Relax and Refresh
Most exclusive Austin spa treatments to relax and rejuvenate this winter
State-of-the-art spas and leading-edge science continue to surface in and around Austin, bringing the latest techniques and exclusive services to the savvy Austin community. Here are the top spas in the city and the latest you can find at each one, just in time for your winter beauty routine.
Garden Spa at Sage Hill Inn
Nestled deep in the Hill Country, Sage Hill Inn is the quintessential Texas getaway. The Garden Spa, integrated right into the garden grounds, has everything a luxury spa can offer — facials, body wraps, massages, and full experiences. The herbal body wrap ($100) is a fan favorite, helping to detoxify the body as you are enveloped in sheets soaked in herbal solutions. Open to overnight guests and day visitors, this spa is the ideal spot for a girlfriend getaway or some quiet R&R.
Lake Austin Spa Resort
Lake Austin Spa Resort is pretty much heaven on earth. Walking up to the LakeHouse Spa, you will be impressed by its understated grandness. Relax in the Blue Room, an elegant European-style parlor, as you wait for your therapist. Among several exclusive treatments are the Manaka Tapping ($165), where your body is softly tapped with a wooden hammer and peg in a percussive technique, and the Gifts of Our Garden ($340), in which as the name suggests, herbs from the garden are mixed with shea butter, salts, and oils to create a customized experience made just for you.
Milk + Honey Spa
Milk + Honey Spa lives up to its evocative name of organic and unadulterated wellness. The approach is simple: the environment dictates your inner state, and with that in mind, the design aims for utter relaxation. The design-forward space brings guests to a state of repose before they even step into their treatment room. One favorite treatment is the Blueberry Smoothie Peel, an energizing and vitalizing scrub fueled by active blueberry extracts that brings new life to your skin.
Naava Spa
With two locations in Austin, Naava offers many unique treatments and packages. Among the exclusive services is the head-to-toe Moroccan Oil Ritual ($180), which begins with a dry brush exfoliation with orange peel and natural oils, followed by additional layers of hydration and hot stones. This rich experience is the ultimate choice for stress relief for your muscles and hydration for your skin. Another specialty service is the Fire and Ice Facial ($125), a double-intensity facial meant to rapidly and safely resurface the skin.
Spa by JW
The Spa by JW is the newest addition to the elite line of Austin spas. The brand-new spa offers nine treatment rooms and a menu packed full of unique experiences, including express spa suites, hydrafacial treatments, massages, and nail services. The most unique treatments currently offered are the Bourbon Cowgirl/Cowboy Pedicure ($90), which includes a buttery nectar milk soak, spiked bourbon brown sugar scrub, and a Shiner Bock to drink, and the Agave Nectar Massage On the Rocks ($155 for 50 minutes), which uses hot stones and agave nectar to hydrate and treat the skin, paired, of course, with an agave nectar craft cocktail.
The Spa at Four Seasons Austin
The Four Seasons is known for its timeless elegance and fine service, and its spa is one of the most highly regarded among local beauty enthusiasts. Eight treatment rooms, eucalyptus-infused steams room, and a menu packed full of natural goodness come together to frame the spa’s theme of nature and peace. Try the Signature Lavender-Lemongrass Journey ($260), an infused salt scrub followed by a full massage and decadent buttery body wrap. The spa also offers a discounted happy hour (Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 8 pm), complimentary valet, and a Daycation option which includes lunch at Trio and a pool pass.
Travaasa
Walking into the Spa at Travaasa never fails to put the most stressed-out person in a state of immediate relaxation. Guests can choose from many different packages, the most memorable being the Full Day Escape ($650), which includes a three-hour body massage and facial combo, mani-pedi, and access to all of the spa’s amenities. The custom facials are perfect in between seasons when your body has changing needs, and the therapists can customize the right package to balance your skin, using all natural and plant-based skincare. The spa is open to Travaasa overnight guests as well as day visitors, and booking any treatment gives you access to the steam rooms, hot tubs, and saline pool.
Viva Day Spa
This locally owned spa is known for its reliable first-class service and consistent results. The relaxing environment is the perfect destination for a couple’s massage for the laid-back couple. Viva offers three locations and combines the latest in massage and skincare with natural and organic products. Treatments can be bought in packages — try the Viva Diva Spa Package ($459) — or individually, such as facials and massages.