Manhor

I’ve been holding back on this review for a while since I didn’t want any conflict with my all-​time favorite bud, who has been here a couple of times before and had Unilocaled a rave about it. Alas (per our mutual agreement), our last visit — my first; his last — was an unequivocal disappointment; thus, I’m finally getting down to the nitty-​gritty about my experience at Manhor.
Over the Christmas holiday, we were flying to Queenstown, NZ, so my mate made us a couple of reservations for Manhor’s «Groom’s Day Out» package the day before our flight. (These reservations were made a good month and a-​half in advance.) The package consists of (per Manhor’s Website) a 1-​hour facial, «midtown» massage, manicure and pedicure, for 165 minutes, at A$ 285. (We also added cut-​throat shaves and haircuts; although, as it turned out, I by-​passed the haircut.)
On a weekend — our appointments were set for 8:00 a.m. on a Saturday — Manhor’s CBD location is, unsurprisingly, dead. We got there a bit early, really looking forward to a relaxing few hours. By 8 o’clock, another guy showed up (apparently for a grooming). A few minutes later, the owner of Manhor (Rob) showed up to let us in. As it turned out, Rob would be doing the shaves/​haircuts, while a colleague does the facials/​mani-​pedis/​massages — we’d alternate treatments. The guy that was also waiting, apparently, didn’t have an appointment, but knew Rob personally and asked if he could squeeze in a haircut/​shave, as well.
My partner started his facial/​massage treatment. Rob had me and his buddy take side-​by-​side grooming chairs. My treatment started at approx. 8:15 a.m., with some moisturizing lotion massaged into my face, then wrapped with a hot towel to soften the beard. That took about 5 minutes. Rob then proceeded to his pal’s haircut and shave… At 9 o’clock, he finished his buddy’s grooming. I have been sitting in my chair for 40 minutes looking at myself in a mirror the entire time, listening to Rob and his mate discuss their personal lives the entire time. (I did get a second’s worth of acknowledgement to remove what was the cold towel off my face.) If that wasn’t enough of an insult, the building next door was under renovation and a jackhammer was being used throughout the entire session! NOT conducive to a relaxing day at the spa! (Understandably, this was not Rob’s fault. Nonetheless, its assault only amplified my annoyance that had been brewing for 40 minutes.) After Rob had his friend off his merry little way, he returned to start with my shave. Naturally, whatever soothing lotion he initially massaged into my face had by now the feel of a congealed mask. I did my best to feign an outwardly «Oh, that’s okay. All’s good,» pleasantry; although, internally, I was NOT a happy camper. My mind was already reeling by this whole initial experience — not to mention that I had a mild throb of a headache from the lengthy wait and jackhammer assault — that, to be honest, I can’t even remember what the shave itself was like; suffice to say, it was the first time I had ever had a professional shave. All this sourness said, when it was done, my beard was in the best shape it had ever looked. (The beard left me some hope.)
I was now ready for the second part of my «Groom’s Day Out» package: Facial, (mini) manicure/​pedicure, and «midtown massage.» [As a bit of background, when I was younger and lived in West Hollywood, CA, I used to spend a lot of time and money on face and body treatments, at such establishments as Burke Williams Day Spas (for complete day spa treatments), The Face Place (for silver ionic mask facial treatments), Christopher Watt Esthetics (for the best, overall, facial treatments bar-​none!), and Jonathan’s (for $ 100 haircuts), so I am VERY spoiled and particular about how treatments are done, despite the fact that I’ve been blue-​collar for a good dozen years. In short, my expectations are high when price is not an option.] The treatment room was cozy and dim, which normally would be apropos for a relaxing session. (Again, though, the jackhammer assault continued unceasingly.) Sadly, the facial was not to the standards I’ve been used to. There was no steaming to open the pores, no extractions, no cleansing between various treatment layers. To be honest, I really don’t know if this was simply some kind of truncated facial that’s a part of the «Groom’s Day Out» package, or if it was a full-​fledged facial. Whatever the case, it wasn’t up-​to-​snuff and wouldn’t pass muster back in the States, esp. at these prices. The manicure was rudimentary at best (clip and quick file); pedicure didn’t conform to the time parameters and was left at the wayside. The massage was rote — every move was telegraphed. I was a bit speechless afterwards…
600+ bucks, and nearly two months after all was said and done, we’re still spitting out the aftertaste of that bitter experience… 2-​stars is for the shave alone.

This place is my one stop shop for grooming. They do everything and they specialize in men.