Known to be one of the most elevated wellness hubs in the world, LA never disappoints when it comes to delicious health cafés, sweaty workouts, curated crystal shops, and rejuvenating hotels. Enjoy warm days filled with sunshine, green juices, lovely hikes and tonnes of inspiration. While the extensive selection of health-conscious places can almost be overwhelming, we have explored the city thoroughly and found some of our favourites. Save this jam-packed Los Angeles Guide for when you start planning your next adventure!

STAY & RELAX

With an excellent location right on Sunset Strip, stunning rooms, delectable food, a lovely pool area, a rooftop bar, a curated shop filled with crystals and other health products, as well as a wide range of guest activities (including weekly tarot readings!), 1 Hotel West Hollywood is our number one favourite in town. Make sure to stop by their Bamford spa for a massage, and enjoy a cosy dinner in the lobby downstairs. The beds are incredible, so count on getting amazing sleep and relaxation during your stay. The wonderful pool is another big plus – spend a day here and order the green juice and one of their salads for lunch. The West Hollywood EDITION is another outstanding hotel in the area to book as well. Walk into the majestic lobby, spend the day by the pool, and enjoy a relaxing treatment in their exclusive luxury spa after a session in their contemporary gym. For an outstanding facial in the area, make sure to treat yourself at the lavish Ambassade Biologique Recherche. This incredible store and spa offers treatments for the body, face, and hair, and it’s the first US flagship location by this iconic French brand.

If you prefer to be closer towards the beach, Santa Monica Proper Hotel is an excellent choice. Explore the stunning rooftop bar and restaurant, or why not order a fresh juice to the extremely Instagram-friendly lobby and lounge area? For beach vistas and morning walks in the sand, head to The Surfrider in Malibu. Unwind in their stunning and thoughtfully designed rooms, enjoy a breakfast in the sun on the rooftop terrace (order the banana bread and the avocado toast), and just cross the road to get to the ocean. The relaxed, yet very stylish, vibe of the hotel and Malibu will give you that fresh (and salty) air of tranquillity when in LA, and make sure to book at least a couple of nights here to really be able to soak in this beautiful beach and area. Another favourite hotel with such a cosy and elegant atmosphere is Cara Hotel in Los Feliz. The gorgeous property looks like something out of an old Hollywood movie, and the small, cosy rooms are thoughtfully designed and decorated. Enjoy your breakfast in their outdoor dining area by the pool, and maybe go for a morning hike up to Griffith Park and the Observatory which is just a few blocks up north. On your way home, check in at quaint Hotel June West LA and enjoy this contemporary and stylish hotel right around the corner from the airport (you don’t really notice the planes and this great location will allow you to skip the hectic LA traffic on your way to your flight). Unwind by the pool and make sure to order their delicious watermelon juice!

EAT

A true LA classic and old favourite is of course Urth Caffé, which is mandatory during your LA getaway. We love the large servings (one matcha latte can pretty much be shared between three people), and the extensive menu with everything from superfood lattes and homemade smoothies to healthy sandwiches and salads. Their avocado toast with heirloom tomatoes is a must, as well as the green juice and açai bowl. On your way to your Runyon Canyon hike, swing by Lifehouse Tonics + Elixirs to get a superfood drink or smoothie packed with adaptogens and functional mushrooms (a favourite order is their signature Greenhouse Chip smoothie). A few other favourites for something healthy and thirst-quenching are SunLife Organics, where you also find incredible smoothies, as well as Juice Crafters (get the Daily Synergy and Malibu’s Fave) and Kreation Organic Juicery (order their Green #5 for a real health boost, Illuminate for immunity, and try their sea moss for improved gut health, detoxification, and other health benefits) for the best juices. If you’re in Malibu, a stop at Malibu Farm on the beautiful pier is a must, and don’t miss their incredible turmeric latte and delicious quinoa porridge with coconut milk. On your way back into the city stop by the cute little town Topanga (which is scattered with spirituality- and wellness spots) and have lunch at cosy family-owned Topanga Living Café. Relish their incredible menu ranging from healthy avo toasts and falafel pitas with hummus, to fresh smoothies and house lemonade. Just be aware of that their little shop inside the café is quite dangerous for wellness junkies, so leaving empty-handed is pretty much impossible. Stop by Topanga Rocks on your way back and relish dazzling crystals, stunning rocks, and another cute little shop.

When in Santa Monica and Venice, make a stop at two plant-based favourites, Café Gratitude and The Butcher’s Daughter for a wholesome and healthy lunch. With light and airy interiors, tasty foods, and tranquil atmospheres, these two gems by the beach should definitely be on your list. A dinner favourite in the area is Gjelina serving locally-produced food (we love the heirloom tomato salad). A place to go to for breakfast, lunch, and even dinner, is Great White. This Aussie export is definitely the brightest star in Venice right now (although they have other locations too). Enjoy the relaxed, yet stylish interior and vibe, relish delectable dishes (we can’t recommend the avocado toast with halloumi and blue spirulina bowl enough), and lovely service – we can assure you that you’ll come back more than once. 

Zinqué is always an excellent choice for lunch or dinner, and you find them in several locations in the city. Enjoy salads, their signature tuna toast, risotto, grilled vegetables, pastas, and more, while people-watching. If you’re in the mood for some healthy Mexican food, head to Gracias Madre where you get served traditional Mexican cuisine, made from scratch and by local, organic, plant-based ingredients. For amazing ambience, great people-watching, and mouth-watering dishes like watermelon salads, heirloom tomato burrata, and lobster risotto, book a table at Ysabel in West Hollywood for a romantic dinner out. The inspiring interior and friendly service also make this spot a must-visit.

SWEAT

While we are waiting for the next gorgeous Pop-up studio by The Pilates Class to open in the city, we have a few other favourite spots for some excellent Pilates sessions. Try Karen Lord Pilates Movement, The Studio (MDR), and Tribe Pilates for great reformer classes. For private and semi-private classes that will make your whole body sore for days, Forma by Liana Levi is our all-time favourite (but by referral only). Another studio for anyone looking for a real (and sweaty) challenge is Heated Room, where you find Pilates and yoga classes in a dark room that is nearly 100 degrees F (38 C). Platefit is also a studio that offers a unique and exciting experience where you work out using a vibration platform to increase endurance, muscle toning, stability, balance, flexibility, and much more. In addition, Pvolve (endorsed by Jennifer Aniston) is another incredible studio and workout where moving in all ranges of motion and using their unique equipment help sculpt and strengthen the entire body. It can be described as a mix of Pilates, HIIT, and strength training, although it is still nothing like it (or anything else you’ve tried) – it has to be experienced. For somatic movement and a true full-body release, book a session at The Class in Santa Monica (and get prepared to go a little crazy in their amazing shop). This extraordinary form of workout developed by Taryn Toomey is a mix of meditation, yoga, kundalini, Pilates, and HIIT, and it’s definitely a journey for both body and mind, including emotional releases and shaking muscles.

If you’re into barre, The Bar Method and Pure Barre shouldn’t be missed, and for yogis, The Mindry in Malibu is a must. This stunning studio offers workshops (energy work, sound healing, past life regression meditations, manifestation circles, etc.), group acupuncture healing sessions, chants and mantras, yoga Nidra, reiki classes, restorative sound baths, candlelight yin yoga, heated power yoga, and more. Luckily enough, they also have an excellent on-demand platform, and of course a very carefully curated shop. A visit to the contemporary mindfulness studio Open where you find breathwork, meditation, movement, and sound, should definitely be on your schedule as well. Thankfully, they also have a very inspiring online platform for anyone wanting to continue the practices and classes back home. Moreover, check out Light on Lotus where you find both sweaty and slow flows – everything from vinyasa and strong power classes, to restorative and soft yin. 

SHOP

In a city like LA it wouldn’t even be surprising to find Palo Santo sticks, rose quartz, freshly squeezed juices, and stylish workout wear at the grocery store, and one store that actually has it all is Erewhon. If you’re a fan of Whole Foods, Erewhon will be your new heaven on earth. With locations all over the city, these curated shops offer everything from fresh food and drinks (you have probably already seen the famous smoothie collaborations with Miranda Kerr, Hailey Bieber, Marianna Hewitt, and others on Instagram) to snacks, vegetables, tote bags, and other home goods. Although it costs a leg and an arm to just breathe in here, it’s undoubtedly one of LA’s most popular places right now. Jostle among locals, celebrities, and tourists, and browse the shelves where healthy bars, fermented vegetables, and exotic supplements are stacked. And before you leave, make sure to try one of their famous smoothies (yes they are worth it, even considering the price).

Another incredible shop to check out is Moon Juice. Explore their famous dusts, cold-pressed juices, superfood lattes, supplements, skincare, and other goodies. Their location in Venice is right next to Anima Mundi Apothecary where you find any kind of superfood and herb you can think of, crystals, beauty products, as well as interesting events. Shop beautiful crystal candles and other home- and beauty goods at Tiny Bandit and stop by Mystic Journey Bookstore for an intuitive reading, a visit to their crystal gallery, and grab a copy of your next spirituality- or wellness book. A great souvenir from your visit, and maybe something inspiring to read on your way back home!

words by Matilde Wergeland