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    spa time

    8 most indulgent spas to relax and recharge on a trip to Houston

    Jayme Lamm
    Jayme lamm
    Jul 20, 2018 | 2:05 pm

    It's fun to find new spas and treatments when you're traveling. Houston isn’t lacking in luxury spas ready to pamper weary road-warriors.

    Each of these eight Houston day spas offers a serene and relaxing environment paired with highly skilled therapists and aestheticians who will teleport you to a comfortable and relaxing place. Book an appointment between meetings on your next business trip, or as a way to get the kinks out after a long drive from Dallas.

    And if you’re looking for an excuse to book a spa appointment this summer, be sure to check out “Summer Spahh-tacular,” where guests can get various treatments for a cause (starting at the special price of $105), with $5 of each Summer Spahh-tacular booking benefits the Children’s Miracle Network, through August 31.

    Pure Spa at Marriott Marquis Houston
    1777 Walker St.; 346-229-2581
    This luxury oasis on the sixth floor of the Marriott Marquis Houston has become one of Houston’s hottest spas. Pure Spa offers guests a wide array of luxury services including massages, unique body treatments, facials, hair styling, manicures and pedicures, makeup applications, and more.

    Special spa service: The One + One 50-minute massage, where guests can unwind with a full-body aromatherapy massage, using a blend of essential oils and purposeful movements to stimulate circulation, promote deep relaxation, and restore the flow of energy throughout the body. Also try the Musclease Warming Mask and Massage, an 80-minute unique therapeutic experience, which includes an invigorating body brush exfoliation, healing mud mask back application, and full body massage, to ease aching and tense muscles.

    Spa tip: Guests who book a minimum 50-minute spa treatment (excluding salon treatments) are granted access to the Parkview Terrace, home to the world’s only rooftop Texas shaped lazy river. Guys may like this spot too, with a full menu dedicated to “Gentleman’s Service.”

    Hiatus Spa + Retreat
    5740 San Felipe St. Suite 110; 713-470-0990
    Billed as Houston’s only “monthly retreat,” this affordable and luxury day spa allows customers to enjoy unique body treatments that end with a specialty cocktail. Founded in Dallas in 2007, this Texas-born spa features 50-plus signature treatments with high-touch experiences and provides a fresh take on a full-service spa. All 60-minute services include a purifying foot soak ritual and signature hand and foot massage, along with customized aromatherapy. The brand’s personalized approach to wellness is driven by the belief that regular relaxation should be an empowering part of a healthy, happy lifestyle.

    Special spa service: The Yours, Truly massage, customized to you and only you, The Perfectionist Facial, and The Kindred Spirits couples massage under a starlit room. Or, try the acclaimed Monthly Retreat — a hybrid massage, scrub, and Vichy shower treatment created each month with seasonal ingredients and finished with a handcrafted cocktail.

    Trellis, The Spa at The Houstonian
    111 Post Oak Ln.; 713-680-2626
    This award-winning, Mediterranean-style, 17,000-square-foot luxury facility boasts 20 treatment rooms as well as hair and nail salons. The spa comes with state-of-the-art locker rooms complete with Jacuzzi and steam rooms, an indoor Float Pool, a Relaxation Lounge with fireplace, Tranquility Room, and even an outdoor patio and balcony for small group gatherings.

    Special spa service: La Alternativa, a 50-minute, non-invasive facial designed to minimize expression lines and renew skin overall, or the Oxygen Body Treatment, a 50-minute exfoliating treatment that finishes with a dry oil application to reveal luminous and glowing skin for days.

    Spa tip: Nestled in the iconic Houstonian hotel, Trellis is the only Forbes four-star spa in Houston.

    Sanctuary Spa
    1701 S. Shepherd St., Suite C; 713-622-7722
    Known as Houston’s oldest day spa, this European spot has been serving self-care to Houstonians since 1984. Located between River Oaks and Montrose, Sanctuary provides customized wellness services and a top-notch customer experience. Expect massages and facials, as well as unique treatments such as G5 cellulite massage, micro-current anti-aging facial, LED light therapy, the Minkyti Facial, Yoni Steam, electrolysis, lash and brow tinting, and even microblading.

    Special spa service: Brea’s Signature Restorative Facial (available in 45, 60 or 75-minute treatments), which uses specially designed techniques, this facial provides a rejuvenating blend of cleansing and exfoliation with a deep pore treatment, coupled with signature massage techniques to promote a completely relaxing experience. Or, try The Sporty, a two-hour service aimed at athletic types that includes infusion tub therapy, a 60-minute Sanctuary Signature Massage, and a Sports Pack enhancement.

    Spa tip: Sanctuary Spa offers an amazing infusion tub service that allows the guest to soak in an aromatherapy bath made of nourishing seaweed and essential oil blends — based on an individual's need: stress relief, detox, or relief of aches and pains. The special cocoon-like tub (sort of like a jacuzzi) also has different settings that enhance the experience.

    Four Seasons Houston
    1300 Lamar St.; 713-652-6219
    This spa, located inside of the Four Seasons Hotel Houston, offers Tata Harper skincare products, an all-natural skincare brand that uses 100 percent natural and non-toxic ingredients to deliver lasting results.

    Special spa service: The Signature Hydrafacial, which offers a range of facial serums, vital nutrients, and extraction techniques to cleanse and hydrate your pores, with rapid and vibrant results. Or, try the Power Hour Massage: a 50-to-80-minute stimulating massage with revitalizing tonic oil (containing rosemary and mint) that will leave you feeling fresh, clear-headed, and ready to start the day (as early as 6 am for early risers).

    Spa tip: Pool and fitness access is allowed to those who purchase an 80-minute treatment at the spa and complimentary valet parking is provided to spa guests.

    Fiori
    2613 Potomac Dr.; 713-244-0070
    This luxury boutique spa has been one of the best-kept secrets for more than a decade. Providing nail services, facial services, and a broad range of luxurious massages, this extravagant Tuscan-inspired spa takes it up a level with first-class staff, spa décor, wine selections, boutique shopping — and even a full-course lunch option (which is catered and must be ordered in advance).This freestanding villa is meant to capture the charm and tranquility of the Italian countryside and has remained a Houston favorite thanks to amenities such as the outdoor mineral pool and fountains.

    Special spa service: The Pick Me Up, a 100-minute firming and lifting full-body rejuvenating treatment that prevents and treats sagging skin, or the Four Hands Massage, a 50-minute full-body massage experience with two therapists working simultaneously to restore harmony and balance.

    Spa tip: Fiori will soon be expanding to create even more room to embrace self-care.

    ZaSpa at Hotel ZaZa
    Memorial City: 9787 Katy Fwy; 713-860-4500
    Museum District: 5701 S Main St.; 713-639-4566
    Hotel ZaZa is known for their luxury and décor and likewise, the ZaSpa doesn’t disappoint. Now with two locations, guests in and outside the Loop can enjoy cozy and relaxing places to recharge and refresh with signature massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures. Hotel ZaZa Museum District offers guests newly added infrared saunas, offering multi-beneficial, detoxifying, and healing therapies.

    Special spa service: Try signature treatments such as the Bella Vita Facial that incorporates microcurrent technology with Vitamin C and argan oil. Or, opt for the Romance Ritual, a side-by-side foot soak, sea salt scrub, hydrating shea butter body wrap, hot oil scalp massage, and full-body customized massage.

    Spa tip: ZaSpa guests receive complimentary valet and are welcome to enjoy the pool at both hotels after spa treatments.

    The Woodlands Spa at The Woodlands Resort
    2301 N Millbend Dr., The Woodlands; 281-367-1100
    Located 30 minutes from downtown Houston, The Woodlands Spa is well worth the drive, offering a wide range of nature-inspired spa treatments set in a relaxing and decadent environment. Whether you’re looking to relax and recharge or soothe and renew, this place has everything including a Eucalyptus steam room, dry sauna, and a whirlpool hot tub to bookend your spa treatments.

    Special spa service: Go for a full day of luxury with the Enchanted Forest Experience, which offers a more-than-six-hour treatment that soothes and renews with a hot stone massage, age-defying Mother Nature facial, a scalp massage, Forest Oasis body nurturing treatment, and a Sweet Genius manicure and pedicure. Or, try The Forest Oasis signature treatment that begins with a dry-brush exfoliation to prepare the skin, followed by a soothing application of warm oils, and a gentle scrub to massage away dry cells. Relax in a warm cocoon while receiving a luxurious foot scrub and scalp massage, as well as a hydration soufflé

    Spa tip: Following spa treatments, guests are invited to sit back and relax by the resort’s pool and lazy river in one of the brand-new luxury cabanas.

    Relax with a partner in the Spa Lounge at the Woodlands Resort

    Woodlands Resort couple in spa lounge
    Courtesy photo
    Relax with a partner in the Spa Lounge at the Woodlands Resort
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    Soul Searching

    A New York designer's tips for shopping vintage in Round Top this spring

    Emily Cotton
    Mar 19, 2026 | 4:27 pm
    Alfredo Paredes
    Courtesy of Alfredo Paredes
    Designer Alfredo Paredes shopped Round Top for his new store in Hudson, NY.

    The annual Round Top Spring Antiques & Design Show in Round Top, Texas is officially in full-swing for 2026. In recent years, the diversity of vendors has grown from mom-and-pop shops selling classic Texas items to international purveyors of imported European wares with provenance spanning multiple centuries. Whether a shopper partakes of the festival as a mere spectator, or is genuinely seeking an “I’ll know it when I see it” opportunity, the question always remains: what’s worth buying?

    One person who can answer that question is Alfredo Paredes. Known as the interior designer for Houston restaurant Latuli, Paredes served as creative director for Ralph Lauren for three decades, designing all stores, restaurants, and Ralph Lauren Home collections.

    Recently, Paredes traveled to Round Top in search of antique and vintage finds for his private clients as well as his forthcoming store in Hudson, New York. CultureMap tagged along for an afternoon of learning a thing or two about shopping vintage like Ralph Lauren’s right hand man.

    While the jovial Paredes readily acknowledges that he loves items from every corner of the globe, the design guru was particularly drawn to Brutalist wooden consoles, wicker, and organic woven pieces. This is only the second trip to Round Top for Paredes, and certainly not the last.

    “What I’ve started to notice in the last 10 years is — I used to go to Europe a lot, London and the Paris flea market — now a lot of it is here. People are coming now because it’s a more varied experience. It’s not all western, or all cowboy, or all whatever. It’s all eclectic and you never know what you’re going to find, and that’s why it’s more interesting now I think. It’s just interesting that it’s all here — you just have to know where to look.”

    At Market Hill, Paredes found things he couldn’t pass up for his store and for his clients. Bulky wooden pieces, low-slung leather chairs, and paintings showcasing deep umbers and blues seemed to be a draw. Saltillo tile-topped tables received high praise, as did bisque-fired ceramic works and artistic wooden carvings.

    “My eye goes to things that appeal to me. Not necessarily to a client, but just things I’m liking right now,” explains Paredes. “It’s hard to articulate what I’m loving, but I’m drawn to this sort of masculine, French, midcentury country house, but not Parisian [aesthetic]. You know — rugged stuff. I’ve always liked that, but I’m really attracted to it now. It just appeals to me. I like soulful things. I like woods that have patina, woods that have a story. I don’t like things too polished.”

    There is something endearing about witnessing Paredes in action, in his element. When he sees something he likes — say a chair, or a sofa — he makes a beeline for it and plops the seat of his Ralph Lauren vintage label blue-jeans right on it. Next, the hands get going, patting and rubbing the materials. Is it soft, is it sturdy, what are the tactile qualities, is it comfortable; an invisible sea of datapoints striking and firing in a single shot. How to know if it passed his tests? He wants the price.

    The afternoon is spent weaving through the well-organized mess of vendors getting ready for the spring show before it officially opens the next day. Boxes are being broken down and carried off, and telltale terrycloth squares peek out of back pockets — it’s nearly showtime. Paredes is recognized and greeted by vintage vendors he’s known since his days at Ralph Lauren. The genuine warmth of their greetings confirms a suspicion that’s been lingering since lunchtime — he’s the real deal.

    Favorites from the day come from Architectural Anarchy, Alma Gallery, and Amelia Tarbet Studios. Earlier in the day, Kansas City-based vendor Prize was also a great source for the style Paredes is currently curating.

    “I like this sort of — let’s call it ‘Old Hollywood Mogul.’ Something you’d see in Robert Redford’s house or an old movie star’s house; something of a period. I like that. I lean into old movies,” he explains

    Paredes shops with an air of confidence reserved for those who have long since forgotten to second guess themselves, but he remains all too aware that shopping vintage can intimidate the types of people who find solace in the arms of a robust and generous return policy.

    “Getting people to be comfortable with the sort of pace of shopping for vintage, and sort of collecting and owning [is tricky],” says Paredes. “Being okay that this is the one you selected — you know what I mean? If you miss it, you regret it. You need to know it’s a good investment, because you can always sell it. You can always move on. These pieces have been in people’s homes for a long time.”

    With his private clients, Paredes stays hard at work helping people understand the stewardship that goes along with collecting vintage pieces. It’s not about designer names with the things he’s drawn to, it’s about durability and craftsmanship — “artistry,” as he calls it. People shy away from the unfamiliar at times, then once they have had the time to consider rare vintage pieces long enough to fall in love with the idea, the piece is usually gone. And that’s something Paredes finds regrettable.

    “Vintage is a tricky thing for clients because you have to decide. Otherwise, it vanishes and it’s like hunt-and-peck. Then you’re not finished. A lot of people shy away from it because they can’t commit. That’s why you have an empty dining room, because you didn’t commit. We saw 30 tables and you didn’t commit. Missing out on things is a combination. People think they’re getting ripped off, or that it’s not the best one, or it’s ‘Can I see more options [of the same vintage piece]?’ The answer is no, no, and no. This is what it is — it’s collecting!”

    The new store in Hudson will be 60 percent vintage finds and 40 percent items from his private label. His pieces are bench-crafted in North Carolina and are inspired by his vintage finds. He loves that his line is made in the United States and inspired by pieces from across the globe. He doesn’t copy, he just lifts ideas.

    “I see this Parisian Art Deco chair that’s been upholstered in Mohair, and I’ll decide that we need a piece in Mohair. And that’s all I’ll take away from it,” he says.

    Textiles and other tactile materials are a big draw for Paredes, which is how he came to have a line with Kravet Fabrics. The line is mostly made of vintage-inspired patterns in classic, Americana colorways. This makes them easy to pair with vintage frames and materials plucked from anything from vintage fairs like the Round Top show to something inherited from a beloved family member.

    In his book, Alfredo Paredes at Home, he invites readers to explore the interiors of four homes he’s had throughout the years, showcasing his idea that inspired rooms can be built around the love of something as simple — yet unique — as a tassel.

    During his visit to Round Top, Paredes took the time to sign books and visit with vintage enthusiasts at gallerist Shelli Alter’s Round Top pop-up “dinnerpARTy.” Alter finds great success in mixing simplistic contemporary artworks by international artists like Riera Arago with ornate antique frames from the 18th century. The mix and juxtaposition is something very in line with the Paredes aesthetic.

    What’s most important to Paredes is the idea that people should just be having fun, loving the thrill of the hunt, and not putting too much pressure on themselves. As he says: “It’s someone’s own home — they need to enjoy it!”

    Explore the thrill of vintage at these top spots in Round Top

    Market Hill: March 9–29
    The Horseshoe: March 12–28
    Bader Ranch: March 13–28
    Zapp Hall: March 13–28
    Excess Field: March 1
    Blue Hills: March 14–28
    McLaren’s: March 14–28
    The Arbors: March 14–28
    The Compound: March 14–28
    The Halles: March 14–28
    Big Red Barn: March 22–28
    550 Market: March 14–28
    Marburger Farm: March 24–28
    Cisco Village: March 20–April 6

    Alfredo Paredes

    Courtesy of Alfredo Paredes

    Designer Alfredo Paredes shopped Round Top for his new store in Hudson, NY.

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