Zen Spa & Sauna

If you want to be as soft as a baby from head to toe, this is the place to go. What they lack in fancy décor and fancy products they more than make up for in actual results and affordability.
If you are shy, don’t get a scrub or massage. This is an understatement. The last time anyone cleaned me like this, I was 5 years old. Every part of me is insanely clean.
This time I got the scrub and the massage, and three years ago I came here before my wedding and had my eyelashes extended and a mani pedi and wax, so I’ve pretty much tried everything here.
Bring cash for tipping and tip well — at least 20%. You’ll be glad you did.

I walked in today with a friend and since she was in a hurry, she went for a manicure first. I let them know that I wanted a mani/​pedi, too. Fast forward 15min later… I’m still waiting and they took a customer that came in 5 – 10 minutes AFTER me. Figuring that they forgot me, I mentioned that I was still waiting for a mani/​pedi. The reception person told one of the nail technicians that I was supposed to get serviced next. She grumbled something under her breath and then ignored him. He called her name a few more times (they were literally 3 feet away from each other) and she still ignored him. I then said I wasn’t going to get it done since my friend was practically finished. Bad vibes! Epitome of poor communication and bad service. I will not be going here again although they are located so close to my office. Tsk-​tsk.

I dont normally write reviews but I just had to because this was such a bad experience. I stopped in for a manicure and really wanted to love this place as I’m new to the neighborhood. The service was so horrendous, I didn’t even get a hello or smile from anyone! There was such a terrible selection of nail polish colors, and all the bottles seemed to be quite old. Two people did my manicure (one started it off, the other finished by painting my nails) and couldn’t have done a worse job. When I asked them to fix the messy job they seemed to get annoyed. Worst of all, the next morning (12 hours later), my polish has all little bubbles and lines in it! Ive been getting manicures regularly for 10 years and this never happens! I can deal with mediocre manicures when service is good –but a bad manicure and terrible service is a no go. Will never go back.

I came in during a weeknight and even though I had ordered online, they didn’t have my reservation. My suggestion: Call to make appointments.
Let me start this review by saying I am a 30+yr old slightly heavy white woman. My experience is based on me. I read all the Unilocal reviews before I went and I think they did an excellent job at explaining everything. Hopefully this will answer some questions you may have or confirm what others have said.
— — —
Menu Item: Body Scrub #2
I was led back to the changing room that is big enough for 3 people. She gave me a robe which surprisingly covered my plus size body. Luckily I had read all these reviews and knew the robe would be removed shortly. But I was still surprised they had a large one.
After I stripped down and put on the robe, I was taken into the next room and into the dry sauna to relax. Sarah laid out my towel, took my robe and sat me down. After a few minutes, she came in with a bottle of water to drink. (Note, the sauna is hot. Place your key next to you otherwise you might burn yourself). After a while, she came and got me. Zen has two wet rooms that have three beds each. An older woman was being scrubbed in one room and I went into the other. It was nice to not have my first experience next to someone else.
Sarah was my guide for the rest of the time. She had me lie face down on the table with the towel underneath me. I appreciated she started with my back as it gave me time to get used to everything. Then she went at it. I have never been scrubbed so the amount of crud that came off me was amazing.
Like all the reviews say, they get EVERYWHERE. Don’t be alarmed by this. They start slowly so you get used to it and towards the end when her hand is between your legs, you are so comfortable with her, you don’t notice it. I understand why «Auntie» is the best way to explain her. She becomes the type of older woman figure asking questions, dolling out advice, and overall being the type of Asian Auntie I am used to.
After the scrub, she will stand you up to rinse you off. (Before this, she has used a cup of water to splash on your body) She will let you know what her expectations are of you, follow her directions and you will be fine.
After you wait in the sauna for her to clean up, you will be brought out for moisturizer and face cleaning/​mask. I was surprised that the moisture was simply Vaseline but it makes sense as a barrier for the new skin. She then put strips of freezing cold cucumber on my face in a mask and massaged the moisture until my body stopped soaking it up. Then she shampoo and conditioned my hair. She took off the cucumber and had me stand under the shower head to rinse off, reminding me to rinse everywhere, including between my legs. Then she gave me a towel and let me back to the changing room as I was done.
They have a hair dryer and other products available but I would bring my own face products and just do my nightly routine. Overall, great experience and I now understand why scrubs are addicting. I am already planning on when I go back.
— — — — — — — — — — — — -
Everything is women only. They have the camera monitors for the nail salon and hallway in the changing room so you can see if anyone is coming down the hall. It is comforting to know someone is monitoring that and your safety and privacy is ensured.

Best for girls seeking Harajuku style nails fashioned in talon styled claws. Fake eyelashes match perfectly.

So people are hard on this place and I think its relevant. I have been coming here for 6 years and 5 years to the same person because she is amazing (Hanna). You have to be specific with what you want and not give in. If you want a 5 star luxury spa its not the place for you but I have been getting my manis pedis (use to do wax) and massages here for the 5 years and I am happy. I have never had an infection or body break out from the products. They are super sanitary and kind. I will continue to go!

The Gel product does not last for a week. It started to peel off a week later. Not worth the price. Use cautions.
Good service though.

Went in for a 10 min back chair massage and got someone playing with my hair for 10 min… The whole time I was waiting for the girl to move from my head to my back and before I knew it she asked me ok finish you want more?
I was furious. How can it be over when she never got to my back?
NEVER EVER COMING BACK HERE!
And to think I almost got a mani pedi there!
When I said something about not getting my back done the girl turned around and walked away. I know it’s just 10 min and it shouldn’t be the most amazing massage ever but that wasn’t a back massage at all!

I don’t think I would come here again. A basic manicure runs $ 12 which is cheaper than most other salons in the area but not worth it. Cleanliness is questionable, the lady who seemed to be the manager was pushy, and overall not very friendly. But if you need a quick and cheap manicure, this is the place to go — just don’t expect too much.

Had a really good experience here. $ 25 quick pedicure but not so quick you feel like it was rushed. $ 17 French manicure — again perfect timing.
Walked in hoping for cheap and quick but got better quality than I was expecting for such a small shop. Really clean and relaxing for being on 5^th Ave with high traffic and noise.
Also loved the staff. Helpful, friendly, not on their cell phones the whole time! (I hate that about salons)
Just an overall really positive experience for something I was expecting to be average.

Hands down — this is the WORST place I have ever gotten a pedicure in the past 9 years I’ve lived in the NYC area. I usually try to give any new place the benefit of the doubt and I don’t think I’m overly picky. When I hear women complain in nail salons I always roll my eyes… but tonight I was That Person. Honestly, I think the nail tech I had was seriously having a bad day… or she was deaf… or overly medicated. Example 1: She understood that I was getting a pedicure but had me sit down at the mani station and grabbed my hands to start taking off my nail polish. Example 2: started doing my pedi and left the water running and it almost overflowed. She grabbed her head and just started shaking it like, girl, get it together! Example 3: I say push back the cuticles, don’t cut. She starts snipping away and I don’t want to yell at her so try to suck it up… until she CUTS ME.
Never again.

Update: less than 24 hrs later my hands look awful (pictures posted) — I think I’m entitled to a refund…

Came in for a manicure. I thought it was an ok manicure but when I got home, over an hour later, the paint was still not dry. The Essie paint they used was old, so it was thick and goopy… plus when I sat down to dry my nails, the dryer was merely a weak fan with no light.
Poor quality (especially for a $ 12.50 manicure) and despite a convenient location, for me, I will not be going back.

Dedicated and professional stuff
Very friendly and pleasant atmosphere
Reasonable prices and a secret serenity spot right in the middle of the busiest city in the center of the world.
Lovely stuff did I mention?
Look for Nim, Maria, Hana, Hailly, Grace, Sarah
Wonderful treatment!

I like going to spas but cringe at the thought of spending my entire day in there. If you’re like me then this place is for you. I availed of the 2-​hour package which consists of a body scrub, massage, facial, and shampoo. The spa therapist assigned to me was Suh and she scrubbed me down like a madwoman. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
First, I chose my package and paid for it in advance then got herded into a locker room. In there I was asked to strip everything off including jewelry. They give you a key on a springy bracelet, a towel, and some flip flops. My welcoming attendant deposited me into the steam sauna for around 15 – 20 mins and then it was off to the races.
I laid down on a rather clinical looking plastic covered spa bed that looked too much like a gurney inside a Medical Examiner’s morgue. I checked around for organ plucking tools just in case (there was none). Suh proceeded to skillfully scrub me within every inch of my life and show me the amount of dead skin and dirt she had removed from my body. After about 45 minutes of this, she rinses me off, soaps me, rinses me off again and tells me to go into the dry sauna for about 10 minutes. In the dry sauna, I started to get drowsy and luckily, she calls me back into the room. Massage and facial time! She uses a coconut concoction as massage oil and gives me a soothing cucumber face mask. She then shampoos my hair after the entire soothing session.
I HAVE NEVER FELT SO CLEAN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
It was a wonderful and humbling experience. I highly recommend it.

Went there today to get my shellac done, then decided to get a mani as well. I had an a lovely woman from Ecuador do my pedi and shellac, she was probably the best I have ever had, she was so thorough!!! When I explained that I had to get to work, and has miscalucatled the time it would take to get my nails done, she finished them perfextly and in super quick time. Seriously the attention to detail was fantastic!!! I’ll definitely be back again just for her

What a horror!
On my way to work I broke one of my color gelled nail and during my lunch hour went to this place to get it fixed just because it was near my work.
I walked in as a little boy at the counter greeted and i asked how much it would be to fix my broken nail with uv gel and this lady working on a customer says $ 8. Okay fine. I wouldn’t usually pay that much to fix one nail but I was desperate so I waited. As i was waiting some lady comes in and asks me what I’m waiting for and i tell her and she prices me at $ 12.
You guys need to get your prices straight! And when i tell her that other lady priced me at $ 8, shes like «oh thats not with color» so you mean to tell me you charge people to put nail polish on for $ 4 each finger? And then have the audacity to talk sh*t about me in my own language in front of my face because I spoke up about it?
Thanks for ruining my day. $ 8 plus tax worth.

I came here craving a good Korean body scrub and I left over satisfied with an EXCELLENT experience. Very sweet service from Oh. Only complaint is I wish the massage portion of my package was more expert. I’ll be back for more for sure… Maybe today :-)

A great scrub! While Zen spa is lacking the soaking tubs that I enjoy with my scrub, I had been on travel and was craving a scrub. it ended up being ok. The saunas softened my skin. The scrub was really good. My skin feels great. This is not a luxury Korean spa and doesn’t have the poultice rooms. But worth it just for the scrub. They also took me as a walkin which I appreciated.

This is the third time I’ve been here to get a mani and I am more than satisfied with the level of service i receive here. Upon walking in I’m always greeted with many smiling faces and Hi’s and How are you’s. The lady that did my nails two weeks ago even noticed my different hair style which i was impressed with! These small things are what will keep me coming to this salon because they act like there is stiff competition out here and anybody can take their spot so they are working for the repeat business. That is HARD to come by in New York bc hardly any of these businesses give a damn. If nobody else notices their hustle, I definitely do!
On to my nail game, I get the regular manicures and unlike every other salon I’ve tried out here, my nails don’t start chipping until about 10 days in which is normal… and mind you I said REGULAR mani not the shellac. They are so shiny that they still look wet, and you can just about see your reflection in them! Each manicurist is very professional, friendly, helpful when you put your coats and things on and each one has done an amazing job on my nails! I will continue to come here every two weeks for a nice relaxing break from work. I definitely give this place a two thumbs up!
The only thing I took one star off for is not being able to tip on my debit card. I’m one of those people who NEVER has cash on them so I just make sure I grab some before I go. The first time I realized they didn’t accept tips on the card I went over to the CVS and withdrew some cash which of course was inconvenient but I felt it was an obligation so I did it. This is very common among most nail salons I’ve ever been to; I just wish they all would get on board with the tipping on the cards. Other than this small flaw this place is great.