Well Intentioned: A Chilled-Out Guide to San Francisco, California

Know your power flow from your hatha and yin? Whether you’re a long-time yogi or new to the mat, there’s a class for you here. The three studios sit within a renovated Victorian home in the Lower Haight district, which enhances the welcoming vibe. After a good stretch, take a short walk to Alamo Square Park, where you’ll be treated to the best view of the Painted Ladies – a string of pastel-painted Victorian and Edwardian houses – or visit the hippy ‘hood of Haight-Ashbury to browse vintage boutiques and bookshops.

There are almost too many ways to practice self-care at this ecofriendly hotel in Sausalito. If you can drag yourself away from your room (most have outstanding views of the Golden Gate Bridge), you can try reiki, herbal healing or acupuncture, as well as the more typical massages and yoga classes. Join a guided hike along the coastal trail, or paint the beautiful bay view at a mindful watercolor class.

The wild Pacific waves may be too rough for swimming, but this mile-long stretch of sand on the city’s northwest coast, near Presidio Park, is a fine place for a picnic in the sunshine – and also looks beautifully eerie in San Fran’s hallmark mist. Come for the outstanding views of Golden Gate Bridge, stay to meditate to the sound of crashing surf, or shed your inhibitions (and clothing) at the nudist section at the northern end of the beach.

Cryotherapy redefines what it means to chill out. The Reboot treatment at this health spa in the Mission District entails spending three minutes in a cryochamber, where you’ll experience temperatures from -165F down to -220F (-74C to -104C). The cold shock is said to boost your metabolism, lower inflammation and stimulate anti-aging properties. Once you’ve warmed up in the infrared sauna and spent a meditative hour in a floatation pod, you’ll feel like a whole new human.

Fancy a foot rub after pounding San Francisco’s oh-so-steep pavements? This hotel is right on the waterfront, meaning you can go from souvenir shopping to a sensual massage in five minutes flat. The petite penthouse spa includes a rooftop bamboo forest, where you can bathe with a glass of prosecco under the open sky. Rooms with excellent bay views include ergonomic chairs – handy if you have to work – but it’s best to heed the embroidered slippers and slow down.

If the mantra “eat good, feel good, do good” resonates with you, save time for a meal at Wildseed on Union Street. Everything on the menu is strictly seasonal, sourced locally and plant-based – with an emphasis on maximizing nutrition in the tastiest way possible. Try the harvest bowl with a turmeric-and-ginger dressing and chia seeds alongside a glass of the best organic wine from the Golden State – $0.10 from every check goes towards planting trees across San Francisco.

Get back to nature in the biggest park in San Francisco, which is a whopping 3mi (5km) long and sprawls from Haight-Ashbury to the sandy west coast. Hug a 100ft (30m) giant sequoia if you’re inclined, marvel at the cherry blossoms and bonsai trees in the Japanese Tea Garden, or take a pedal boat around Stow Lake to see a waterfall, Chinese pavilion and plethora of birdlife. It’s a literal breath of fresh air.

Offering time-reversing facials, traditional Thai massage, zesty body scrubs and deep-sleep rituals, the glorious spa at the Huntington Hotel is one of the best in the city. Book a 50-minute treatment and you’ll get all-day access to the eucalyptus steam room, sauna and gym, plus the heated indoor pool and hot tub, which come with panoramic views. Stay for sparkling wine and a light snack – granola or egg-white frittata, perhaps? – served by white-jacketed waiters on the balcony.