The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles

The Ritz-Carlton Spa sits inside the Ritz-Carlton hotel at 900 W Olympic Blvd in downtown Los Angeles, a short walk from L.A. Live. It's a full-service hotel spa built around six core treatments rather than a sprawling menu: massages, facials, body scrubs and wraps, and a couples option that pairs a tandem massage in a private suite with a champagne bubble bath. The signature Champagne & Shimmer Body Treatment, an 80-minute Hollywood-era throwback finished with 24-karat gold dusting, is the one most guests ask about by name.

Facilities include separate men's and women's relaxation lounges, a steam room, and a hair and nail salon that also handles blow-outs and makeup for events. The rooftop pool and whirlpool are open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with towels provided and heated water year-round. A fitness center with cardio machines, free weights and Peloton bikes is attached, though it's complimentary only for guests staying at this Ritz-Carlton or the nearby JW Marriott L.A. Live.

Access is where this spa differs from a typical drop-in day spa. Hotel guests can use the steam room and lounges for a nominal fee without booking a service, but anyone not staying at the hotel has to reserve an actual treatment to get past the locker rooms. The spa only admits guests 18 and older for facilities and full treatments, though salon services like haircuts and manicures are open to those 15 and up with a parent present. Spa hours run 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; it's closed Monday and Tuesday.