Farm-to-table spa offering daily massages, fitness, and organic meals





























777 Deer Springs Rd, San Marcos, CA 92069 Get directions

"Golden Door Spa, established in 1958, is a lavish, Japanese-inspired spa that became a huge hit for female Hollywood stars in the 1960s and ‘70s. It offers a luxurious and rejuvenating experience focusing on exercise and fitness without a traditional pool, but with a sacred mountain to climb."
"Sitting on 600 mountainous acres in Southern California, this tranquil, Japanese-style resort offers more than 30 miles of private hiking trails, a bamboo forest, about 80 rejuvenating classes each week, and an exclusive program that includes a daily massage, skin treatments, and farm-to-table meals; downtime can be spent in the Japanese gardens, by the pool, or hiking the mountain and meadow trails." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

"An iconic Japanese-inspired sanctuary set on 600 acres of hills and gardens that has focused on weeklong transformational retreats since the 1950s, balancing physical activity with pampering and restorative rituals. The property emphasizes curated culinary programming (including guest women chefs), renovated traditional facilities that preserve a ryokan aesthetic, and a charitable mission that channels net proceeds to organizations supporting abused children." - Laura Begley Bloom

"Golden Door, or as those in the know call it, “The Door,” has been an exclusive wellness sanctuary since the 1950s, welcoming guests like Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and, more recently, Oprah Winfrey. Just a half-hour north of San Diego, the property is comprised of over 600 acres of hills, meadows, Japanese gardens, and citrus groves, including 30 miles of private hiking trails and five acres of bio-intensive gardens. The Door offers seven-day retreats, reasoning that that’s the amount of time required to bring you back to you. The wide range of physical activities—like hiking, fencing, archery, and personal training—is balanced with ample options for pampering: daily massages, detailed skin analysis and treatments, herbal wraps, manicures, pedicures, and more. Chef Greg Frey Jr. walks the walk of farm-to-table cuisine with hyper-seasonal and -local menus, with most of the ingredients grown and produced right on the property." - CNT Editors

"Golden Door, or as those in the know call it, “The Door,” has been an exclusive wellness sanctuary since the 1950s, welcoming guests like Elizabeth Taylor, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and, more recently, Oprah Winfrey. Just a half-hour north of San Diego, the property is comprised of over 600 acres of hills, meadows, Japanese gardens, and citrus groves, including 30 miles of private hiking trails and five acres of bio-intensive gardens. The Door offers seven-day retreats, reasoning that that’s the amount of time required to bring you back to you. The wide range of physical activities—like hiking, fencing, archery, and personal training—is balanced with ample options for pampering: daily massages, detailed skin analysis and treatments, herbal wraps, manicures, pedicures, and more. Chef Greg Frey Jr. walks the walk of farm-to-table cuisine with hyper-seasonal and -local menus, with most of the ingredients grown and produced right on the property." - Caitlin Gunther