Sanctuaries for Self-Care in Vancouver

Vancouver’s all about a balanced lifestyle. That means that along with brewery tours and food fests, we like to mix in a little (okay, a lot of) wellness. We’re talking everything from hiking, biking, seaside running and Pilates-class-attending to, of course, plenty of R&R.

Whether you’re chasing a specific skincare craze or you just need a little treat(ment) to soothe the soul, chances are you’ll find it here. Vancouver’s wellness scene is a candy shop for treat-yourself types, only here, 5-cent gummies are swapped for LED facials, infrared saunas, and hot stone massages.

These nine unique day spas, wellness centres and massage spots in Vancouver will, each in their own way, leave you feeling relaxed, rejuvenated and like a well-pampered pup. Pick your potion.

Beauty Bars

Formula Fig - West Vancouver, Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant

High-tech and expert-level treatment is the name of the skin-obsessed game at Formula Fig. Each “Fig Bar” leaves visitors feeling revitalized, mind, soul and skin, with interiors so green and visually soothing, the only thing reminding you you’re not actually in the woods is the luxurious scent of top-shelf, ultra-clean products.

The Bespoke Facial is the way to go. It’s totally tailored to your unique needs, but always includes sculpting, de-puffing, deep hydration, and massage. The ideal self-care indulgence for facial vets or beginners.

Plain Jane Skinbar - Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano, North Vancouver

Another pick for those who love to go foundation-free: Plain Jane Skinbar. Using medical-grade facials, their goal is to get beneath the surface of all your complexion concerns.

From hydration boosts to Laser Genesis and microneedling, there’s a treatment for just about everything, most with zero downtime and all getting you out the door, glowy and refreshed in 45 minutes or less. Translation? More time for a café crawl, seawall stroll, market frolic… that part’s all you.

Lily & Roo - Kitsilano

Not much can top a fresh manicure. Make it vegan, non-toxic, and set in Kitsilano, so you’re perfectly positioned for an iced matcha and beach walk, and you have yourself a self-care-infused afternoon.

Lily and Roo specializes in manicures and pedicures (gel and classic), all using 3-free, 5-free, 7-free vegan and non-toxic nail polishes. This means they’re free from the harshest toxins typically found in nail polish. Add an aesthetic interior and the extended foot massage at the end of your pedi, and you’ll be back for refills on repeat.

Spa & Wellness

Tality Wellness - Mount Pleasant, North Vancouver

Cold plunge, sauna, relax by the fire, repeat. All the while, help yourself to bottomless kombucha on tap. Sounds like a good time? Thought so.

What began as a cold plunge/sauna pop-up behind a kombucha brand’s HQ, Tality Wellness is now one of Vancouver’s most popular self-care spots. Think boosted circulation, reduced inflammation, and a big ol’ rush of endorphins, all in an intimate group setting. You’ll find them in Mount Pleasant and at two North Van spots, including one in the heart of the Shipyards.

Circle Wellness - Granville Island

If hot/cold cycling sounds appealing but privacy is more your thing, ding ding ding, we have a winner. Circle Wellness, tucked inside Vancouver’s iconic Granville Island, is a private, self-guided thermal spa that’s the first of its kind in the world.

The experience starts with a rinse, then a soak in a natural cedar tub. From there, step into your open-concept wellpod: a reimagined sauna kept at a toasty 50°C. Then comes the plunge. Breathe deep, submerge, and, quite literally, try to keep your cool. Pop out and finish with a long lie on a bed of warm riverstones, heated from below.

The cherry on top? Do it all in a completely private, open-air, clothing-optional space. It doesn’t get much more serene than that.

Halsa Spa - Kitsilano

If a cold-plunge sauna circuit doesn’t float your wellness boat, try Halsa Spa.This peaceful Kitsilano day spa lets you literally float your stress away with float therapy. Step into a private pod or cabin and feel the effects of defying gravity as you float weightlessly in a warm, Epsom salt-filled bath that’ll melt your muscles and mind.Sessions start with a quick orientation, then it’s all yours. Shower, float, and let the stillness work its magic. Add an infrared sauna for the ultimate deep reset, or level up with the Float Massage for next-tier restoration.

Vida Spa - Coal Harbour

Vida Spa, an oasis tucked inside the Westin Bayshore, is a staple Vancouver day spa. Their specialty? Ayurvedic treatments, rooted in a 5,000-year-old system of holistic Indian medicine centred on the belief that the key to a long, healthy life is a balanced body, mind and spirit.

Treatments include massages, body wraps, facials, and esthetics. If you’ve got a special occasion to celebrate, Vida has a way to mark the moment. Couples, bridal, and girls’ night out spa packages will have you ready to hit the town… or head home for what’ll likely be the best sleep of your life.

Ritual Urban Retreat - West End

Pilates. Yoga. Sound baths. Saunas. Ritual Urban Retreat is just that: a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Vancouver’s downtown, located smack in the heart of it on Denman Street.

The studio offers a variety of movement classes, from various styles of Pilates and yoga to spin and intentional breathwork sessions. They also have a sauna and cold plunge on site, so you can round out your workout with a little nervous system reset before heading back into the world.

Kiku Wellness Japanese Zen Spa - Fairview

Last but by no means least, Kiku Wellness Japanese Zen Spa is a Fairview neighbourhood gem that specializes in traditional Japanese wellness treatments.

Their signature massages, from soothing head spas to grounding aromatherapy, blend warm oils, rhythmic pressure and deep relaxation techniques like Yurashi, Hogushi and Nagashi. After an hour or so here, expect to be heading out the door completely zenned out.

So, spa day, sweat sesh, or float tank first? Wherever you start, you’re in good hands. Because if there’s one thing Vancouver does well, it’s, well, wellness.