l a vie l’orange hand and foot spa

Not sure if this place is still in business but I worked for them for a little bit in 2008… got my first check… then … started realizing they were SUPER shady and stopped working. Confirmed that they would send me a check in the mail for my work done but NEVER got it. It was a LOT of work I did for the shop… he made me stay overtime… but not worth going back to pry for bad vibes.
He also said the people don’t go for a fabulous job on their nails… their clientele go for the ‘experience’. Not sure how true that is … considering all the reviews are complaining about horrible paint jobs!
I hope this business closed down bc the owner was one shady liar!

I had an out of town friend visiting from Germany, as she knows me to be someone that loves to get mani-​pedi (i got one every 2wks at Dashing Diva in Brooklyn) she asked that i book an appt during her visit. Since having moved to LA from NY i hadn’t really look for a place. I searched for a convenient location for us to just head out to happy hr after. (Fat Fish = Fatty hr just around the corner, who could ask for a better location). I had walked by the place several times and it looked cute/​clean from the outside, i called to make the appt, the price was $ 85 for both mani-​pedi (having paid $ 72 at Dashing, i was ok with the price).
When we arrived for out appt, we are placed in these seats that look like… well, a birdcage would best describe them, (we went together so we can chat, ummm… or am i the only one who goes with her friends to chat during this service??), having us sit in these seats, even being next to each other made it difficult to do just that.
Having accepted that we won’t be chatting for the next 2hrs, we are assigned a manicurist and pedicurist each. Well, the design of the station does not allow for one to have both these services done comfortably. They had me twisting my legs to the left for over 40min, once i was done my right knee was in some serious pain.
That was not the worse, during the filing of my finger nails, the manicurist went a little to close to my cuticle, i ended up with raw skin on my finger.
The polish job was awful, i was sadly disappointed at the service, having paid $ 95 dollars (including tip) i at least expected this to last 2 wks, sadly it didn’t last the weekend before the polish chipped.
I would not recommend this place to anyone.

Have been to this place a couple of times. Both were gifts from friends. First time was ok as payment was taken care of I wasn’t sure of the price. Second time I had a gift certificate and the menu of services.
l.a. vie l’orange is VERY expensive but I’ll go for a special service place a couple of times a year. The second time didn’t live up to the experience I had previously. While the space has a bit more going for it than your typical shop, the service and quality of the work doesn’t mesh with the cost. Given the many other options I can’t justify going back.

The first time I went here was when my coworker was moving away and we wanted a nice place to get our nails done after work and have some snacks and get a lovely little pedicure.
My friend, I should say, is very, ahem, picky. But the staff was super helpful and accomodating, uncorked our champagne and kept it flowing while giving us really lovely manicures, and even stayed open late for us to wait for them to dry before sending us out into the night.
I got a somewhat more expensive pedicure at $ 58 but it included a lovely and effective scrub, and I was sent home with my buffer and scrubber. NICE! Considering I usually pay around $ 20 plus tip this was well more than double but it lasted over a month, looked AMAZING and my feet were in terrific buttery shape for a long time. So totally worth it.
Today I went back for a regular pedi. Booked online to save 10% and came in at $ 30. Still more expensive than most other nail places but, dude, they make their own cookies. Hot delicious cookies straight out of the oven, and the pedicure was fantastic, and, again, will last a long time. The staff is super nice, you never feel rushed or hassled, it’s a clean and lovely environment. For the extra $ 10 having a pedi I won’t have to redo in two weeks is a total return on investment.
And they’re open until 9 so I can go on weekdays after the gym rather than having to squeeze it into my weekend! Hooray!

Let me just say, right off the bat that my first visit to L.A. vie l’orange left me feeling a little confused and I felt like something was missing from my experience.
Due to the expensive nature of mani-​pedis, I decided to sign up for their newsletter emails. They send you awesome deals on their mani-​pedis. I figured this was a great way to experience L.A. vie l’orange for the first time. $ 10 off one of their special pedis? Awesome, but not awesome enough.
The Bad:
— I booked a Saturday appointment for 10am (including email confirmation). It turns out they put me in the books for 9am.
— They had two people working on me at the same time. I felt like my services were rushed.
— I did not receive a foot-​leg massage that was supposed to come with the pedi. Is that where the $ 10 discount went?
— Uncomfortable cocoon-​like bamboo/​wicker chair thingys
Pros:
— Really cute facility
— Nice manicurists
— Good paint jobs
— Offered drinks and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies
Good for you for offering «insider» specials on your services. But, is it really a deal if you are omitting certain elements from the services?

It’s really ZERO stars. this place is terrible. It’s cute and the girls do a fine job, but the manager is a total ass, and doesn’t understand the concept of customer service. he rushed my manicurist while she was in the middle of painting my nails because he didn’t want to keep another guest waiting! and then when my friend complained about that, he didn’t even offer her money back after a botched job! it was unbelievable. he blamed everything on the manicurists when it was obviously a management/​training issue. he was so unprofessional, un-​accomodating, and basically this place is GHETTO while trying to be high-​class. High prices better come with excellent service, but this place simply did NOT.

This used to be my favorite place to go. Sadly, I will never return again. The last couple of times I felt that the services had gone downhill, but I kept hoping it was just a bad day for them and soon would return to the place I patronized for over 7 years. The last time was the final straw.
I made my appointment for the 60 minute classic pedicure — having had this pedicure a MILLION times — I know exactly what to expect. The girl wrapped my feet in the hot towels — but didn’t do the baggies on top. She then took the bags off after about a minute. The massage was mediocre, and instead of offering me the disposable tools like they have done EVERY SINGLE TIME, she just tossed them out.
When I was done with my pedi — she was already heading out the door to lunch with another girl — so obviously she was rushing my pedi to go do better things. I looked down at my watch and the entire pedicure had been about 35 minutes, not okay when you are promised 60 minutes of pampering. The receptionist was too busy talking on the phone to check me out, so after awhile one of the other nail technicians offered to do it. I asked her how long my pedi was supposed to be and she said 60 minutes. I told her mine had been 35, she shrugged and said «sorry.»
When I got home I realized there was still a ridge of dead skin on my toes. I will never come back here again, and am really sad that a place that used to be amazing has turned into such crap.

No BS, Cut-​to-​the-​chase report:
I want to like this place, ok? I reeeeeallly want to like this place. I want to fall in love with here. I want a nail salon me and my girls can hang out in. And feel non-​guilty in.
La Vie’s so close and convenient for me, and their site makes it out to be this ultraluxe, organic, pulled-​from-​the-​earth and slathered on your hands — experience, and,
toot-​my-​horn,
that sounds amazing! I’m sold! That’s the experience I want. That one. That guilt-​free, formaldehyde-​free, Made in China-​free experience. With flower petals in my soaking water.
But.
I’ll give you the highlights, first.
Pros:
— Blissfully tranquil setting.
— Cucumber water!
— Very affordable on Weds night — $ 39 mani/​pedi!
— No bimbos sharing your space at 5pm.
Cons:
— No one was around to take our money at the end?
— Not that great ~ I had yucky, bumpy post-​acrylic nails that really needed an elbow-​greased buffing, and she did a real half-​assed job. I’m still a bit bumpy, and you can see paint streaks. Bust.
— No UV drying bays. No spa/​massagey chairs.
— Kinda lame muzak (but I won’t complain, because I’ve been to asian places, and asian places are notorious for foreign, creepy, tacky muzak.)
— Their hand lotion leaves a grimy film. Ick?
— Takes FOR EV ERRR. One hour and forty minutes later, I came out with paint streaked nails, and icky lotion still on my arms. And not-​that-​dry nails.
Will i return? ICKK. Maybe? I really don’t count on it.
Is this why their specials are so good? Likely! Their specials probably rule because they can’t rely on repeat business. I s’pose their business model relies on the «evergreen» newbie market who’s never sampled their services and responds to irresistible special offers.
There are always new women carted in from Ohio or Missouri who think Robertson Boulevard IS IT!, so there will always be an opportunity for a business like this to thrive.
Dammit.
Time to start my own goddamned nail salon, the way *I* want it. Grrr.
Oh Los Angeles, why can’t you JUST do something right?

Rejoice! I have finally discovered the nail spa where it is justifiable to spend the additional 10 to 20 dollars more than its lower key, no frills brethren (sorry Bellacures, you just didn’t do it for me).
The atmosphere is most decidedly spa-​like. Candles, soothing music, and trickling water set the tone of your very relaxing foot/​hand treatment. The staff is extremely courteous, water with cucumber and orange is offered, and on some days they even have freshly baked cookies! Each pedicure I had was effective without being too rigorous (I really hate it when manicurists treat my cuticles like it was grout to be scrubbed off a tub). They have an assortment of treatments and a healthy selection of polish to pick from. They also send out regular emails that offer discounts.
While it’s true that the wicker chairs aren’t THE most comfortable of accommodations, the upper enclosure of the chair creates an almost cocoon like effect, which I really enjoyed.
Bonus #1 — They stay open until 9 PM a couple nights a week. Yay for those of us who don’t work normal hours!
Bonus #2 — (For the BF being dragged along) I’ve been informed that there is free Wi-​Fi available on the patio outside. So tell him to pack his portable electronic device to keep him occupied.

I’m on their mailing list and they send out specials all of the time. Make sure you get on the list so you aren’t paying full price.
I enjoyed the manicure and pedicure I received at l.a. vie l’orange hand + foot spa but I didn’t make it my OFFICIAL spot because it is out of the way. Also, the parking situation scares me (based on other Unilocalers reviews). I’ll admit, I’m not the best parallel parker in the world but that’s a whole ‘nother subject altogether. The good news is that when I went, I didn’t have a problem finding a spot. I guess I got lucky. Phew!
Also, those fresh baked cookies they give you there are too good! The whole place smells like them… It makes it hard to resist. I broke and I had one and chocolate chip cookies aren’t exactly on my diet plan. So I’ve decided… that place is OFFICIALLY dangerous (at least for me it is)! Get out… Get out while you can ladies! ;)

This review is based on one visit, but it was an important visit since it was the day before my wedding. I came here trusting my future sister in law on her recommendation and Jo, my mani/​pedi technician did an awesome job! I have a small phobia of getting a mani and pedi since i’ve always been cut at least once! With Jo she did a great job, and she didn’t cut me. She also didn’t realize I was getting married till she was almost done with my nails, so it’s not like she tried extra hard. I think she does a meticulous job in general. She doesn’t talk too much which is comforting to me, since i don’t like hearing about my technicians drama, or spilling my life to my technician. Since I went in, when they first opened there weren’t too many people there, but I could imagine it getting very busy on a weekend.
Ambience: I am not a fan of the wicker bungalows. It makes it hard to talk to your friends, but they are comfortable. I even like the little hand on the side that serves to hold your jewelry. I thought that was clever and convenient.
Staff: Very friendly and warm. They even served us some home baked cookies! What’s not to like?!

I’ve been going here since February, and I happily drive 45 minutes to get there from the valley. Here’s why:
1) the quality of the polish work is excellent.
If I wanted a gnarly pedicure, I would do it myself. Lord knows I have nearly every OPI and Essie color and enough pumice to sand the great pyramid of Giza into a parking lot. But I don’t. I want perfect, usually dark, squares of color on my toes, with no smears, bubbles, or remnants left on my skin. And I want it to last, even though I wear sandals every day. And that’s what I have gotten every time, which is probably 10 or more visits by now. But let’s say that it wasn’t. What makes this place different is the fact that you can take your bent out of shape ass up to the front counter and show Pilar the problem, and without hesitation, she’ll make sure the issue is sorted out. It is your responsibility as a consumer to make sure a service passes muster, and the people who run the salon need to know if someone is having an off day or letting the quality slide. The only reason someone at LA Vie would get away with a less than excellent polish job is if a string of customers didn’t tell anyone. They are in the business of providing a service, and they understand that it’s our right to have that service done well. Speak up if you want a harder scrub! I always have to say, «Oh, can I have a really firm massage?» And if it’s not firm enough, I just speak up again. It’s not rude to ask, so long as you’re polite when you do it. These girls are manicurists, not psychics.
2) no «class warfare» vibe.
I have been all over the financial map, so I am entitled to freely comment on this one. I began getting pedicures as a treat to myself when I was broker than broke in college. There is no doubt in my mind that the women at the salons I went to made easily 3 times what I was making (and worked 3 times harder, too). There was always the feeling, though, that the folks who owned the salons really put the squeeze on these girls, and they managed to be subservient (because of the hostile workplace) but not service oriented (because that wasn’t important to the owners), creating this unspoken discomfort. Not so at LA Vie. Every girl seems at ease, and whether you want to chit chat like old girlfriends or relax and read up on celebrity dirt, it’s fine, and nobody takes offense at your choice. My impression, as someone who also works with my hands for a living, is that the people here take pride in doing a good job, and that there is a satisfaction in having a parade of relaxed people with immaculate nails walking out of their salon all day.
3) mmmm, snuggly.
When you walk in, you’ll think, «It’s hotter than Hades in here!». But then you sit in one of the cubbies and sip some cucumber orange water, and you just start to… mellow. The plain old pedi takes about an hour, and sitting still for that length of time slows everything down and cools you off. The warmish temp in the salon area actually contributes to a pretty relaxing vibe. Plus the freshly baked cookies don’t hurt either. Yes, you can have two.
4) They remember you.
I went to England on exchange, and before I moved there, everyone told me that they were bastards. I agreed at first, because people don’t pretend that they are your best friend right off the bat like they do over here. They greet you politely, and then wait to see if you’re a butthead before extending the more involved aspects of friendship. Not so much in the US. At Banana Republic, you walk in and 4 people in their early 20s jump down your throat with super smiley «Hi!!!» and they nearly squeal when you ask them to start a room. It’s part of our culture to be boisterous. The front desk at LA Vie usually has a much cooler demeanor: they are actually really pleasant, but in a more authentic way. They are business-​friendly, not sorority reunion friendly. Plus, if you come in a few times, they remember you, and now when I walk in I am greeted by name with a friendly smile that is based on the fact that they know I’m not a jackass. Y’all have to remember what sort of clientele walks into a place like LA Vie. There’s us, and then there’s them. Us= normal people who just want a nice pedicure in a relaxing environment. Them= high maintenance, name dropping, cell-​phoning, celebrity assisting, fame hangers-​on who think they are entitled to anything, anytime. You think they ruin your pedicure? Try being on the other side of the nail file! Just sayin’…
Quick solutions to problems:
Parking: arrive early, and go into the El Tovar lot. You can usually find something if it’s full just by waiting 5 minutes. Also, there is parking on Melrose if you promise to walk slowly so you don’t mess up your toes.
Price: although they are in the middle of the «nice» salon prices, you can get a deal if you purchase a series, and the email list gets you discounts, too.

ok I live in San Fran and first time I went to LA I needed a mani/pedi…so I read in instyle magazine that this place is rated one of the top nail salon in LA so I decided to give it a try. n let me tell u that this place is amazing! the cute décor n the chairs are soo comfy u could sleep n no one will notice =) the price is amazingly decent for the superb job they did on my hands n toes. I would have to say its Cheap n Good! I love the scrub they gave and the massage was great too! the fact that they are clean n open up new tools at all times is a bonus really… I love love this place! if only I could go to LA often… maybe I can try to convince the owner to open one in SF =) nothing wrong in dreaming…

I wanted to love this place and tried it two times. I love the setting, the courtyard is lovely. The wicker chairs are great, too. However, I did not like waiting for my manicurist and the quality of the work was not topnotch.
Plus, parking was tough.

There are a lot of nice things about this place. It’s clean, comfortable and the nail color selection is almost dauntingly huge. There’s a very relaxed vibe to the place. That’s where the 3 stars come from. Unfortunately, it was so relaxed that when I had the first appointment of the day (at 10am), my aesthetician didn’t show up until 1015 and then spent another 10 minutes getting everything ready for my mani/​pedi. With absolutely no apology. Uhhh… that’s not okay. According to the receptionist, she was having trouble parking, which I get, because I had trouble parking too, but seriously, don’t be late. And then at least offer some apology. That plus the high prices left me not feeling as relaxed as I think I could have been. I don’t mind paying a little more for a mani/​pedi if it leaves me more chill than the usual 12 dollar joint, but la vie l’orange just… didn’t.

Wow, really polarizing reviews on this place, so I just thought I’d throw my two cents in. And in answer to Erika E.‘s parting question, it’s pronounced L.A. (like the city) VEE (rhymes with me) LORE (rhymes with or) AWNGE (rhymes with. oh, heck, I don’t know). Anyway, it’s French and means «the orange life.»
I first took my sister-​in-​law here for a pedicure several years ago after seeing an Allure writeup, and I think we went back together once more a couple years back. We each chose the pedicure on both occasions, although it’s been long enough ago that I really don’t remember which one.
I had a great experience both times, and I think my sister-​in-​law did too. I’m not one for the down-​and-​dirty cheapie pedicures (I find it way too unnerving to wonder what that miracle-​cure mysterious blue liquid is that they soak their tools in), so this place is way more my speed. The pedicures were just like pedicures should be in my opinion: relaxing and luxurious. The products smell great (very orange-​y, hence the name), a definite plus in my book, and I liked the incognito cabana chairs that let you hide out of view of the other patrons while you get your toes done.
On my first visit, I vaguely remember them bringing out some decadent little chocolates while we waited, but that didn’t happen the second time around. Was it just a dream? Did they discontinue that? Or maybe I just missed it the last time around? Regardless, I still enjoyed the experience and would definitely go back.
It did seem to be a bit more like the trendy, see-​and-​be-​seen kinda place the last time I went, but all in all, still a great experience.

I’m really not a frequent mani/​pedi (read: not high maintenance, or so I like to think) type of person, although I get the occasional pedicure perhaps twice a year w/​my mom (no manicures b/​c of the piano/​violin playing). To try this place out for my first time I got the LA Quickie for $ 50, a 1-​hour mani and pedi. It was just what I needed to have my nails look great for my first peer-​wedding!
(FYI — a peer-​wedding is a wedding of a peer, i.e. a wedding of a non-​family-​member who is not really a friend of yours. In fact, this was a wedding where I got dirty looks from my bf’s ex whom I met for the first time even though I was just being friendly. Such hater-​ade when I wasn’t even in the picture during the breakup. If you really still care about him you should just be happy for him, right? But anyway I digress.)
The LA Quickie was just like it sounds — efficient and gets the job done! The best part is that everything they use is disposable, and I like sanitary. I also like that they don’t «nip» your cuticles for this treatment, or whatever it’s called, they just push them back.
The atmosphere here is super relaxing and smells great, and the whole place is really clean. You can totally sink back into these wicker basket chairs (see photo) and be in your own little world, which is great if you go alone, but a bit hard with friends b/​c you have to poke your head out of your basket to converse.
This is a great space for a private party. They have refreshing iced tea, water with cucumbers floating around, and yummy food like sandwiches, fruit platters, and CAPRESE!
Parking is pretty convenient because there is a handy $ 1/​hr lot half a block down, but beware the meter police that check the meters often!

Had gotten rave reviews of l.a. vie l’orange from a co-​worker and decided to give it a try. Found the cabana chairs a bit uncomfortable, though my pedicurist made great efforts to insure that I was happy throughout. Did enjoy the various masks and potions that were used in the pedicure, though left there feeling like I had just paid way too much. Not worth the $ 75 plus tip.

Dreadful service, surly staff, uncomfortable chairs, awful pedicure, ridiculous price for the experience (charge over $ 40, felt like under $ 10) and the worst magazine collection. Not recommended.

Voted L.A.‘s #1 hand and foot spa by L.A. Magazine
Relax in your very own wicker cabana as your fingers and toes enjoy tropical delights. Love the foot treatment «Old fashion» which was soaking the feet in warm milk and honey when I had my pedicure done there! Excellent environment for relaxation and a quick R&R fix. Nice cabana setting with added transquility!