Spas and massage in Palo Alto

Palo Alto's spa scene is mostly small and practical. Instead of one big destination resort, the city has a long-running massage center on California Avenue, a few day spas downtown and at Town & Country Village, skin care studios along El Camino Real and medical spas that pair facials with laser treatments. For a full resort spa, residents head up Sand Hill Road to Menlo Park.

This guide groups places by area. Each business links to its page in our business directory, which lists hours and the sources we checked. We do not review or rank spas and we do not list prices. Menus and rates change often, so check each spa's own site before you book. For makeup and skin care shopping, see our beauty and skincare guide.

Massage studios, day spas and medical spas

Spa businesses in Palo Alto fall into a few groups. Knowing which is which helps you book the right place.

• Massage centers focus on therapeutic and relaxation massage, usually in private treatment rooms.
• Day spas offer a menu of massage, facials, waxing and body treatments, sometimes with nails and hair.
• Skin care studios are run by estheticians and focus on facials and peels.
• Medical spas offer injectables, lasers and other procedures under medical oversight. They often sell facials too.

In California, massage professionals can hold voluntary certification from the California Massage Therapy Council. Estheticians are licensed by the state Board of Barbering and Cosmetology. If credentials matter to you, ask the spa which certification or license its staff hold.

California Avenue and the south side

The longest-running massage business on our list sits on California Avenue, near the Caltrain station. Another massage spa keeps late hours on San Antonio Road near the Mountain View border.

• Massage Therapy Center, 368 South California Avenue. Open since 1981, with state-licensed massage therapists, nine private rooms, a sauna and a shower. It lists evening hours most days and accepts HSA and FSA cards.
• Body Kneads Day Spa, 808 and 810 San Antonio Road. A massage spa with body, deep tissue, pain relief and couples massage plus a body scrub. It is open seven days a week until 9:30 p.m. and books online.
• From Europe With Love. A skin care clinic founded in Palo Alto in 2014 that focuses on acne and corrective facials. It is moving from El Camino Real to 230 California Avenue, Suite 200, on November 1, 2026.

Our California Avenue guide covers parking garages and places to eat nearby.

Downtown

Downtown has a small day spa on Ramona Street and two medical spas within a few blocks of University Avenue.

• Forest Spa Boutique, 530 Ramona Street. A small day spa run by an esthetician and massage therapist, offering SkinCeuticals facials, waxing, lash and brow services, body treatments and massage by appointment.
• SkinSpirit, 701 Emerson Street. A medical spa chain clinic offering injectables, laser and light treatments, body contouring, facials and peels. It lists free consultations.
• Palo Alto Laser & Skin Care, 131 Lytton Avenue. A medical spa founded by a surgeon and a nurse practitioner, with laser treatments, injectables, facials and body contouring.

Downtown also has Acupuncture of Palo Alto at 472 Everett Avenue, a one-practitioner clinic whose services list includes Tuina massage, acupressure and cupping alongside acupuncture. See our downtown guide for parking.

Town & Country Village and El Camino Real

The open-air center across El Camino Real from Palo Alto High School has the city's most complete day spa, plus a beauty store with spa services. A skin care studio sits farther south on El Camino Real.

• LaBelle Day Spa & Salon, 855 El Camino Real, Suites 95 and 33. A full day spa and hair salon with facials, massage, nails, lashes, bridal services and spa packages. The founder opened her first spa in 1976.
• Bluemercury, 855 El Camino Real, Building 1, Suite 20. A luxury beauty store that also offers spa services.
• Monika Stone Skin, 1795 El Camino Real. A family-run skin care studio with custom facials, peels and care before and after procedures. It suggests a consultation or starter treatment for a first visit.

The Town & Country Village guide lists the center's other shops and cafes.

Club spas and resort spas

Two larger spas sit inside a fitness club and a resort hotel.

• Equinox, 440 Portage Avenue. The club has The Spa by Equinox on site. Ask the club whether spa services are open to nonmembers.
• Asaya Spa at Rosewood Sand Hill, 2825 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park. The resort's spa, renamed Asaya Spa, is the closest full resort spa to Palo Alto. Our Rosewood Sand Hill guide covers the hotel. Book through the resort.

A spa day pairs well with dinner out. Our date night ideas page has suggestions.

At a glance

Hours and services come from each business's own website, as recorded in our directory in October 2026.

Questions to ask before you book

Spa menus can be long and the names of treatments vary from place to place. These questions help you compare.

• How long is the treatment itself, not counting check-in and changing?
• Who performs it? What license or certification does that person hold?
• Is there a sauna, shower or relaxation area to use before or after?
• Does the spa offer gift cards or packages if you are booking for someone else?
• For medical spa treatments, is a consultation required first? Who supervises the procedure?

Booking tips

Most spas in Palo Alto book online. Weekend appointments tend to go first. A few practical points help.

1. Read the cancellation policy. Many spas hold a card and charge for late cancellations or no-shows.
2. Arrive early. First visits usually include an intake form. Allow 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Share health information. Tell the therapist about pregnancy, injuries, allergies or medications before a massage or facial. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor whether a treatment is right for you.
4. Ask about gratuity. Some spas add a service charge and others leave tipping to you.
5. Check parking. Downtown streets have time limits. Town & Country and Stanford Shopping Center have free lots with time limits.

Insurance, HSA and FSA

Spa massage is usually paid out of pocket. Some health plans cover massage as part of physical therapy or chiropractic care. Some HSA or FSA plans reimburse massage with a letter of medical necessity. Massage Therapy Center says it accepts HSA and FSA cards. Check your plan's network and rules with your insurer and ask the provider how it bills before you book. If massage is part of injury recovery, our physical therapy and chiropractic guide lists local clinics.

Frequently asked questions