soreness, and muscle tension. Editor’s tip: book “The Glamour” body treatment to give yourself a glow from head to toe as they exfoliate all your dead skin away with a honey-lemon scrub, or upgrade to an organic coconut sugar scrub to reveal a new you.
River Oaks
This award-winning luxury retreat is one of Houston’s best-kept secrets—well, it used to be, anyway. Milk + Honey, a chain with locations spread out across the nation, is the true definition of a day spa, meaning you could spend all day getting services here. Start in the morning with a wax, followed by a massage and facial. Move into the salon for a haircut and mani/pedi. Cap it off with lash extensions and you’ve never looked—or felt—better. If you feel so inclined, tap into their med-spa services: fillers, injectables, laser, micro-needling, and more.
West Oaks
Come to Mokara Spa & Salon ready to be renewed and refreshed within the mind, body, and spirit. The spa offers signature body treatments such as a sole massage with acupressure massage techniques to give attention to all your neglected areas. Traveling with a partner? Enjoy Mokara’s “Cowboy and Cowgirl Couples Massage” with someone special by your side.
Heights
If you’ve found yourself reading this list because you’re looking for the best place to book a spa party, My Joy Spa is it. This converted home in the Heights is the ideal place for all things wellness. The pros here know every body is different, which is why they don’t just offer a general sports massage; massages are customized for cyclists, runners, golfers, and tennis players. The estheticians will blast oxygen directly into your thirsty pores, peel off a layer of your skin with berry enzymes, and calm your racing thoughts with a two-hour “Deep Relaxation Therapy” treatment. There’s something for everyone in your party here…it’s also BYOB.
Uptown
While staying at Post Oak Hotel (you lucky duck, you), you may want to make time to visit their in-house spa. Indulge in lavish treatments such as the ancient Balinese massage said to diminish fatigue, or the Indian ritual Ayurvedic treatment, which is perfect for those who have difficulty relaxing. The spa has amenities such as a tranquility pool and a multi-sensory shower experience where you can choose your sensation like a cool Atlantic rain shower or a warm tropical storm.
Downtown
While staycation-ing at the prestigious Marriott Marquis, take a trip to Pure Spa. All facials here utilize products from Elemis Biotec, a British skincare brand known for producing results. Cleanse, resurface, firm, and sooth your skin with any of their signature facials, though we’re most intrigued by the “Customized Touch Marine Dream,” a pro-collagen facial that promises a more youthful appearance. Note that all spa guests enjoy complimentary access to the hotel’s pool deck ,which includes the infinity pool and Texas-shaped lazy river.
Hyde Park
There’s a reason this place has been in business for nearly 40 years. Give your body a complete rejuvenation with a mix spa treatments: facials, massages, waxing, or a vaginal steam. That’s right, Sanctuary Spa invites you to get your Goop on with a “Yoni Steam,” in which you sit over an herbal steam bath that supposedly balances your, well, system. You can even take the spa home with you by shopping Sanctuary’s products online.
Downtown
With over 15 years in the business, Sunset Body Works Day Spa has it all, including seasonal treatments that employ specialized products based on the time of year. Show your back some much needed love with a back facial to treat this pretty large and neglected area. This spa also offers energy healing in which guests can customize their services to meet spiritual needs with the use of crystals, chakra balancing, cupping, and more.
Uptown
This place is the whole package. In addition to spa services, Trellis offers an “outdoor oasis” that features soaking pools, a tranquil garden, and cabanas. While you’re out there waiting for your “Tata Harper Experience,” you can even order lunch from the spa menu! Trellis is the ideal place to get ready for a night out on the town; they offer nail services, hair blowouts, and professional makeup.
The Woodlands, Sugar Land, and Baybrook
This spa—a national chain with three locations in the Houston area alone—offers facials that sculpt, hydrate, and soothe. Enjoy a complimentary glass of wine or mimosa in their quiet room while waiting to try out the spa’s unique sleep rituals like a “Meditative Mood Soak” or “Signature Restorative Sleep Massage” for a complete body detox. Hoping to go somewhere closer to home? Woodhouse Spa is coming to the Galleria soon!
Memorial City, Museum District
Unlock your five senses at either of Houston’s Hotel Zaza locations. Not only is the ZaSpa complete with its traditional spa services, but also features unique offerings like the body wrap treatments and the newly added infrared saunas. After a very stressful week, book their “Split Decision Massage” that combines any two enhancements: aroma oil, hot stone target, scalp treatment, or hydrating quench.