The best hotels for wellness in Carmel offer unique opportunities for restorative getaways, whether it’s treating yourself to spa treatments, practicing yoga on a picturesque hilltop or basking in a hot tub after a day of mindfulness and meditation. Their offerings of locally sourced food and wine can also have a rejuvenating effect.
Featured photo: Courtesy of Bernardus Lodge
Bernardus Lodge
It may have opened in 1999, but Bernardus Lodge & Spa radiates the charm of a centuries-old European country estate. A welcoming pool, a grid of tennis, bocce and croquet courts, and hikes in nearby Garland Park can help balance the irresistible dining at Lucia restaurant, where hyper-local cuisine has made it one of the best between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara. A lovely day spa (popular with locals, too) offers comprehensive services with steam rooms, saunas and basking pools to deepen the relaxation. Its 73 villas, suites and guest rooms provide state-of-the-art technology and creature comforts ranging from couples’ soaking tubs to fireplaces to king-size feather beds with goose down comforters and Italian linens — part of why it’s on our list of best luxury hotels in the area.
HIGHLIGHT: Active vineyards cover much of the resort’s 28 acres, as do thousands of lavender bushes and a working chef’s garden, which also provide ingredients to many of the therapies offered at the day spa. Guided meditation or yoga sessions along with private hikes are also available.
Carmel Valley Ranch
Spread across 500 acres in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Carmel Valley Ranch has the space and the facilities for all kinds of wellness activities, starting with three different swimming pools, a hilltop yoga pavilion and an extensive fitness program that includes barre, circuit training and water yoga. The menu at Spa Aiyana features 10 different types of massage as well as other desirable treatments; a new program of “equine experiences” involves interacting with the ranch’s five horses for education and relaxation.
HIGHLIGHT: Cooking classes, beekeeping and foraging hikes are culinary highlights. Among the resort’s 181 rooms are a variety of woodsy-chic accommodations, many featuring fireplaces, private decks with deep soaking tubs, or both, for a true hideaway vibe. No wonder you’ll find it on our list of the region’s best hotels for romance, group getaways and luxury, too.
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