Saffron & Sage – Spa Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"What’s the vibe at this place? Self-care may be a buzzword, but at Saffron & Sage it's more than that. Founder Cristin Smith opened the "holistic health club" in 2013 after doctors found four tumors growing in her neck and thyroid. She didn't want to be dependent on medication for the rest of her life, so she assembled her own team of alternative care experts. From there, this San Diego wellness spa was born. The intimate, serene space starts with a lobby that feels like the new wave of clean, minimalist boutiques popping up all over in recent years. But look further and you'll see that they offer the full-spectrum of self-care services, including massages, acupuncture, cupping, reiki, sound baths, herbalogy sessions, yin yoga, meditation classes, and more. Take us into the room. How was the session itself? What's makes Saffron & Sage stand out is the presence of a well-trained therapist for every aspect of physical and mental wellness. You can start with a free consultation, where they'll find the right treatment and expert for you. Once you're in treatment, soothing music, sage-scented aroma, and a feeling of calm flow throughout the studio. Treatment rooms look more like your cool, design-inclined friend's living room than the dark, generic treatment areas you find in other spas. Think white Moroccan rugs and fiddle leaf fig trees. Nice. What about after the treatment? This isn't your traditional spa—it's a "holistic health club," as they call it. That means it's less focused on the robes, eucalyptus-infused showers, and those rubber slippers, and more about its wellness-centric treatments. Just don't pass up on a cup of tea upon arrival—it's delightful. What do they do best here? And how can we make sure we get the most out of it? If words like yin, ashwagandha, and reiki are a part of your vernacular, this place is for you. Beyond individual treatments, Saffron & Sage also offers memberships (i.e. 1 service per month, 8 studio classes per month, etc.) and workshops. On the fitness front, the yoga classes are far more meditative than the thumping, sweat-dripping classes you may have done elsewhere. More mind-body connection, less nailing those handstands." - Archana Ram