La Vie Zen Spa

I came here on Aug 14.
I couldn’t have been more upset and disappointed by my La Vie Zen Signature facial at $ 125… My esthetician was very nice, but she should never touch another face again.
(Caveat: I have been to La Vie Zen several times, years ago, but I realized that it must be under new management.)
Back to the facial… I knew it was going down hill as soon she started cleaning my face 1) never asked any questions about my skin type, regimen or allergic reactions. 2) when she began cleansing my face, she got product all over my eye lids and lips. 3) I has no exfoliation, 4) I asked for thorough extractions as I have not had a facial for over 5 months, and I have oily skin. She focused more on my nose and barely anywhere else. I went in with a pimple on my chin and walked out w/​the same pimple…
I was trying to be positive but, I should have gotten up and walked out in the beginning.
Another major concern while she gave me hand massage, why did she wrap my hands in paper towels??? WTF, kind of cheap service is that?
I’m so upset. I am truly disgusted with the service
My face looked and felt exactly the same as I went in.
Hopefully management will extend a refund, because this was completely unacceptable.

As a teacher, I get a lot stress from preparing for the upcoming school year. My concerned friend referred me to La Vie Zen Spa. Initially, I tried calling to schedule an appointment for later in the day, but was told they had no message therapists available. However, they called me back within 15 minutes and told me they were able to have a massage therapist come in exclusively for my massage. Without even stepping into the spa, I already felt like a VIP member.
Once I got off the elevator, I immediately felt as if I entered another time and place. You could tell La Vie Zen Spa spared no cost in creating what I consider to be an «elite» spa. I have been to plenty of spas before, but none evoked a tranquil vibe like this one. La Vie Zen boasts beautifully painted bamboo on the wall, affectionate lighting, warm woodwork, and comfortable robes. There’s also the Zen Garden, which I did not even realize was outdoors. The Zen garden is a nice, quiet, and peaceful garden for customers to meditate and relax before or after massages. Then there’s the Bamboo room, which I relaxed in after my massage. Here, they provided me with customized beverages and fruits that were specifically catered to the massage package I requested. I felt so relaxed that I tried my hand at calligraphy with the tools and space they provided for it.
The last thing I wanted to talk about before getting to the massage was the Cedar Sauna Room. The room was clean and seemed almost brand new. I enjoyed the privacy I received, as well as the comfort of cedar on my behind. I was also intrigued with the fact that the Cedar Sauna Room provided a space to create your own personal Aromatherapy Bar. I am not typically good with that stuff, but when I bring my girlfriend with me next time, I will definitely let her make me one.
Lastly, the massage itself was one of the best I have ever received. Kara, my massage therapist, made sure to get all the knots out of my back. There were plenty of them. The room itself was quiet, relaxing and soothing. I just wanted to mention that the first time I ever received a massage I had this feeling of relaxation afterwards, as if I did not have a care in the world. Ever since my very first massage, I have not experienced that feeling until the day I came to La Vie Zen Spa. It is one of the greatest feelings ever.
I highly recommend this place. It was one of the most relaxing experiences in my life. I will definitely be coming back for more. When I left, they must have known because they provided me with coupons and several free samples. Are they psychic as well?

La Vie Zen Spa is an absolute gem! I booked a one-​hour «energizing» massage and had an amazing experience. You are greeted by the receptionist and taken to a secured «locker area» where you leave your belongings and, change into robes, and shower after your massage. The waiting area is a very calm and meditative space where you can enjoy a delicious herbal tea of your choice while you wait for the massage therapist. There is also a sauna to use after your massage, if desired.
The massage was great and on point. I was asked if there were any areas that needed special attention and if there were any areas I didn’t like touched. The therapist was very attentive and asked if pressure was too much or too little during the massage, which I thought was a nice touch.
Overall a great experience and I highly recommend if you’re looking to relax and unwind with a great massage. Of course, they also offer facials and other services as well.

I was looking for a place to take my mom to on her special day. Spas in new york either run really cheap (think $ 10 massage in Chinatown or ridiculously expensive… think mortgage priced treatments at the mandarin). It’s almost impossible to find something in the mid range with a spa/​relaxing aesthetic (ie not just in a salon). Enter La Vie Zen Spa. A medium sized spa that meets the criteria! Once you enter (it’s on the 2^nd floor) you’re embraced by the comforting smells of lavender and calming soothing music. The receptionist was super helpful and got us to our lockers/​robes right away and offered us some tea and light snacks. We enjoyed the wood lined Sauna and also made our scented own body scrubs before we went in for our couples massage (yes my mom and I!). The masseuses were AMAZING! They both were attentive to giving just the right amount of pressure. Overall, it was such a wonderful experience and we were both very pleased. The prices are on the higher side, but usually they have a Unilocal deal that you can use that can give you a significant discount. Thank you La Vie Zen Spa!

I really wanted to have a great time here
I loved the ambience and they had showers and lockers, variety of teas, small snacks, a relax area…
I didn’t mind my esthetician was late as long as I had my full time. However it’s just a little unprofessional.
I want to know why their vit C facial was $ 150? I asked my esthetician to tell me what she was doing but she kept forgetting to, the massage was minimal, barely any declote massage. They don’t include AHA in the facial… As a protocol (as I was told) they leave you alone in the room while masking… So why is it $ 150? Yes they use skin ceuticals but I’m definitely unhappy with the service…
My skin looked good after my facial for about 10 mins and then it was back to normal and I wasn’t even told if I had SPF on or not.
Will never return and will not recommend this place for skincare/​facials.

I came across La Vie Zen back in 2011 when I was looking for a place for my girlfriend to have a Prenatal massge. Since she was getting a massage, I decided to indulge myself. The place was excellent, the message was excellent, the ambiance was excelllent! I thoroughly enjoyed my massage, as did she. I came back again, this year for a couples Valentines Day package they had. The package consisted of a massage for each, use of the sauna and wine… Cant go wrong with that. Again, while the massage was not as good as the first time, it was still good. I would recommend this place and will definitely return.

Paradise in the middle of midtown, la vie Zen spa. What an amazing experience I had today, the masseuse was incredible with her magical fingers. The place is a beautiful oasis in the middle of midtown. The staff there are amazing and helpful. I had the Rejuvenating massage, it was unbelievable. To top it of after your massage I get to enjoy wine, strawberries, walnuts, oranges and champagne. This place is truly a paradise that’s very affordable.

What I appreciate most about La Vie Zen is their attention to detail. For instance, the key to lock up your belongings in comes with a beautiful beaded bracelet that you can wear for the rest of the time. I know, it seems like such a tiny thing to mention, but such meticulous planning speaks volumes about the overall quality of the spa.
Anyway, if you still don’t give a crap about bracelets, the spa also has other beautifully planned details and dimensions: a space to learn and practice the calming art of calligraphy, an open-​roof Japanese rock garden for you to rest and meditate, customized beverages that specifically supplement your own customized aromatherapy massage… the list goes on.
And, of course, the massage itself was FANTASTIC. I got one of the aromatherapy massages from Mariah (she is AMAZING.) and it was such one of the happiest hours of my life. Mariah in particular was very attuned to my needs, very clear about asking what felt good and what didn’t, and just made me feel very relaxed and respected the entire time.
I highly recommend this amazing place!

I was referred to La Vie Zen Spa by a friend who had an amazing experience and I absolutely have to agree!
Even before my appointment began, I received a call 2 hours in advance from Sydney the receptionist reminding me of my appointment and what to wear. Upon arriving at the spa, Sydney greeted me warmly by name and led me to the changing room. I was able to lock up all of my belongings and change into a robe and slippers. The smell of the spa is like being in a forest, which is a refreshing change of pace to the typical NYC air. I waited briefly in the waiting room for my massage therapist and was given champaign, raisons, and nuts to snack on while a soothing ocean track played on the screen.
My masseuse, Maria, was awesome! I decided to go with the 90 min swedish massage. Right off the bat, Maria was able to identify my knots and stress points and worked diligently in getting them out. Throughout the massage, I could tell Maria if the pressure needed to be more or less and she adjusted perfectly. I left the massage feeling 10 years younger!
After the massage was over, I was encouraged to use any of the following for as long as I’d like:
–Sauna + Massage Oil Station
–Bamboo Room (chose the detoxifying tea and snack package)
–Zen Room (Zen garden)
La Vie Zen Spa is super clean! Another client had taken a shower before my massage was over and the cleaning lady was able to completely clean the personal shower, changing room, and bathroom before it was my turn to use.
I don’t typically go to spas but I will definitely come back here!
Pros: Everything!
Cons: Having to leave.

Stressed… tired…a need for relaxation? Come to La Vie Zen Spa to be reborn!
I never believed that a full body massage could alleviate the stress from an 80 hour work week… but BOY was I wrong. I was referred to La Vie Zen Spa by a friend.
When you walk in… the mood is peaceful and relaxing.
The music is calm and soothing… while the receptionist greets you with a beaming smile. You are then led to the changing room and given a locker. Leaving on your under pants is recommended.
I had the 90 minute deep tissue/​sports massage that covered my feet, back, arms, and neck… it was awesome. I could feel my tired body starting to feel new… like a phoenix reborn from the ashes.
After the massage you are led to the Bamboo room where champagne and snacks given. I was given green tea crackers which were declicious and a strawberry. In the room the chairs are comfortable and the lighting perfect for relaxation. If your bored there is a rack of magazines to keep you entertained!
Amenities:
After the bamboo relaxation room there is a sauna you can check out for more relaxation!
Prices for Other Services:
While I was waiting for the masuesse I checked the prices for the other massage services you can receive:
Swedish — $ ¹⁶⁰⁄₉₀ min, $ ¹²⁰⁄₆₀ min
Shiatsu — $ ¹⁶⁰⁄₉₀ min, $ ¹²⁰⁄₆₀
Deep Tissue /​Sports Massage — $ ¹⁶⁰⁄₉₀ min, $ ¹²⁰⁄₆₀ min
The spa was awesome! Definitely go whenever you are in midtown east and need to relax!

I tried to take a client here for a mani/​pedi. Made the appointment several days in advance. 5 minutes before the appointment they called to tell me there was only one tech to serve us both. I figured «ok I’ll just let my client get the service and chat with her during.» After waiting 30 minutes in reception the receptionist informed me that there were NO techs and they couldn’t do the appointment period. Very embarrassing for me. Had to make alternate plans on the spot.
The good part was they offered us a free make up appointment for 2 as an apology. I booked it for 2 weeks later. 2 days beforehand I started calling repeatedly to confirm the appointment, leaving a few messages. No one ever picked up or returned my call even through all my outreach was on weekdays during normal business hours. We showed up anyway and they only had one tech for 2 people again! They also started the appointment 15 minutes late.
Bottom line, this place is incredibly disorganized and sloppy. Do not recommend.

I love this spa, and I LOVE the Brazilian waxes! I’ve been getting waxed forever and I’m a bit of a snob about the quality of each wax. I’ve seen two waxers here in the past 3 months, and both have amazing attention to detail and really gentle methods. They also use hard wax, which I love for no bruising the next day. And they give you the disposable wipes in the bathroom, which I love (I always throw a few in my purse for later, for washing my hands).
Even though I’m a waxing snob, I never cared much about the setting. But coming here blew me away! Every time I come, I get a cup of hot tea and a hot towel for washing my hands and freshening up. One time, I sat in their sauna and made myself a take-​home body scrub – for FREE.
This is by far the best bang for the buck in NY.

After La Vie Zen got back to me, they full rectified the situation. They explained that what happened was completely not in keeping with how they normally treat customers, and it showed when I went back for the treatment.
I went for a couples massage, and it turned out great. The atmosphere was calm and relaxing and the service was unparalleled. They offered us tea and little snacks as well as sparkling wine after the massage. The massage was soothing and relaxing; not too hard, but not terribly light either.
I would definitely go back. Sorry for taking so long to update my review!

An amazingly serene space for being so close to Madison Aveune. Attentive staff, beautiful looking interior, clean, and a lovely relaxing lounge for after your treatment.

Took my mom here to take advantage of their spa week promotion for the massage & facials. La Vie Zen Spa is basically a small spa on the 2^nd floor of a midtown building.
We arrived around 15 mins before our appointment, and were ushered into a room to fill out the information forms. Then, the front desk receptionist brought us into the locker rooms and left us to change. The locker room is small, with 1 bathroom and 1 shower room. The shampoos and soaps are actually located outside of the shower room. We changed into the robes and slippers and were led to another waiting area with a TV and a small tray with tea (or water) and some dried nuts & fruits. They even had a little card with our name written on it. Our masseuse came to greet us and informed us that they’re prepping our rooms and would return in a couple of minutes. And indeed, in a couple of minutes, our masseuses came back to get us and brought us to the rooms. We were placed in 2 different rooms, but the wall/​divider in between can actually be left open so it’s like a couples room. The massages were heavenly. My masseuse asked if there were certain areas that I would want her to focus on more than the others and I let her know that I would like her to focus on my shoulders more. My mom’s masseuse was a male and she very much enjoyed her massage as well. After we were finished with the massage, they brought us to another break room with more teas and dried nuts. (Geez, this place has a lot of break rooms!) Before we even got to taste our teas though, our estheticians came to get us for our facials. I kindly told them to just give us a couple more minutes. We don’t want to let the nuts & teas go to waste! Afterwards, we left the room with the estheticians for the facials.
The facials were not as I expected though. I thought the facial felt a bit rushed. My esthetician basically, cleansed, exfoliated, steamed, extracted a little bit, put some mask on me, and left the room. Came back after 10 mins or so and took off the mask, and said, you’re done! She did attempted to sell me some of the products she used for the facials though. But I told her I wasn’t interested and she stopped. I returned to the break room and found my mom sitting there. She told me she finished wayyyyyyy earlier than I had. I also found out that her esthetician did do some massage work on her body parts while she had mask on, unlike mine. We basically sat there for 10 – 15 minutes chatting and relaxing, before heading back to the locker room to change and head to the front to pay. The Receptionist was super nice though. We paid, and left to go back in the hustle and bustle of NYC. I would probably come back again for their massages, and maybe scrubs. But not the facials.

Found a new favorite waxing spot close to work, woo hoo~
The prices are pretty steep (almost $ 70 after tax for a brazilian) but the atmosphere of the spa is so serene and the service is great!
I forgot the name of the lady I had the first time but she was very pleasant and made the experience as least awkward as possible. This last time I had Mariana and she was very quick, attentive and great.
I saw really good reviews on their facials so I may have to try one of those next!
Will be my go-​to spot for sure.

Love it!
I read the reviews online and I decided to try.
Nice place, smell and service.
I totally recommend it!

I been here twice to this Spa and both times it been a pleasure going here. The environment is peaceful and tranquil and the music and the colors really make you feel relaxed.
The staff is nice and the massage leave you feeling soft and tender to the touch but in a good way. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a great spa day in the big apple.
The prices are a bit high so depending on your pay structure you will probably need to save and budget them in.
However well worth the experience

You know that feeling when you walk into a forest, take a deep breath, and go «ahhhhhhhh» letting it all out? That’s the feeling I get walking into this place. Quiet, relaxing little oasis in the middle of all the noise of this busy city.
It’s hard for me to write a review for waxing given it’s usually an «yikes» and «ouch» experience that I’d much rather forget, but I’ve recommended this place to a few people now — friendly, much less painful, and I love Irina — she’s so warm and sweet, it makes the whole experience go by so much easier.
The two times I’ve been there, the owner Carmen managed the front desk. She offers some pretty decent specials on facials/​massages if you ask/​chat with her, and I will report back on those after I get them in a month :)

Went back today and as expected, Irena was excellent and thorough. She never tries to sell me any services that I don’t need (and neither does the appointment coordinator)… and I LOVE that.
It makes me laugh to think about the strange positions that Irena gets you to stay in while she does her job, but she is very professional and makes you feel comfortable all throughout.
If ever you need a thorough wax job in Manhattan, La Vie Zen is the place to go!