Beverly Hot Springs is one of L.A.’s original Korean spas and, while it has seen better days, it remains a beloved retreat complete with a tropical waterfall on entry and a faux grotto whirlpool (on the women’s side). What keeps loyal fans coming back is the alkaline water, once bottled and sold as “Wonder Water,” free of chlorine and said to make the skin feel silky and soft. The large list of specialized treatments is another draw.
The women’s spa is compact, making the strict two-hour time limit sensible. However, since the point of being at a spa is relaxation, this is still a bit of a killjoy. We do enjoy the lounge chair setup for reading, chatting, resting or zoning out, something not often seen in a bathing area. According to those in the know, the men’s side is more spacious and plush.
The spa is unique because it’s the only one fed by a natural hot spring in the Los Angeles area. Indigenous people once used the warm waters that would later fill the spa. In 1910, a group digging for oil near Beverly Boulevard and Western Avenue noticed the thermal Artesian well. The Beverly Hot Springs Spa facility as we know it today opened as a thermal spa in 1984. Loyal fans came to its aid over the summer when a developer was slated to cap the waters. That plan was canceled in August.
Price: Entry is $45 on weekdays, $50 on the weekends and holidays. Treatments start at $105.
