I decided to hit up Wi Spa first because it has a reputation for being the nicest of all LA Korean spas. The locker room was severely swanky and felt like a country club. Opening the door to the sauna I saw about thirty nude dudes lazing about, showering or treading water in hot tubs. I pulled it together, took a very public shower, and then headed for the steam room.
After re-clothing in the supplied shorts and robe, I headed upstairs to the common area, known as the Jimjilbang. The wood-floored room had the vibe of a family picnic, with camps of friends grouped together on mats.
A child with a Spiderman mask ran around with abandon that would surely find him in the emergency room by dusk. Some people watched a confusing Korean TV show where belly fat was measured for comedic effect, while others read books and mellowed out. Four co-ed treatment rooms lined the Jimjilbang. I tried them all. The jade room had a Fortress of Solitude feel and was very calming.
Next door was the salt room β lying on the white crystals smelled and felt great. I felt like a pizza in the extra-hot clay Bulgama room and a cube in the ice room, which had a layer of frost covering the walls. Definitely chill. I grabbed a green iced tea at the full-menu restaurant and brought a book to the rooftop deck, which contained smoking Koreans and furniture that swallowed me whole.
After about three hours at Wi, I was properly relaxed. I arrived at Century Spa around 9pm and found easy parking. The male spa was massive and aside from housing a gigantic Jacuzzi, it also contained a marble room, a sauna, and a eucalyptus steam. The mist room is definitely unique, with a warm spray descending from the ceiling. Century was very clean and well maintained.
