A Spa & Nails

This place was great! Sat us for mani/​pedis quickly and our nails came out well! The salon was clean and the service was reasonably priced (not cheap, but not expensive). Starting with a 4 star review until I can get back and get a massage or some other service, but would totally recommend this place to anyone!

We went in for a regular pedicure and wound up upgrading to a Spa pedicure which I never do. Their prices were much higher than anyone else in the neighborhood ($ 63 for a spa pedicure!!!) but they did do a good job and were very nice.

I was an A Spa regular for years when I lived in the neighborhood. Even though I now live further away, I still consider A Spa to be my go-​to place when I want to treat myself to something much more than your typical hole in the wall nail salon without paying (well-​plucked) eyebrow-​raising high-​end salon prices.
The pedicures and manicures are very well-​done and last forever. But the real standout here is the table massages. I have paid more than twice as much elsewhere for a massage only half as good as the massages I consistently get at A Spa. Insider tip: ask for John. He puts the «ahhhh» in A Spa!
Finally, I agree with the other reviewers on here who have praised the caring ownership and friendly staff. What a great example of how an NYC salon should be run!

A-​Spa is my happy place.
This review is for anyone who A) wants a fantastic nail salon experience in NYC, B) has concerns about the ethics of nail salons, or both.
I discovered A-​Spa 8 years ago when living in the area. Now I live in another neighborhood and I still go out of my way to come here. Prices run a bit higher than some other places, but go there once and you’ll understand why. It’s a subtle cut above.
As for your nails: the staff at A-​Spa consistently does a wonderful job. They’re friendly and very skilled. I have never gotten anything less than a perfect mani or pedi there. Everything is clean and in excellent condition. The pedicure chairs are super cushy and comfortable, with massagers built in (GOOD ones that that you actually enjoy). You won’t see a scuff on your seat or a smudge on the massage remote. Perfection!
Now for their overall demeanor: Here’s a typical example of what sets them apart. I walked in for a pedi last week when they were busy and guess what? Rather than have me wait, the owner got me started, taking my things, getting the water to the temp I wanted, etc until the next technician was available. When that technician finished with her client, she immediately washed her hands and got a sanitary set of tools*. She sat down and got started. But noticing that she looked rushed and stressed, the owner came back, told her to take a break and finished my pedicure. In many places the owners are aloof, they do not look out for their workers like this, and they’re not nice to their customers either. But not at A-​Spa. They make sure their clients and their employees are comfortable. Go there and just see if they don’t smile to greet you, and open the door for you to see you out.
*Side note: The tools came from a UV sterilizer. The tools are NOT washed in soap and water as another reviewer indicated. The sink is where they wash their hands, and nearby are the sterilizers where the tools come from.
Business practices: ALL of the required messaging is on display. The newly created Employee Bill of Rights poster, the owner’s license with photo, and other informative posters are all in plain view. Many other places do not keep these things visible because they are not obeying regulations.
New regulations are also concerned with salon ventilation, and rightly so. I never felt that there were strong odors at A-​Spa, but even so, they recently added an extra A.C. unit and increased ventilation. You can’t smell a thing in there (and that means that the employees aren’t being exposed to harmful gasses all day). Last time I was there I noticed they had switched to a gentler less perfumey lotion too, which is much nicer.
Other stuff:
They take appointments.
They recently improved their color selection which used to be a little on the basic side. Loads of Essie and OPI, and plenty of gel color options too.
Entertainment: There are tons of magazines and 2 TVs (on mute with subtitles) showing different news/​entertainment. Music is pleasant and never blaring. (Sometimes classical, sometimes pop.)
There’s an ATM right outside the door so you can tip in cash.
They also provide other services like waxing and ear candling, which I have not taken advantage of but have seen many happy clients coming in to do so.

Skip it. Not very clean so not worth the price. They wash their utensils in front of you with soap and water which is not a sufficient disinfectant.

Excellent manicure and pedicure. Fabulous neck massage. Very reasonable prices. If I lived in NYC this would be where I would go.

ASpa consistently gives me a flawless manicure for a nice price ($ 15.75). It’s best if you have an appointment because sometimes they randomly get backed up but it’s also relatively easy to just walk in.
I love the chill quietness of the place on weekday afternoons. Its VERY clean and everyone is polite and they don’t rush. They have a huge selections of magazines to read while you get a pedicure. I like to splurge for the $ 10 for 10 minute massage while my nails are drying.
I’ve also had a few one hour massages here — they are solid and peaceful but you can get them a little cheaper at other places if you look around.
Coming here is such a nice way to treat myself after a long week.

Honestly, the only thing this place has going for it is the fact that it’s open slightly later than other places. That, and the fact that it’s really close to where I work, so going there today was convenient. First of all, there are no prices listed anywhere, which is not only inconvenient but slightly suspicious. I mean, one can only assume they make up prices every so often. The nail technician, Anna I think her name was, seemed very nervous. She basically sped through the entire process. Not to mention, I’m pretty sure she told me one price for a pedicure, but then charged me something completely different. On the other hand, this could have been a miscommunication (there were several times when I asked her something and she just sort of giggled in confusion and mumbled «yes») Thing is, the guy manning the front desk spoke perfect English, so why wouldn’t you just ask him if you can’t understand something (assuming they both speak the same mother language). I got a pedicure and gel manicure for $ 85. That is RIDICULOUS. I’ve been to places in prime UES that charge less. The whole experience was pretty disappointing, to say the least. Won’t be back here. I would rather walk an extra few blocks than spend that much on a half-​assed mani/​pedi anyway.

Just went there after a crazy days of work. I’m visiting from San Francisco, I was trying to find a Starbucks since i was staying at the W & looked in the Window & everyone in their seats seemed so relaxed.
I was a walk-​in & they took me right away. I did a 30min chair massage & 20mn foot massage. the chair massage was better than some full body massages I’ve had.
The Lady’s name was Chetru (apologize for the spelling) She was fantastic. Has a reflexology background i think as her fingers were magic.
If you are in town & need a good relaxing massage/​footrub before getting on a plane. this is the place to go.

Oh, I just don’t know what I would have done without ASPA. More specifically, without Nancy the miracle worker massage therapist. She’s just amazing.
On the outside, it looks like every other sidewalk nail salon, but on the inside…
It’s clean and lovely, the people are kind, the prices are reasonable.
And when you get an hour long massage, as I tend to do once a month or so, they bring you into a lovely tiled massage room with a clean and comfortable table.
Oh, and Nancy. What a lifesaver.

I just came from there and I do not know my beauty therapists name, I am sure she is a lovely person and this is nothing personal although it was one of the most stressful and worst pedicures I have had. When I told her I needed shellac to be removed, she made a sigh, indicating that it was not convenient. Then when she tried to remove it, instead of wrapping my toes with the acetone, cotton wool and then foil (like they have done for me in many other countries around the globe) she put my feet in pure acetone which resulted in very dry skin on my feet now… when removing the polish she was very rough and scratched my skin in several places as she was not always watching what she was doing but instead was looking around the room elsewhere at what everyone else was doing.
Then when it came time to actually scrub my feet, it was a very light scrub which did not remove any of my dry skin from my heels or the balls of my feet. (i thought this was part of the reason to have a pedicure?). Then when it came time to file back my toe nails, once again she was very rough, kept missing and catching my skin instead which was painful. Then when it was time for the shellac polish, instead of doing it carefully with some attention to detail, it was blobbed on and spread out like she was painting a canvas… she had to try to remove the polish from my skin around my toes with acetone after which has not been fully removed as there are now red stains around my toes… Then when it came time to use the uvlite to dry the gel, I suddenly realize that the only good thing about this pedicure (which is the massage chair) had been turned off? She just unplugged it while I was using it without telling me so she could plug the uv light machine in… When i asked her what happened to the chair she said that she did it and then she stood up and used a different power point which is what she should have done to start with.
THEN the WORST part of all, while my feet where in the uv light, i had to basically hold the weight of my legs up in the air and balance my toes in the machine so the machines would balance on the tan leather boulster part where you normally put your feet… every time!!! it was so uncomfortable, especially in a dress. I told her it was very uncomfortable and she just smiled and said sorry, but she did not do anything to make it better at all… The machines were touching the tops of my feet the entire time and burnt the tops of my feet, when she took my feet out, she realized they were red and burnt, said sorry to me and rubbed the tops of my feet to make them feel better… It was a really really really sad and bad experience… I was so disappointed.
We went to pay at the counter and the lady asked us how much tip, I told my husband to give whatever he wanted as the massage he had was nice, although for me, I wanted to give only a little because it was truly the worst experience… I can’t even believe I paid to have that done… I was then told I had to give 15%… there was no choice… Is that true? I am on holidays here but other places I have been visiting in America it seems you give a tip based on the service you received… that was my understanding and what other Americans have told us since the beginning of our trip.
So I paid the 15% tip ($ 13) and left there feeling really upset and used. I felt like just because I was a visitor they got away with treating me like that, making me pay a tip for very bad service and for being burnt feels really really unfair… I am sure any local would not have put up with any of that :(
Really unhappy and even though my husband is telling me the massage was great, I could never go back there… :(

First ever negative review on Unilocal.Sad day.
This is a review for COLOR GEL manicures only. In short: DO NOT GO HERE for gel manicures! I just spent 60 dollars and am staring at the worst manicure I have ever received. And that is after my manicurist had to stop halfway through and start over because my nails were covered with air bubbles, streaked color gel, and more polish around my nails than on them. The final product isn’t much better. I am seriously disappointed, and having had gel manicures for a year now at several different salons in the City, I feel confident in saying that this place does not know what they are doing. Also, do not expect a hand massage. Do not expect moisturizer. Do not expect anything outside of a manicure — and a terrible one at that. As soon as the final UV dryer finished, I was rushed out — and I was one of two customers in the store. No fancy treatment for your top dollar.
Also, I thought it was very odd that they made me pay prior to the manicure. As mentioned, I have been getting gel manicures for a year, and have never had to pay and tip prior to the manicure (since there is no drying time). I obviously now regret the 20%+ tip I gave prior to receiving the worst manicure of my life.
If I could give negative stars I would, if only because I wish I could have gotten my money back and never had this experience in the first place! I will continue to go to Pinky’s on the UWS for a very consistent and decent gel manicure.

When I want to treat myself to a nice mani/​pedi, I go to Aspa and Nails. They do an excellent job, and the place is clean and calming. My nails are always super cleaned up after I leave here. I usually come every other month, and go to the cheaper places in between. They don’t rush through the services, and I always partake in a little chair-​massage-​action. It’s pricey, but worth it. Occasionally :)

This place is kinda on the pricey side but it’s aseptically clean, which is extremely important to me when choosing a nail spa. The staff were always very nice and helpful, and most importantly my mani-​pedi were consistently well done by various staff members. I would have given it a five star rating, but the price is on the high side.

A friend in the neighborhood recommended Aspa to me two years ago, and I’ve been going here ever since.
I absolutely love it. Excellent service, super-​clean and comfortable. I’ve also spotted a few celebs here, which is always fun. Overall great neighborhood spot!

i really don’t understand why people come here. I’ve been twice for a mani/​pedi and although the place is clean and the people working there are good– it’s just not worth the money.
i think they dilute their nail polish so no matter what color I get, I always leave with streaky polish and that’s after 3 coats!
Better off going to Rehoboth on University, I always get a good mani pedi there.

This place is very goods. I discovered it by accident. We were staying at the W a block away, and had some time to kill so asked for a spa. The concierge recommended this one. I had a mani-​pedi which was very good. Really comparable to a top spa. Later on the same trip I had a massage at their spa. The massage was also very good.
I have since used their spa on every weekend trip to New York for either a massage or a pedicure and I really like the place. It is as good as the Elemis Spa in Miami, although a less fancy but still nice facility but the same quality of treatments, and at great prices.

Great place, so clean and so friendly. It’s tucked away on the corner in Gramercy neighborhood on Irving, which feels like a little retreat from Union Square just a few blocks away. I will definitely be back, when I can afford it ($ 50) for mani+pedi.

I don’t typically need to venture beyond the borders of my Flatiron hood to find neighborhood services. But it’s worth the walk to be pampered by this great find in Gramercy. To start, there is an extensive polish selection of both OPI and Essie. The professional and clean setting is refreshing as is their attention to detail with their services. Appointments are accepted which is helpful on a Friday night but the wait is never long for walk-​ins due to their large staff. Nails, massage, waxing, etc.
It’s a tad pricier than others, but worth the $ for the noticeable quality in experience and services. Highly recommended.

Don’t get me wrong, this place is pricey. But for Quick and Professional service in a very clean environment a 2 minute walk from my office, I’ll pay a little extra.
If you’re looking for a bargain this place is not for you. If you’re a germophobe like me you will love this place.