John Allan’s

The only place to go for gentlemen’s grooming. Dawn and Chloe since 2007. 10 of 10

Have been going here for three or four years as a member. The girls are all awesome and extremely nice and courteous. Linda is my stylist and besides doing a terrific job every time makes the whole experience pleasant and something to look forward to. She’s always talkative and engaging, but seems to read my mind and know when I just want to sleep and when I want to talk. I’ve experimented with other places across various price ranges and none compare.

I read about this place and decided to give it a try to see if a membership is worth it. If the saying, «You never get a second chance to make a first impression» is true, then John Allan’s Downtown did it right. From the moment you are let in you are greeted with a smile. They take your bag and jacket right away and sit you down with something to drink. It so happened it was a beer tasting the day I went — even a bigger score!
After getting my drink and sitting down, I saw many smiles, both from employees and customers. I was then taken to have my hair washed and scalp massaged. That was followed by a good olé hot towel. Now I am feeling relaxed.
From their I was introduced to the stylist who would be cutting my hair and she was awesome. Asked me many questions to get an idea of what I would like, if I wanted to try something different. She was spot on and so much fun to speak with. As I was getting my haircut, another woman comes by, with a smile, and starts the manicure. Now, this is not a typical manicure where your nails come out shining, it is more of a man’s manicure, simple and just right. She was also fun to speak with. So you are getting you haircut, hand manicured and the other hand has a drink — so far so good.
After that they wash your hair again and then style it. Get another drink and off to a shoeshine. The shoeshine was great and I could see my reflection now in my shoes.
From their I was introduced to some members and each one of them was nicer then the next. Just shooting pool, and having a great conversation as if I knew these guys for years. Then I met another member and found a new golf buddy and already have a plan to get out and play.
So you walk in with the grit if the city and stress from work and you walk out a relaxed, polished gentleman with new friends. So is it worth the $ 850 for the membership is the question and after my first visit the simple answer is YES! It is like Cheers, where everyone knows your name.

The Wall Street location of John Allan’s was my home away from home for a few years. I enjoyed membership to the fullest. Step inside and get ready to be pampered. Hand your coat and briefcase to the coat check guy and slip into the members only jacket. Take a seat on the leather chair and wait for a beverage while reading the paper or magazine. If you’re a non-​member you can pay as you go. You have the option to get membership per year for one location or a passport membership to go to any one in the city. If you don’t have the passport and want to go to a different branch, it’s an additional $ 20 per visit.
The benefits of membership. The «full service». Unlimited haircuts. Gentle manicures and hand massage during the cut by ladies with indistinguishable accents (came across Brazilian and Australian). Unlimited shoe shines after the haircut or just anytime you drop by. Hot towel on your face while sitting in a barber chair makes all your worries go away for that moment. Unlimited beverages plus bottle keep for your favorite fine spirit (Scotch and Bourbon was the choice of many). Shampoos before and after the cut. There is also a billiards table at this location.
It’s the friendly and interesting hairstylists who are fun to talk to and that know you if you keep coming to them in subsequent visits. Appointments are recommended for the more popular stylists. There’s also massage for an additional fee and shaves available. Occasionally there are special events like scotch tastings, art exhibits, custom men’s shirt fittings for members.
Come in feeling okay, come out feeling like a new made man. You’ll be ready to take on the town. Rock that next board presentation and impress clients with your latest pitch for your new product. Also, it’s the perfect spot to bring out groomsmen, friends visiting from out of town, or colleagues that like to indulge in this level of men’s grooming. John Allan’s should be in your back pocket when other hair places just give a mediocre cut with no customer service.

Only good thing about this place is Linda. I was a member there for several years and upon moving out of town I attempted to end my membership. The dirty little secret here is that they will not let you out. In my 10 attempts to call, email and end my membership NO ONE ever responded. I had to go directly to my credit card company to work it all out.
Be warned — the place is nice and the haircuts were decent but they will do their best to screw you if in the event you want out.
I even had the receptionist of the club tell me on the phone this is pretty standard for people seeking refunds or ending membership.
Lots of places to get you haircut and have a beer in NYC — not worth the aggravation unless you plan on being a member for eternity.
in the end and moreover a real sleazy way of doing business.

I haven’t been to John Allan’s personally but I surprised my boyfriend with the gold package gift certificate which includes a 60-​minute massage and sports pedicure for his birthday. He enjoyed himself but upon asking him about it I discovered that he never received the full massage or pedicure. He asked the team if anything else was included and they said no even though he showed them the gold package gift certificate. I called them up immediately to clear up the problem and they simply explained that the pedicure/​massage part hadn’t been scheduled but he could reschedule that anytime.
So he went back in and had a very pleasant experience until the very end when they asked him for payment. He explained that he had already given them the gift certificate at the last appointment and that no further payment was owed but the receptionist didn’t believe him.
Luckily this situation worked out but I would never give a John Allan gift certificate to a client or anyone else who I wouldn’t talk to so candidly. I was told the services were excellent but I wouldn’t risk paying for expensive services in advance that will never be rendered.

Have been a member for 2 years, and I wouldn’t trade anything for it. This place is an old school men’s grooming salon (billiards table, free drink upon check-​in, coat service, shoe shine).
Linda cuts my hair and Sylvia manicures my nails, both to perfection.
Typical full service includes:
— Shampoo
— Hot towel facial
— Haircut
— Manicure
— Rinse
— Free Drink
— Shoe Shine

I felt a little bit awkward walking in. It was all women and one spanish man who worked there, it felt a bit too anachronistic for me.
They took my briefcase and had me put on a lounge style coat. I am not used to, or comfortable in being dressed, but it was a nice touch once I saw it in the mirror!
Aside from the awkward feeling of too much self awareness I had most of the time there, the haircut was good, and I would go back for the free beer.

I was lucky enough to score a free membership a few years back and I will never cut my hair anywhere else as long as I live.
Beer and some billiards while you wait, a hot towel after the wash followed by a cut and manicure and some of the best service around.
I’ve been a member for over 2 years now I think and since then nobody has touched my hair other than Linda. I won’t let anybody cut my hair except for her she is just fabulous!

Classy, old-​school men’s grooming club. I’ve had a membership for 2 years now and it’s worth every penny.
I sprung for the annual membership which is around $ 800 and allows me to use any of the JA’s in the city. Well worth it because I can go in and get a full service (haircut, manicure, hot towel) whenever I want at no cost. I usually tip around $ 20 out total per visit but that’s up to you.
Alyssa cuts my hair at the Trinity place location (close to work) — she’s amazing. But then again, so it everyone that works there. You really feel like a special guy from the moment you walk in the door, especially when they hand you a cold beer. They will even hold a bottle of your favorite scotch for you so you can enjoy it during your stay.
I cannot say enough good things about this place. Well worth the cost, a must-​have for any man living in the city.

Falling just short of waiting at the door with the newspaper and slippers, John Allan’s helpful army of female staff work hard to make you feel like a king, if not for just an hour.
Upon entering the salon (which looks more like a men’s club room than a hair salon) your coat is exchanged for a lounge-​type jacket. After offering you a drink (they usually have Stella Artois on tap for free) your are guided over to the sinks for a hair wash, followed up with a hot towel for your face. Next, take a seat in a large leather club chair for an expert hair cut and a manicure. Afterwards, linger around for some more beer and a game of billiards or a shoe shine. It’s all included in the $ 65 full service price.
The stylists are fun, attractive and most importantly, very talented. Extra services can be booked, including massage and pedicure. Everything is presented in a very masculine way, never leaving you feeling like the one man at a girly spa. An annual membership is a steal if you get a cut at least once a month. With the membership, you can go as often as you want, even just for a shoe shine or some beer and billiards. With locations near Wall Street, Tribeca, in Saks 5^th Ave and near Grand Central, you owe it to yourself to try the John Allan’s experience at least once.

For $ 65, you get a draft beer, hot towel, manicure and average haircut (full service). As usual, you get what you pay for — the skillz on display here are pretty much what you’d expect from your neighborhood barber. But the Wall Street clientele here is not fussy (they all seem happy to get the same haircut so they can look alike), the setting is really comfortable, and the beer is cold, so if you aren’t too picky, this place is a great value. However, if you want a great cut in NYC, you are going to have to spend a little north of $ 100.