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Wellness

The insider’s guide to the healthiest hangouts in Los Angeles

From facial workouts to hip green food hubs head to the world’s capital of wellness to look and feel your best

Words by Rebecca Barnes

Along with epic weather, Los Angeles is known for its outdoorsy lifestyle and there are many healthy hangouts to be found in this cultural hotspot for those looking to maintain their fitness. After all, Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop didn’t name the city ‘the world capital of wellness’ for nothing, you know.

As well as basketball and baseball, LA has also staked its claim as the birthplace of bodybuilding, with Muscle Beach in the Santa Monica neighbourhood the place to be from as far back as the 1930s.

And when it comes to being lean but not mean, there are plenty of innovative healthy cafes and restaurants to discover, with vegan and veggie options galore. So if you’re heading to the City of Angels anytime soon, here are the healthiest hangouts to get you at your absolute best from head to toe…

Get fit on the beach in LA

Health hubCafe Gratitude

With five locations in the US city, this plant-based health hub strives to source the highest quality, nutrient dense ingredients from local farmers and artisan producers. Buy anything from quinoa bars to fresh juices and even meal plans, with containers made from renewable resources, of course. You can also dine in at one of the stylish restaurants or grab a take out.

West Hollywood

The Detox Market

Want to move to a toxic free lifestyle? Dubbed the ‘world’s best clean beauty marketplace’, this is where to go for green, clean beauty products. Located in West Hollywood, products are often made by ethical founders and feature pure ingredients and cruelty-free formulas. You can also join one of the occasional in-store green beauty and wellness events.

West Hollywood shop
Hollywood LA

Sunset BoulevardHoney Hi

Located on Sunset Boulevard, this unassuming cafe-restaurant serves healthy, fresh breakfasts and lunches with nutritional integrity in mind. Using local, organic vegetables from small farms, cooking celebrates food cultures from across the world, and eliminates the use of refined sugar, while flour is naturally gluten-free buckwheat and hazelnut. Sit in or out, or take out.

Los Angeles

FaceGym

Big event on the horizon or simply looking for a skin tightening and toning fix? Then head to 1 Hotel West Hollywood for a FaceGym workout. The only gym studio for your face, knuckling and stroking techniques are combined with cutting-edge technology in this noninvasive facial. Available in London, Manchester and New York as well as Los Angeles, FaceGym is loved by locals, beauty afficionados and celebrities alike.

face gym LA
Running in LA is great for the views as well as your heath

Santa MonicaThe Raven Spa

Don’t let your face have all the fun – check in and chill out at this no-frills spa which specialises in traditional Thai massage bodywork and healing. The signature technique combines rhythmic massage, acupressure, twisting and deep stretching, to melt away stress and release tension. You can also book acupuncture, salt-infused sauna, a hammam, or a rose quartz anti-ageing facial.

Set Sail

West Coast Getaway with Princess Cruises

Sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles and calling at San Diego, California and Ensenada in Mexico, this itinerary allows you to escape the chilly British winter and enjoy a warmer climate for a few days.

With capacity for 3,660 guests, the all-new Discovery Princess features many innovative facilities, including 270-degree views from the largest balconies at sea in the palatial Sky Suites, private enclave The Sanctuary and countless first-class dining options. After dinner, head to the Princess Theatre to see the cruise lines’ new West End-style production shows.

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Author

Rebecca Barnes

Award-winning cruise and travel writer Rebecca Barnes has written for titles including Woman & Home, Wanderlust, The Telegraph and Cruise & Travel, and is co-founder of Cruise Blondes, a premium digital blogazine. Rebecca spends most of her time on the world’s oceans and waterways, and has sailed to all corners of the globe with highlights including Antarctica, Australia, Indonesia and the Indian Ocean - she’s even sailed through the Panama Canal! Next on her itinerary is a Croatian coastal cruise.

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Published 02.03.22