Spa Bar

Total fail they shut down. I loved the atmosphere, and they carried Kerastase products, which I love!!!
Overall, they were a bit pricey but it was a great place to go if you feel like spoiling yourself fancy :)
I’m hoping they just went under new management, and will re-​open soon!

@ Cindy J. and anyone else looking for PAULA. She is working at Tru in the financial district.
Tru also has a program to accept Spa Bar gift cards!

My daughter was treating me to a cut and color from Perry and Autumn. I’m sorry they closed so quickly leaving staff and customers without a clue. My appointment was for this a.m.
I had been trying to confirm since yesterday and the message said they were moving. I don’t know if that’s true, but I did get connected with Perry and Autumn and it looks like they will be doing their own gig together. Yes!
I’ll post as soon as location is confirmed. These two professionals are amazing. So sorry they found themselves w/​o a place to practice their magic on such a short notice… especially in December!

This review is for their massage, especially Paula. Paula gave me probably the best massage of my life today!%$!%!!
I go to massages pretty regularly — and I’ve gone to spas, massage clinics, reflexology spots, Thai massage, and small massage studios. Spa Bar is always a treat for me, as their massage area is dark and dimly lit with soft candles, soft relaxing music, nice bathrooms and beautiful cotton sheets, towels and robes. They have a place to hang up all your clothes and a lemon water waiting for you in the room. It’s really easy to fully relax in these rooms because you can’t hear anything outside of the room and the music is at a very low relaxing level. They have the class and comfort of a spa, the convenience of a hair salon in the front, and I’ve always been able to make same-​day appointments (I hope I will still be able to after this review!) :/​
I’ve been to Spa Bar about 5 times and 4 out of 5 therapists who worked on me were EXCELLENT. The one male therapist I had was extremely weak/​soft/​boring, didn’t listen to what i needed or was in-​tune with my body (though i dont think he’s worked there in years), but all the female therapists have been strong, in-​tune and very amazing. Paula on the other hand, is beyond amazing — -she is THE BEST! She is Thai but came here and studied swedish/​/​deep tissue massage, then went back home (and goes back here and there) to Thailand to study Thai massage techniques (I’m sad she is going back there in a few days and is going to be gone for 5 weeks! I have to wait more than a month for another massage) I’ve had many Thai massages before (which involves a lot of stretching and therapists climbing on you and is done with clothes on and dry/​no oil) but I love that Paula blends Thai techniques with relaxing swedish/​deep tissue. You’ll be all oiled up and rubbed down and the next thing you know you are getting deep release of a knot in your upper back with her knee in it and her arms stretching your shoulders.
This is also the first place I’ve been to that warms the massage oil (I’m not sure if everyone at Spa Bar is doing that now or if it’s just her) and it feels amazing! She asked me what needed attention and I told her that I liked my feet getting worked cuz I’m on my feet all day, my neck and shoulders feel tight from being on the computer, and my calves need work cuz i ride my bike everyday. She not only addressed each body part I wanted her to address, but she addressed all sections multiple times with different techniques from different angles. She finished me off with some great stretches and a detailed face/​head/​scalp massage that made me melt.
I always loved that they gave you warm wet towels but Paula wiped me down with the warm towels (infused with lavender essential oil) herself which was a sweet touch for the end of my session. When I told the woman at the front counter about how great she was, she responded with «You haven’t had Paula before? Oh man she is the best!»
p. s. they have a couple’s massage room which I’ve also recommended to my friend and her mother to have a massage at the same time which is pretty cool.

Shelly is the girl I go to here. I always get the rescue facial done and she’s always attentive and patient with all of the questions I always have.
Very thorough and always worth it!

Though I’ve actually never had my hair cut here, I pop in all the time for hair products. Yeah, yeah… say what you will about men who refer to gels, waxes and sprays as «product,» but hey — it is what it is, and they have some of the industries biggest names in their small, but effective, retail area.
They have just about every Bumble & Bumble product you could wish for, Kérastase coming out the wazoo for you Parisian types, and my product of choice, Shu Uemura. It’s not cheap, but if you’re a real man with any respect for yourself, you shouldn’t be spending $ 5 on LA Looks from the local liquor store.

Autumn Garcia at Spa Bar is the best. I’m in there at least once a week and she never disappoints. She is super sweet, awesome at what she does and a pleasure to chat with for an hour while my hair gets done.
Anne, the receptionist is awesome as well– she goes above and beyond to make sure I get my appointments scheduled etc.
They use Kerastase products (love), and the location is awesome.

Apparently this is my month of giving away beauty secrets. First my stylist and now Thy. She is a fabulous aesthetician. She does quick and precise waxing work. She always remembers who you are and what’s going on in your life and she’s just a cool lady. I will admit the prices for a bikini and eyebrow wax are fairly steep, but it’s worth it not to end up somewhere where the people are rude or don’t give you a good wax.
Thy makes waxing as painless as it can be (OK, there’s a little pain, but it’s definitely minimized, I mean it is waxing!). The décor and atmosphere in the spa is sleek and calming, and the peeps at the front desk always deliver great customer service. Surprisingly, this can be difficult to come by in this city, where you can get a snobby front desk person who acts put out to charge you a hundred bucks for spa services, or worse, one time I tried another waxer, and there was no one at the front desk and a message therapist ran out and was rude to me for trying to get someone to pay attention to me (true story). Anyway, I learned my lesson that time. Just go to spa bar!

I went there on my birthday to have a couples massage with my boyfriend.
The place is clean, the front desk people are nice and the two girls that did our massages were amazing! Mind you, I’ve had tons of massages in different countries and at all price levels and Ingrid (who worked on me) was FABULOUS! And yes, it’s a little pricey but totally worth it. Bottom line: they were clean, sweet, considerate and I felt like a million bucks coming outta there. Like jello and a million bucks.

Yes, I admit. I am a straight dude who enjoys getting his haircut. What self-​respecting metrosexual man wouldn’t? And once you get your haircut by Chanin (she’s my girl!), you’ll never go back — even if Spabar is on the higher end. Who cares? She’s absolutely worth it. So for Chanin, I give Spabar 5 stars.
On a quasi-​related note: I’ve never had anything waxed here and probably never will — can’t speak for that. However, the masssages are decent… Not the best I’ve ever had but OK if you need a quick fix.

So my boyfriend and I have been here 2 times for massages and facials and it is an Amazing place!
Although his first experience with the masseuse was not that great, (he left in pain instead of relaxed), he absolutely LOVED his esthetician. So much he booked with her the second time around. His second experience he described as being «euphoric.» According to him the massage he had definitely made up for the 1^st one he had. He loved his 2^nd experience that upon leaving he re-​booked just to make sure he had both the people he had that night. ha ha
My first experience was AMAZING. My masseuse was wonderful and my esthetician was great. I wasn’t to sure sure about her at first but after giving her a second chance, I know I made the right decision to go see her again.
When booking my 2^nd time around I wanted to get the same masseuse but unfortunately she was no longer working there *bummer* or so i thought! They told me they would book me with Kat and they promised she would be awesome. THEY WERE SO RIGHT!!! She was gentle but got the job done. I love every minute of it and I think I even fell asleep once or twice. =) I loved her so much, I just like my boyfriend decided to rebook with the same people. =)
From the outside Spa Bar just looks like a salon but give it a chance for the spa experience and it will not disappoint. The staff is super friendly, courteous and helpful. Only being there one time and they remembered me! I was thoroughly impressed.
I can’t wait for my next appointment!
I do wish they offered a loyalty program though, so I would be able to go way more often. =)

I have been getting facials from Marisa, the head esthetician at Spa Bar for over three years. I have battled with my skin since I was a young teen. Marisa took care of me like the seasoned professional she is. (She owns and runs one of the top esthetician schools in China with her sister.) I get so many complements on my skin, its incredible. Even when I have no money, I save it up to go see Marissa. Her results are that remarkable.
I personally would like Spa Bar a little less hip. But I will always be loyal to Marisa because she totally takes care of me. She remembers me and my skin and all of its idiosyncracies. I can ask her many questions about which products are worth the money, and which aren’t. She is very practical and speaks the truth.

$ 40 for a painless and fast bikini wax! They ask how much you want to remove before doing so. Tell them how you want it, and you’ll receive.
Very relaxing music and there are individual rooms for privacy.
If you’re making an appointment and decided to change/​cancel, notify them within 24 hours to avoid any charges, but they are very accommodating.

I came in during the Hawt on Unilocal promotional period for a 60 minute massage with Megan. I had been here once before a few years before for a couple’s massage, but I remember very little about the place. Street parking in that area is hit-​or-​miss, but there is a parking lot on Clementina which charges a $ 9 flat rate. I lucked out and found free 2-​hour street parking (score!).
The place looks much more like a trendy hair salon than a spa (or bar). The receptionist was friendly and I wasn’t left waiting very long before my therapist came out to greet me.
I was brought to the back massage area behind a glass door into a dimly lit hallway where all the massage rooms were. I was pleasantly surprised at how relatively quiet this back area was compared to the bustle of the salon with it’s hair dryers blowing and high-​pressured faucets running.
The bathroom was spacious and clean. My only complaint would be that they do not provide showers. It’s a huge pet peeve of mine to walk around feeling greasy – especially when it comes to my hair. It would also serve them well to have jacuzzi and/​or steam room.
My massage therapist for the day, Megan, reminded me very much of Mina Suvari with her soothing, almost seductive voice. She spoke to me for the first five minutes of my massage, but soon stopped and allowed me to enjoy the rest of it conversation-​free. She had good technique with a firm yet smooth touch. She spent much of the time focused on the spots I had indicated as being my most sore, and I walked out satisfied… Greasy, but satisfied.

i totally took advantage of their $ 50 one hour massages during their «Hawt on Unilocal» week!!!
I love how once you walk past the hair stations, you walk into this back hallway full of massage rooms. It’s super quiet, dim and zen. My massage therapist (forgot his name) was very attentive by asking what my needs are. He really focused on the areas I needed attention on and made sure i was comfortable the entire time. He also had the SOFTEST hands ever!
I felt great after my massage. VERY much needed… esp midweek on a Wednesday. I wish i could come back so often to do it every week!!! I wanna come back soon to try the rest of their services and for sure another massage.
:)

Mixed feelings about this place. I tried it out because I live very, very close and I thought — why not? Close salon, what could be more convenient?
Color — Enjoyed my experience with Tyress. She didn’t try to over-​chat me, which I greatly appreciated, and picked just the right color so I look like I have my natural hair color w/​o looking like Morticia Adams.
Cut — Did not enjoy at all. The guy was too chatty, too hyper and the front was extremely uneven (If you want the name, just msg me — I don’t believe in blasting a single person on Unilocal). I was very unhappy with my front layers and just spent 30 minutes cutting them myself so that they blend in.
I may give this place another try, just because of the close proximity and the great reviews, but will definitely try another person the next time I need a hair cut.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!
thank you Unilocal’s «hawt week»!! my gurrrfwen and i decided to pick spa bar for our hour massage during hawt week ($ 50) and i was surprised that i’ve never seen the place even though i walk by everyday! but now i know what to look for, or smell for rather. they have a table outside with the yummiest smelling candle that’s sure to lure you in
came in on a wednesday after work, didn’t have to wait long (yes, we had an appointment) the space is large and creatively used. there are comfy brown velvet benches along the front of the spa, a few salon chairs towards the back right and products to the left. we were greeted warmly by whom i later found out was the owner/​manager (?), he was really nice :)
megan came out to get me for my appointment and walked us back to the massage rooms in the back. i was taken by surprise, it was a long hallway lined by candlelight, the most relaxing and romantic setting. the room she put me in was also lit by six tea lights, the décor minimal, some bamboo in a vase, completely void of any clutter which i found to be very calming. definitely had me feeling like i was away from work&city life. put all my stuff away and used the bathroom before i got down and dirty with the massage (bathroom is immaculate by the way)
megan was such a great masseuse. she had a strong hand and made me feel so relaxed (well as relaxed as i could be, somehow i can’t get my mind to just stop thinking during massages. anyone got any tips for that??) it felt fantastic. by the time we were done, i wanted to stay there and take a nap. megan brought me a nice hot cup of tea and told me to take my time, i sure did.
definitely coming back here for another massage and all the other awesome services they offer. problem is, i just need the funds to do so, anyone want to donate some money to the «anh needs a massage once a month» charity?

Unfortunately slightly disappointed. From the outside, this place looks more like a hair salon. When you enter the spa area, it’s just a bunch of rooms in the back. No nice locker room, one shower, no area of retreat for private parties.
So why is it named spa bar when it appears that the focus is hair salon?

Spa Bar saved my life when I had the color job from hell. Of course, you get what you pay for nowadays, so should I have been surprised?
Back to Spa Bar: Perry and Laurel are outstanding colorists. I have not worked with the others or massage or estheticians, but everyone walking in seems to walk out very pleased.
The location is convenient to Montgomery Bart, and it’s just a few blocks south of Market.
Be sure to save up for your color for it’s not cheap but it is so exquisitely done, you will want to reserve the money.
I have enjoyed Spa Bar for over a year and can recommend it highly.

I went to Spa Bar today, and did I ever need some tender-​loving spa-​deliciousness.
Spa Bar was a new place for me, so being the excited girl that I am when it comes to trying out new spas, my hopes were high! Spa Bar does not fail to disappoint– except in ONE area: there is no real changing room, steam room, sauna, jacuzzi, or even any hair products to freshen up with. These elements make up a great spa experience; however, this was the only area where Spa Bar was lacking.
The spa itself is chic– candles are everywhere, and the warm woods and soft neutral colors made me immediately relaxed. I had a package… I forget the name… but it included a facial and a massage. I had the massage first. My therapist was good. I would see her again, but I would be more clear on my pressure expectations. I prefer my massages to be firm to deep, and this one was much more on the medium side. Also, she could work on her draping technique as the blankets were all over the place. (Not that I care if anyone sees me naked. I went to camp for Christ’s sake. But if you’re going to make a big deal out of having 100 blankets and sheets on a massage table, then you should know how to manipulate them.)
The facial was second, and that was spectacular. I have been having problems with my skin, and my skin care specialist (can’t remember her name) diagnosed my skin and gave me a great peel. Most of my problem areas have already (!!!) healed up since I saw her this morning! She also included lots of massage, which felt really, really nice since the peel was burning off the top 4 layers of my skin. But who needs those anyway?
The salon part also has lots of great products and all the people were very nice. This place also has night parties and events, which would be really fun for a girly party.