Spa Recommendations

galvia · May 2006

Does anyone have any spa recommendations in the area? Last I went to a spa around here was Elan on 7th - and that was at least 2 years ago. So I have no idea if they're still any good or if there are better/other options available.

I've walked by Providence and d'mai - but have not been in. What's the verdict on these?

I'm specifically looking for massages and facials. Any help is greatly appreciated.

lnclnplcgentrifier · May 2006

Elan's still there and still good. My preference. D'mai is better, but you pay for it.

xueling · May 2006

The massage at D'mai was just okay, nothing special. The body polish there is excellent and the atmosphere is very calming and spa-like. For a really good massage, though, I highly recommend Opal on 5th ave.

ph_dreamin · July 2006

I went to D'mai for the first time tonight, for a spa pedicure. Given the price tag ($40) I was expecting something special. It was not to be. The two manicurists were gossiping in Spanish non-stop (assuming that customers could not understand them - uh, yes, I just heard you call my feet "disgusting," thank you SO much, and now I know exactly how you feel about the woman sitting next to me, too), the manicurist disappeared for like TEN MINUTES during my treatment and I had to ask the other manicurist to go find her, and worst of all, during the massage portion, another worker was standing next to my chair and gossiping away ("Why are you giving her that massage? Oh, she's doing the $40 one?"). Ugh! It was the opposite of relaxing. And the bottoms of my feet are not as soft as they should be.

So from my limited experience, I think D'mai sucks! I told the manicurist so when I gave her a tip (yes, I did tip, though she did not earn it), but I am still so pissed off about this, I may get in touch with the manager...

alafairnadia · July 2006

I'm not impressed with d'mai at all.
my first experience there was a facial and it was GREAT. I went back a few months later to have another facial and got this high pressure, agressive sales pitch for a bunch of add ons that I didn't want. the woman not only wanted me to buy them, but wanted me to buy them in a package of 10. after repeated "no thanks" she finally gave up. then, I bought some replacement products and one of them was wrong. when I went back to return it to them, one of the owners (a male) was pretty argumentative about taking it back. I pretty much had to say "you are taking this back - it's the wrong thing and you don't have the right thing. here's my credit card - put the credit on it now."
that said, I won a manicure and pedicure there at a benefit and was considering upgrading it to the spa version - your review has made me rethink that plan. I may just treat the manicure/pedicure as a polish change. beh.

the best spa pedicure, imho, is at bloomie's at 23rd st and 7th avenue in chelsea. I've tried a few other bloomie's but that one is the one I always return to.
of course, I don't speak Korean so I have no clue what anyone is talking about and generally just wear my ipod to block out the noise.

cod17 · July 2006

I haven't tried Providence but I have heard great things. Intimate, clean and friendly.

lnclnplcgentrifier · July 2006

too intimate. stick with the others.

heights249 · July 2006

Has anyone tried Sage Healing Arts on 5th avenue? I haven't but I've always wanted to - it looks really nice - pricey but nice...

mixergirl · July 2006

Yesterday I went to Element Beauty Lounge for waxing and a mani/pedi. It's a little more expensive but you definitely feel like you are treating yourself. Plus the massage pedicure chairs are out of this world. I wouldn't go there on a regular basis, but if you want a treat, try it.

ph_dreamin · July 2006

Just an update (to be fair) re my bad experience at D'mai. I talked to one of the owners yestserday and she was very nice, really horrified about my experience, apologized profusely, gave me a refund and offered me a free massage there anytime I want (I don't plan to use it, but it was a nice gesture).

Apparently the woman who worked on me is not going to be doing nails there anymore. Still, I think I will head elsewhere for my pedicures... as in, a place where I can't understand the language the manicurists speak!

cod17 · July 2006

If you don't mind leaving the neighb, check out www.bodybybrooklyn.com in Clinton Hill. It's really big and has a restaurant and bar inside. Plus I think if you book a treatment they let you use their amenities for free (Sauna, Steam Room, Russian Bath House, Cold Plunge).

cyn707 · July 2006

PH_dreamin wrote:
The two manicurists were gossiping in Spanish non-stop
the manicurist disappeared for like TEN MINUTES during my treatment
It was the opposite of relaxing.

i had the same experience at D'Mai when i was there about 1 year ago for a pedicure. i also had a high-pressure sales lady when i went in for a facial - plus she was quite rough on my skin and it was painful and not very relaxing.

anyone ever try G's Spa (not sure that's the exact right name) on Flatbush?

bigguy · July 2006

My gf went to Body by Brooklyn for the first time recently and gave it a decent review.

pete_c · July 2006

I'll post the male review of D'Mai after my visit there on Saturday, but I'll definitely be more on guard.

vanilla · July 2006

G'spa (or G's spa?) is real chill. ..as is the hair cutting place owned by the same people(?) around the corner on st.marks. but i only went for this promotion where there where free facials & hair styling & massages and, oh, free alcohol all night. we all liked our services but were wasted, too. anyway, good times & nice people.

doublediamond · July 2006

alafairnadia wrote:

the best spa pedicure, imho, is at bloomie's at 23rd st and 7th avenue in chelsea. I've tried a few other bloomie's but that one is the one I always return to.

I went there today. I didn't get the "spa" pedicure but a regular, since it was cheaper. It was such a rip-off. She barely sloughed my feet. She did a nice job painting my toes, but for $27, I want my feet to be baby soft. Is that too much to ask? Why call it a pedicure if all you're doing is slapping polish on.

My other complaint is that all the nail salons do the same thing, like a factory: barely soak feet. Lightly slough feet. Give a leg massage I don't really need. Put a hot towel on my leg. Pound with fist. Rinse and polish.

Why is this called a pedicure and why does everyone do it the same way? Putting polish on is the last thing to be concerned about. It's about the feet.

alafairnadia · July 2006

doublediamond wrote: [quote=alafairnadia]

the best spa pedicure, imho, is at bloomie's at 23rd st and 7th avenue in chelsea. I've tried a few other bloomie's but that one is the one I always return to.

I went there today. I didn't get the "spa" pedicure but a regular, since it was cheaper. It was such a rip-off. She barely sloughed my feet. She did a nice job painting my toes, but for $27, I want my feet to be baby soft. Is that too much to ask? Why call it a pedicure if all you're doing is slapping polish on.

My other complaint is that all the nail salons do the same thing, like a factory: barely soak feet. Lightly slough feet. Give a leg massage I don't really need. Put a hot towel on my leg. Pound with fist. Rinse and polish.

Why is this called a pedicure and why does everyone do it the same way? Putting polish on is the last thing to be concerned about. It's about the feet.

that's why I do the spa pedicure, honestly. you can get a cheaper "Regular" pedicure somewhere else. but the spa pedicure is totally worth it. especially considering how expensive a regular pedicure is.
if I want a regular pedicure, I just go down to polish in park slope, or long nails or someplace like that.

doublediamond · July 2006

so it's completely different? Heh. That's what I get for being frugal! :x

alafairnadia · July 2006

doublediamond wrote: so it's completely different? Heh. That's what I get for being frugal! :x

yeah. it's like 1.5 hours - they use all of these potions, lots of levels of callous removal and softening, massage, masque, etc. it's absurd. try it next time! seriously.

apollonia666 · July 2006

I went to D'mai once almost two years ago for a pedicure, massage, and facial (I'd decided to have a big treat-myself day). The pedicure was only so-so -- really just a glorified foot-washing and rather sloppy polish application. I get a much better scrubbing/sloughing and polish job at cheap joints, honestly. The facial and massage were great, thorough, and very relaxing. The pedicure lady was kind of brusque but the massage therapist, facialist, and the woman at the counter were all low-key and very nice. I'd rely on more recent experiences to decide on going there, but mine was overall pretty positive.

dsdnyc · November 2006

Subject: Sage Spa is great

I tried Sage Spa on 5th Avenue several times, and love it. No pressure, great massage and very peaceful. My experience was confirmed by what I read on Citysearch and on their website "press" reviews. Other folks seem to like them too. Give them a try.

erikka · November 2006

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=doublediamond]so it's completely different? Heh. That's what I get for being frugal! :x

yeah. it's like 1.5 hours - they use all of these potions, lots of levels of callous removal and softening, massage, masque, etc. it's absurd. try it next time! seriously.

Do they slough your feet? I mean, I need some industrial shit here. I want sandblasting finished off with a nice ballet pink. Get a little rough on those suckers. I'd even like the much-forbidden callus razor (tho no one will admit to using that--at least not over the phone)

stacey · November 2006

erikka wrote: [quote=alafairnadia][quote=doublediamond]so it's completely different? Heh. That's what I get for being frugal! :x

yeah. it's like 1.5 hours - they use all of these potions, lots of levels of callous removal and softening, massage, masque, etc. it's absurd. try it next time! seriously.

Do they slough your feet? I mean, I need some industrial shit here. I want sandblasting finished off with a nice ballet pink. Get a little rough on those suckers. I'd even like the much-forbidden callus razor (tho no one will admit to using that--at least not over the phone)

I feel the same way erikka but the only place that I find who can work my feet is Bloomie Nails which are all in Manhattan. I usually go to the one on 23rd Street - their spa pedicure is so worth it.

alafairnadia · November 2006

stacey wrote: [quote=erikka][quote=alafairnadia][quote=doublediamond]so it's completely different? Heh. That's what I get for being frugal! :x

yeah. it's like 1.5 hours - they use all of these potions, lots of levels of callous removal and softening, massage, masque, etc. it's absurd. try it next time! seriously.

Do they slough your feet? I mean, I need some industrial shit here. I want sandblasting finished off with a nice ballet pink. Get a little rough on those suckers. I'd even like the much-forbidden callus razor (tho no one will admit to using that--at least not over the phone)

I feel the same way erikka but the only place that I find who can work my feet is Bloomie Nails which are all in Manhattan. I usually go to the one on 23rd Street - their spa pedicure is so worth it.

I was just there yesterday after work. my feet lost weight, seriously. so much crap they whittled off.

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