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Natura Spa
Categories: Beauty and Spas Day Spas Beauty and Spas Skin Care Day Spas, Skin Care [Edit]
3240 Wilshire BlvdLos Angeles, CA 90010
Neighborhood: Koreatown
(213) 381-2288
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 6 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 6 am - 11 pm
Sun 7 am - 10 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Validated, Private Lot
- By Appointment Only:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
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161 reviews for Natura Spa
161 reviews in English
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Review from christine p.
Valencia, CA
1/22/2012
Dear Natura,
Thank you for being so nice. Thanks for being a small but spacious place that gives me space to wash and eat and read and workout. I even have places to sleep and watch tv. If I want, I can go to warm rooms. No, you're not a 24 hour co-ed sauna, but I love that you can offer me the opportunity to get away from the male gender and just indulge. Simply indulge.
Love,
Christine
Let's just get to the bottom of it people. No clothes. Clean water. Cheap entrance fee. $15 for one fee or $120 for 10. Sometimes they will have a sale of 20 for $200 and my mom and I always get this. Always. Free gym to workout. Two heated rooms in the sauna, three types of heated water, and cheap but quality service. I always get a scrub for $30 for 45 minutes and I'm clean and refreshed after. They give a slight massage, a face clean, shampoo, and soap down.
I don't always like the crowds. So come here on an off day. Just imagine you're a Korean mom. Your most available times are late mornings before picking up the kids. Don't come then. Too many people. But it's got clean water that makes you feel like you showered. If you want to go for a coed experience, this is not for you. But if you're the real deal, Korean style sauna lover, this is the place for you.
See you tomorrow. -
Review from H. D.
Los Angeles, CA
1/20/2012
I didn't like the spa. The men's side is FAR from anything the women get.
It's not very big. The steam room is not very hot. There were loud Russians or Armenians who ruined the relaxation. The worse part is that some guys feel uncomfortable being naked and walk around with shorts. The bad thing is they sweat like pigs in the sauna and then jump into the tiny cold pool or the hot pool. I asked the guy to take his shorts off because I don't want to bathe in his sweat! (Trust me, the last thing I wanted to do was see this ugly guy naked!!!) He blew me off. I complained. They told him to take his shorts off and he got loud with the staff... and he stayed longer.
If you don't enforce your rules then why bother having them? I complained to the front desk on my way out. They should've called security on his dirty ass and had him escorted out.
I don't think this spa is worth it. -
Review from S L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/19/2012
I've been here twice. This is only the second korean spa i've visited so i have many more try (there are simply soooo many korean spas in k-town!).
5 star experience for the spa use and body scrub only. i'm never game enough to try massages, facials etc. Because when i want to get a massage or facial, i really want to zone out and relax. Read being alone in private. So it is not going to happen here since you receive all services here in the same room as everyone else.
Hot tub seems a little small in size but there is another hot tub (not as hot) at the side which is mostly empty. Both steam sauna and dry sauna are ok. It never gets full even when there are many people in the spa. i guess because you really can't survive too long without passing out in there. So hot but so good for you. There are 2 "lie down" rooms (i don't really know what to call them) right at the back. I think one was a clay room and another, a jade room. Each room is kind of tiny and will start to feel crammed up if 4 people are already in there.
So anyway, my ritual at a korean spa is usually to call up and book a body scrub, arrive an hour earlier to soak in the hot tub and sweat it out in the sauna. They will call the number on your wristband (its also your locker key and number) when they are ready for your appointment. My scrub during both my visits was top notch. The scrub mitten they use is quite rough and they are not that gentle but i don't mind. if i didn't want to be scrubbed raw, i wouldn't be here! The korean ladies are sweet and they will ask me if i'm ok with the pressure they are using. i always feel like 2 pounds of skin just got scrubbed off me. But your skin will be baby smooth and look so much healthier after that. i like the fact that after the scrub, they will give you a mini rub down with oil and massage your scalp during the shampoo at the very end. it is very relaxing and a nice touch. i did not have this when i got a scrub at another korean spa.
One thing i didn't really fancy was the mad rush in the showers and locker room just before the spa closes. I guess i'll just have to arrive earlier and leave earlier to avoid this. I like the free parking and lots of empty lots too so Natura gets a definite 5 star from me. -
Review from YaYa C.
Glendale, CA
1/31/2012
Has everything for a relaxing day, pools, shower, massage/scrub services, saunas, jade/clay rooms, tv room, restaurant, gym and more. I've been here twice. This is a great place to go with close girlfriends!
The scrub is excellent, massage is deep tissue. No clothes, but the place makes you feel natural and comfortable! Parking validation of 3 hours, enter from New Hampshire. -
Review from Jeff P.
Nashville, TN
2/7/2012
For LA it's acceptable. Clean for the most part. Message is just ok. The desk attendant was nice and helpful. I might go for a second visit.
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Review from Gabriela G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/2/2012 3 Check-ins Here
INTRODUCTION:
Ladies at front desk were friendly though information is not totally clear (for example: prices on the brochure are different than prices in-house-cheaper in-house)!
Noone goes out of their way to explain anything so if you've never been before, you're like a fish outta water. Just have to figure it out as you go along.
AMENITIES:
In your lockers you will find a robe, a towel for your body and two towels for your head. If you forgot flip flops they have plenty for you to borrow (I'd be weary of fungi so preferably bring your own). In the showers there is also shampoo, conditioner and soap, and in the dressing room there are hairdryers, brushes and lotion. Don't bring a bathing suit cause you wont be allowed to wear it. This place is totally A-LA-NUDE! Only people wearing matching black lacy underwear are the old Korean ladies that keep the place clean and do the scrubs and massages for the clientele.
TANNING:
I had a tanning session ($15 for a 12 minute session) never had one before though I assume the price is only slightly above average than most tanning salons. It was a strange experience, not sure if i'll ever do it again. The tanning bed was super greasy, gross. I put my towel down to lay on it and then realized that i couldnt have a towel or i would not tan my back. Luckily there was a spray labeled "disinfectant" which i used with some kleenex also in the room to wipe the oil, grime and residues of someone else's butt sweat! Gross!
EXERCISE ROOM:
Smelled like cigarettes. Lots of treadmills and elliptical machines though no other cardio options. In the back there are weights and muscle building/shaping machines. Individual televisions for those on the calorie burners. Bring sneakers if you want to use the exercise room! i forgot mine!
BODY SCRUB:
Amazing! Watch your dead skin cells flake off like that of a shedding snake. You are scrubbed hard so it is uncomfortable, but the post scrub tingling feel and smooth sensation makes the slight suffering totally justified. Your hair is also washed and scrubbed, your face only quickly and mildly exfoliated. Whole process takes between 20-25 minutes.
ACUPRESSURE MASSAGE:
Skip this option altogether! It's more expensive than the regular massage and it's sloppy and stressful. It's like an un-graceful Thai massage. The Korean lady walks on your back as she grabs hold of a metal tube that looks like a shower rod and makes squeaky clunky noises when she grabs on with her hands as she is about to press her feet on your back. She does not use lotion or oils so the massage is very rough and clumsy. The only good part about this is that the bed is warm and the lights are soft and you are secluded from the chaos of naked women parading around the overcrowded sweat rooms and jacuzzis.
JADE/CLAY/SWEAT/SAUNA:
Clay room: dark, womb like, cavernous clay walls, pink rocks under spread out towels and pillows. Relaxing, warm, safe, welcoming.
Jade: Slightly drier than the clay room and could stand to be in there a bit longer. Less humidity meant more bearable.
Sweat room: intense humidity, intense heat. Unbearable but absolutely worth it. A complete cleanse from inside out. They have some flowers swimming in a large bowl inside the sweat room. It was so foggy i could not see an inch in front of me, so i cannot say what kind of flowers they were but they smelled delicious adding a sensory experience to the uncomfortable conditions of the heat.
RELAX ROOM:
Plays a Korean Soap Opera from opening till close. Abundance of couches, two beds, and lots of blankets laid out in front of the television with women cuddled together like a teenagers at a sleep over. If you bring your journal or book, this is the room where you will likely exercise that practice and it is definitely a nice break from all the radical conditions you are exposing your body to in the span of a few hours.
RESTAURANT:
Restaurant serves complimentary Barley tea which is delicious!!!! There is an extensive menu of both healthy and unhealthy items (you can decide which category you want to put Diet Coke in), mostly traditional Korean items which look (and are said to taste) authentically amazing!
CROWD:
Eclectic, young and old. Korean and not. In the time i was there i had two celebrity sightings, though not famous enough to know their names just their faces.
$15 for Spa use. If you buy a pack of 10 at $120 save $30! If you get any treatment of 60 minutes or more, your $15 entrance fee is comped by the SPA.
I would come back here again, though i'd like to see what else is out there before i commit to a regular SPA. -
Review from Sarah S.
Los Angeles, CA
12/19/2011
I got lice here. LICE, people!
I used to go all the time before... and now I'm bummed because the Natura Spa has the best food of all the spas and I loved their super dark sleeping room. I really miss it, but too traumatized to go back. Also, I don't like that they close so early at night. -
Review from Tandra C.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012
Took a friend here for our first "real spa experience" - and yikes!
Pros: The entryway is very serene & the spa is very clean. You get a secure locker, nice thick bathrobe, and some small towels with the entrance fee. There is a Korean restaurant inside with traditional food, fruit shakes, & tea, and there are areas for relaxing and sleeping. The spa is relatively affordable compared to other spas in LA. If you feel like it, you can stay there for hours on end (even the entire day), and just relax.
Cons: The place is a little hard to find. We parked across the street and had to be guided by a security guard once in the main building.
There is one large communal area with showers ringing the walls, a very small hot pool in the middle, and an area to the left with older Korean women in their underwear massaging various naked people lying on tables. Swimsuits are not allowed. If you pay for a massage (not an acupressure massage) at the front desk, know that you will be massaged in the nude in that communal area and it will not be private. If reading that makes you uncomfortable, stay away.
The acupressure massage is private, but it is in a tiny very cold room with thin walls, and you can hear everyone getting massages around you. A small Korean lady walks on your back while holding onto a metal rod for balance, but she doesn't use oil or lotion, so it's not very smooth. Parts of this massage can be very painful, and they don't really respond to cries of pain.
Also, if you want to get a pedicure with a friend, this is not the place. They only have one pedicure chair and take one person at a time.
* Overall for affordability & cleanliness, if you're comfortable in the nude, surrounded by nude strangers, Natura has great potential! If you're like me, however...you might want to look elsewhere. -
Review from Genevieve M.
Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2011
Caveat:
You don't go to Korean Spas for good customer service. It would be like going to a Korean BBQ for customer service. Maybe not the greatest analogy. It would be like me going home for Xmas and Thanksgiving dinner for a pep talk from my family. Mmmm...ok...again, not such a good analogy. It would be like being an American, going to a French restaurant in Paris, and asking for "Snails". I'm just being real. I love me my Korean Family but I'm not subjecting myself to the waitresses at Korean BBQ's pushing my hand away while I BBQ meat and them shaking their head at me as their way of communicating to me "YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG." I go there cos the Korean BBQ is THE BOMB.
Same with Natura Spa. I go here because its beautiful, it's clean, the ratio of young American girls that I could hang out with to old Korean ladies with perms is like 20:1 so I don't have to get self conscious that I'm not at my best (body-wise,) it's inexpensive, it's close, there's free parking, and the services they provide that you're paying for (customer service is not a service you pay for) is AMAZING. There's a reason why Korean women have the most luminescent skin I've ever seen and that's cos they torture themselves with this scrubbing thing. IT'S WORTH IT I TELL YA! And I oscillate between the wet massage in the scrub room and the dry accupressure massage in the dry room. They both make my eyeballs roll around in my head like I've just done some incredible drug.
There's also a gym you have access to, but yea right. It's a spa day! Who's going to the gym? Not my fat ass. My fat ass is gonna lose weight the lazy way, in the steam and sauna room. And by throwing up as a result of overdoing it cos I haven't yet mastered the magic of how to use those rooms. It would help if someone who worked there had mastered the english language enough to tell me what the hell I'm doing wrong. Or if I could work up the balls to actually ask someone. (Chicken or the egg, I guess.)
In any event. Do they make me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside?
No, go to Burke Williams for that.
Do they do what I've paid for and above and beyond since it would be worth it (but please don't raise your prices cos it's PERFECT!) Yes. -
Review from jenny c.
San Francisco, CA
12/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
NAKED SPA = awesome.
I went here on a recommendation from a friend, and am happy I did. I wont get into the details, as others have already listed them. But I will give you tips:
The location is in the basement of a market area, look for the sign or ask someone.
Upon entering, you are given a private locker so:
Bring a toothbrush, empty waterbottle
Bring mousse or other specific hair products
Bring your own (clean or new!) flip-flops
Bring your own scrubby things for the seated showers
If you plan on being there all day, bring a book, they have a relaxation area that is really chill, has a TV, chairs and a korean cafe.
Make sure to go to the cafe if you want a break, the food is awesome. I got the #11, a traditional Korean vegetable and tofu soup with six sides: kimchi, rice, fried tofu, etc.
The food was flavorful, if you finish one of your sides, you can always ask for more.
They have a sleep room (which i missed but next time plan on going to the sleep room after lunch).
The ladies here do not speak english, so just go for it... follow what the other customers are doing and you'll be all good.
You can go into the spa without an appointment, but if you want any of their services, you can call day before and (sometimes) day of to get a spot. -
Review from Shae H.
Burbank, CA
12/5/2011
LEAVE YOUR MODESTY AT THE DOOR!!
I'd purchased a Group-On earlier in the year for this spa, so I finally decided to use it before it expired. After reading all the reviews, I was a little nervous b/c I knew it was a nude spa. However, after arriving and seeing all the other nude ladies I felt kinda comfortable. I got the $40 massage. It was done in an open room (with other guests) adjacent to the spa area by a lady wearing just panties and a bra. If you want a little more privacy during your treatment I suggest you get another treatment such as acupressure. My friend got the acupressure and she had a private room.
The massage was a tad bit rough but not bad at all. I'd get it again....hey, it's only $40.
The best part about the spa (to me) was the sauna and the clay room!! When I went to the spa I had a mild cold. After visiting the sauna and the clay room, my cold was damn near gone. I'd sweated out all of my impurities in those rooms. Oh and the apricot/orange/lime water is the best. Try it.
Oh - I forgot to mention my massage included this really nice cucumber mask. It felt really yummy. And left my face feeling oh so soft. :) -
Review from T'Yana T.
Los Angeles, CA
11/6/2011
Alright, so I was forced by a friend to come out of my "Wilshire Spa" shell, and "wonderfulness" that is Natura Spa....NOT!
Yes, the place is huge...which means it attracts gazillion more people who are loud, inconciderate and abnoxious. The front desk attendants are Rude (notice the capitalization), and I think I was even cussed out because I didn't want to be coarsed into a mani/pedi appointment that they were trying to convince me to take.
While getting a scrub, I was floped around the table like a piece of salami. The first 2 times me screaming "HOT" when she poured scolding hot water on me, did not make an impression on the scrub-woman. Only when I attempted to get off the table on the 3rd pour---she turned the water to ice-cold and hosed me down. After which, the only time I saw her smile was when she handed me the envelope for a tip. Was she kidding???
In all fairness, the spa seems clean, the towels and robes look new and the water coolers through out the spa are refreshing. The food is tasty and cheap--serving very traditional Korean eats, and the staff in the cafe is extremely hospitable and friendly, although they do not speak a word of English. (front desk needs to take a lesson from them!)
PS I forgot the parking ticket in the car and asked the front desk to issue me a business card with a validation stamp on it (some businesses do that) After spending close to 3 hours and $150 in services and food at this crappy place, the front desk WOULD NOT honor my request and told me to go get the ticket from the car. Of course, after all the crappy services, I wasn't going to run back and fourth, so disappointed, I just left without my validation.
Parking attendant was kind enough to discount the fee for me from $15 to $5. which was nice, but he doesn't work for the spa. Natura Spa needs a good lesson in customer service!
I have tried Century, Olympic and Natura, but I think I'll stick to the intimate, clean and friendly Wilshire Spa! -
Review from LK C.
North Hollywood, CA
12/31/2011
HEAVEN!
I learned that it's a good idea to get a scrub or a massage to help remove toxins before, during or after a juice cleanse. Today was the midpoint and I am so happy that I took myself down to Koreatown and got a combination scrub and massage, which alone would have put me in heaven. It was my second visit to Natura Spa, but I still had trouble finding the place hidden away in what used to be an old department store on Wilshire Boulevard. After I'd sampled one of the three jacuzzis, the sauna and the steam room, "Shin" called out for me and gave me the most amazing treatment. There's no modesty here. You're on a table in a pen full of tables with a dozen women also receiving treatments by Korean women dressed in black nylon panties and black bras. No, not sexy. But, oh, what bliss. Shin worked out the kink that's been in my shoulder for weeks, scrubbed every part of my anatomy until I was as soft as a baby's bottom all over, gave me a facial followed by a facial mask, then when she was done with the oily massage, she actually washed and conditioned my hair!!!!! 70 minutes of pure indulgence for only $80!!!
And, an experience like this calls for a frosty glass of green juice, with a celery stick on the side. Yummy! -
Review from Kate B.
Los Angeles, CA
1/12/2012
This was my first-ever Naked Lady Spa experience and it was absolutely fantastic.
Yes, there are naked ladies. (And dudes, in their own, totally separate facility.) One of them will be you. It isn't a big deal, and it's kind of nice to spend quiet time with a bunch of all kinds of other naked ladies. You don't want to be that one awkward person making a fuss about wearing a bathing suit. Suck it up, you'll be fine. Yes, privacy is nonexistent; yes, when you go for the completely amazing and ridiculously cheap ($30!) exfoliating scrub, you'll be more or less in public. Nobody cares.
Moving on! Most of the amenities have been covered by other reviewers; my favorite feature is the clay room, a dry sauna with a floor paved with hot gravel. It made me feel like an iguana lounging on a heat rock. But it was all great, and after the scrub I feel like I've been chromed. Also, it bears mentioning that the space is beautiful and the lighting is FLATTERING. Huzzah!
You have to ask the receptionist for a tour if you need one, and the tour will be perfunctory. You might be a little confused and wonder if you're doing it wrong, if you're a n00b like me. But watch what the other ladies are doing (discreetly), always sit on a (provided) towel, shower before and after every time you get into a pool, and you'll figure it out.
Viva Natura! -
Review from Ernest W.
Los Angeles, CA
12/18/2011
This was my first visit to a Korean Spa. I've read all the reviews and had a pretty good idea of what to expect. I went on a Saturday afternoon, using a groupon for 2-1 entry. Normally entrance is $15, very reasonable I think.
Finding it was fairly easy. There are signs on the front of the building on Wilshire. The parking lot is located in the rear. Make sure to take your parking ticket with you to get validated. If you are there for less than 3 hours a stamp will do. If you are there for more than 3 hours, then ask for a validation sticker. There are signs as you enter the shopping center directing you to the male and female sides. Take the elevator down to the Lower Level for your respective sex side. So obviously this review is gonna be about the men's side.
The girl at the front desk was very friendly and spoke english. After reading other posts about language barrier with the front host, I guess I lucked out. She was very polite and helped us locate items as best she could considering that she couldn't go into the men's locker room. You get your electronic key for your locker, and pick up a razor and toothbrush if you wish.
As you enter the locker room, to the immediate right are slippers. I preferred having the slippers just cuz I don't like walking barefoot in public areas. You can slip this on right away and carry your shoes with you to your locker. In the locker there is a cubby for your shoes. My friend and I went to grab robes and shorts in the vanity area with all the mirrors and toiletry items. There kinda was no point in doing so. Either don't get them or leave them in your locker because once you get into the spa there is no where to keep these items. So only grab these items if you plan on going into the Lounge area, sleeping area, or the cafe area. So get over your modesty issues, just walk into the spa area butt naked. You would be surprised at how quickly you get over the nudity issue. There were 2 men who wore the shorts the whole time, you actual stand out more when you wear them rather than just being nude like everyone else.
Inside the spa area, there is 1 hot tub, 1 cold plunge, about 8 standing showers, maybe 16 sitting showers, a sauna, a steam room, and a small side area for massages and body scrubs. First thing first take a shower before you use any of the facilities. Shampoo, conditioner, and liquid soap are all provided. I also grabbed a small towel and always kept it handy just in case i needed it to sit on or wipe myself off. There are no large towels, only the small ones. Overall the area is not that big. I can't image how it would be crowded, but luckily for us, it was not that bad. Maybe 15 men there total in the whole men's side. All the facilities are fairly standard. I tried the sitting shower just to try it out. I saw a lot of men shaving in front of them. That's probably what they are for since they have mirrors in front of them. Since I didn't do that, I thought it was kinda odd, guess I'm a standing shower kind of guy. The hot tub was a nice temp, and the cold plunge was cold. Couldn't stay in there for more than a couple seconds. The sauna has a tv in it with Korean programming. The steam room is nice, but gets very hot when new steam gets pumped into the room. Almost unbearable especially if you sitting in the area directly across from the vents. It does have a cold water hose so you can cool yourself off with without having to leave the room. There's also a cold shower next to the sauna room.
I did not have any procedures, but the area where they do them is not private. Its open to the rest of the spa and only has a glass brick wall that goes up to the table. But I don't really see this as an issue since everyone is naked anyways. Oh and the guy doing the procedures wasn't naked, he was wearing shorts FYI. Make sure after you finish with any tub/room, you shower off that sweat before you get back into the hot tub.
The lounge area has a bunch of armchairs that you can sit and read, or watch korean tv. Right next to it is the diner area. The cook was a woman so cover your naughty bits while you eat. On the other side of the locker room is a sleeping room and a cool down room. The cool down room is nice for the end of your visit to help bring your body temp down before you put all your clothes back on. The sleeping room is nice and dark, with recliners and a mat area. I could easily take a nap there.
Overall my experience here was excellent. I don't have any comparison with other spas, but I think it's good for what it is. -
Review from Mikaela S.
Ogden, UT
1/2/2012
If heaven is a place on earth i bet it would be something like this. I went on a discount day and for only $10 spent 4 hours getting pampered. They have a hotter than blazes steam room where you can literally feel the toxins dripping out your body, a few wooden saunas, hot tubs, cold baths, vanity scrub stations, showers, massage rooms, relaxation rooms and lounge areas that can all be used with your entrance fees. For really small extra fees you can get a massage, acupuncture, aromatherapy, scrubs and more. They sell facial masks at the desk for $2 that are amaaaazing. I can not wait to go back and get pampered again.
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Review from Chrissy K.
Manhattan Beach, CA
12/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
This place is really great! They have several rooms to relax and unwind in (steam room, sauna, clay room, jade, room), as well as 3 different temperature tubs (cold, warm, hot). In addition, there is a quiet room (where you can sleep) and a lounge room where you can lounge and eat. Their scrub service is truly awesome! They really exfoliate all the dead skin cells off of your body and you leave so fresh and clean. The pricing is very decent! $100 for a 1.5 hour body scrub and aromatherapy massage!
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Review from Jeen L.
Garden Grove, CA
12/28/2011
The spa is very well kept and clean. The clay room was super relaxing. The accupressure massage was worth every penny. Can't wait to go again!
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Review from Harmonie T.
Los Angeles, CA
9/12/2011
Tastiest water ever...EVER!
There are water coolers in the women's locker room and in the spa area. Both filled with icy cold water and slices of lemon, oranges, and grapefruit. Mmmmm! I filled up my water bottle with that yummy citrus-infused water before leaving the spa. Saved some of that for later!
Which brings me to the importance of hydration. Do it! You're detoxing, sweating, forcing yourself to sit in extreme hot temperatures. Hydrate hydrate hydrate!!!
If you haven't been to a Korean spa and you don't mind being completely butt naked in front of a bunch of strangers, then I would highly recommend Natura Spa. Only having been to one other Korean spa (Wi Spa), I would prefer Natura because:
- Children 12 and under are not allowed
- It's quiet (...because there are no kids!)
- Large lockers with specific cubby within the locker for your shoes
- A nice aromatherapy-like scent is used in the steam room sauna
- Your cell phone actually works
- With the exception of the gym, this spa keeps the women and men completely separated
- Tastiest water ever...HELLO!?!
The wet area consists of: stand-up showers, sit down showers, hot pool, warm pool, and a cold pool just short of hypothermia. Seriously, be careful in the cold pool!
Saunas available are: dry sauna (with tv), steam room, jade room, and a clay room which actually reminded me more of a salt room just because it felt more like rocks rather than balls of clay. With that in mind, I actually like the clay room better at Wi Spa.
This spa provides plenty of amenities: shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, slippers, towels, bath robe, hair dryers, body lotion, q-tips, and damn tasty water! ;D
Lucy Y. and I explored more areas of the spa and found: a nap room, a tanning bed (extra service), nail salon (extra service), a lounge area with wifi, a small cafe, and a co-ed gym complete with cardio and weight machines. They will even provide you with proper gym attire.
One very important tip is how to find Natura Spa. Once Lucy Y. and I were inside of the Wilshire Galleria, it took us at least 10 minutes to find the entrance to the spa. Ladies, here's what you do: walk in through the main entrance, see the cafe on the left, walk past the cafe and turn left towards the elevators, take the elevators down to the basement. Remember to bring your parking ticket to the front desk. Natura validates.
Remember to taste the multi-citrus infused water ;D -
Review from Desdemona B.
Los Angeles, CA
12/19/2011
$100 goes far! Massage and scrub plus all day at the pools hanging out. Good food too. Have fun!
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Review from A K.
Glendale, CA
12/14/2011
Korean spa 101
I used to go to Korea every summer when i was younger...in Korea they go once a week to the local spa. Admission is only 5 bucks or something though.
1) Please be naked. It's wierd when you have fabric on and you can see me, but I can't see you.
2) Please shower before entering any of the pools. I don't want to bathe in your grime.
3) Please shower in between, like when you sweat in the clay room or the dry sauna room. No one wants to bathe in your sweat.
4) You can put your key around your wrist, or your ankle, or as a hair tie. That's why they make it rubber-band like.
5) Make sure you clean those pink plastic stools before you sit on them. In korea, they use really hot water and soap to clean it down really quick.
6) You're supposed to be kinda quiet and talk in whispers. It's rude to be really loud and laugh hysterically. I've seen the scrub ladies come out of their area and reprimand women who were too loud ( korean and non-korean). It echoes in spas because of the tile walls so everyone can hear you loud and clear.
7) Last, but not least, you're not supposed to stare or look. It's respectful to close your eyes, or look down, or look away for a moment when a woman comes into the pool you're in, or the room you're in, etc. (I notice a lot of the korean americans don't know this unspoken rule...now you know!)
Hope this helps, Natura's the best! -
Review from Lucy Y.
Los Angeles, CA
After trying several Korean spas, Olympic Spa is still my all time fave - and the spa that I hold every other up in comparison to. So it says a lot that today, Natura won second place!
I came here on a Friday afternoon with Harmonie T, and we were both pleasantly surprised by the new-feeling decor (lots of marble floors and counters). There's free parking in the lot behind them - just pull a ticket and they validate you inside.
After a little hunt around for the entrance to the women's side (the men's side is way more visible), we rode the elevator down to the basement of the Wilshire Galleria where the spa is located.
It's usually $15 to get in (same price as Olympic Spa), but we had jumped on some Groupon deals, so we were covered! The first thing I noticed and appreciated about the spa is that even though it's in the basement, there IS cell coverage - which hasn't been true for any of the other Korean spas I've been to that are underground.
The girl at the front desk was very sweet and friendly, and asked us if we had ever been to a Korean spa before. Even though we said we had, she gave us a quick rundown of the procedure here (towels and robe are in the lockers, shower before going in the pools and after the saunas, etc.).
The facilites are sleek and elegant - very clean and new looking. While at Olympic Spa they have separate little lockers for shoes, here they have a lower small compartment in your main locker where you can put your shoes. Nice touch!
Also nice was a large dispenser of ice water with artfully placed slices of lemon, lime, orange and grapefruit slices that added a little refreshing taste to the water. A dispenser and cups in the locker room and near the Jade and Yellow Clay rooms were perfect for access when you need it!
The wet area had:
* A big hot pool - not as hot as the mugwort tea pool at Olympic, but nice - with jets constantly going
* A smaller warm pool - about as warm as the warm pool at Olympic, with a timer to activate the jets
* An even smaller cold pool - bordering on TOO cold! Being in this pool, I can only imagine how quickly hypothermia can set in.
* Dry sauna - big, with smooth wood floors and a TV with low volume
* Steam sauna - herbs of some sort made this steamy room smoky too
* Jade room - not as hot as the dry sauna
* Yellow clay room - also not as hot as the dry sauna, the floor was lined with clay rocks
* Sit down & stand up showers with shampoo and conditioner, and bar and liquid soap
The best part of the place - and the biggest reason why it's 2nd best on my spa list - is that there was absolutely NO chlorine smell in any of the pools here! Or bromine either - which is used (and detectable) at other spas. I don't know if it's an herb that was in the water, but there was a slight celery-seed smell around, which was interesting.
The only thing that became a little irritating about the place over the hours that we were there was the safety non-slip rubber floor tiles all over the wet area and through the locker room. I get that it's for safety, but they're really nubby and hurt my bare feet after walking back and forth on them a while. They had plenty of sandals available to wear, but they were also nubby. I guess I have sensitive feet!
The locker room had marble-countered, sleek areas for hair and makeup, with:
Nice hair dryers - professional feeling, with warm, hot and cool settings
Hairspray
Q-Tips
Cleansing cream
Body lotion
Brushes
Fans (helpful when you're hot and blow drying your hair)
After we got dressed and were about to head out, we realized we didn't look around the corner. So we did, and saw:
* Relaxation room - a platform with a big TV, big comfy chairs and a banquette seating area
* Restaurant adjacent to the relaxation area where you use your key to buy food or fresh juices, and then pay when you leave
* Super dark sleeping room, with a silent tv
* Gym - the only co-ed area in the place, you can request clothing to wear in this area
* Tanning bed ($15/session)
* Nail salon
For some reason, all the TVs in the place had baseball on, as compared to the Korean soap operas that usually play in other spas.
The Wilshire Galleria is an interesting place, we learned when looking for the women's spa entrance. There's a soju bar, a karaoke club, a movie theater (Korean and English movies) and a restaurant on the floors above as well as an optician, makeup counter, beauty salon, and a couple of clothing stores on the ground floor.
While this spa isn't 24 hours like some others, they do have relatively long hours (M-Th 6am-10pm; Fri & Sat 6am-11pm; Sun 7am-10pm).
Olympic Spa's mugwort pool is still something I haven't had any other Korean spa offer, so I have to still give them the #1 spot on my Korean spa list. But even if I hadn't gotten the Groupon deals for Natura, at $15 for an entry, and no detectable chlorine smell, I'd definitely come back!Listed in: Korean Spas
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Review from E B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Only been there once, but I definitely plan on going more. The accupressure massage was awesome-- if you like a real massage for your muscles instead of just a rub down.
The place is a great alternative to Wi Spa if you're not going with your significant other or if you're going with your girlfriends, since there's no co-ed area. Unlike Wi Spa, wiFi connection is great. Only downside I can think of is that they don't allow you to bring your own food. -
Review from Klue l.
Monterey Park, CA
12/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
lets make this short & sweet:
pros- clean, friendly staff, large lockers, tasty food
cons- (okay not cons...maybe just differences from other spa's that I prefer)
smaller bath area, only 2 dry heat rooms that are concrete floor, smaller facility in general -
Review from roxy k.
Los Angeles, CA
12/5/2011
went w/ my friend this past Sunday and had a relaxing spa day. Have to take elevator to basement level but was pleasantly surprised once we arrived. Found place to be clean. Has 2 hot jacuzzis, cold bath, sauna, steam room, clay room, scrub area, several showers, towel/robes provided in lockers, service was fine, cafeteria and lounge area. it's significantly smaller than Wi spa if you've been but i didn't mind; it gets the job done. definitely get the scrub it's the best.
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Review from Ben L.
Los Angeles, CA
7/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Go au naturel at Natura Spa!
Yes, this is a Korean spa so you will be naked for a good part of your stay. But trust me, you will get over it quickly. Everyone is just here to relax and soak and steam the stresses of life away...
Here's a rundown of the men's facilities:
-6 standing showers
-12 sit-down showers
-hot jacuzzi tub
-cold plunge
-steam room
-sauna
-cooling room
-dark relaxation room w/recliners and heated floors
-lounge area w/wifi
-food service
Shower before using any of the facilities. Robes and shorts can be found in the grooming area. Toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, shaving cream, soap, shampoo, etc are all provided for you.
Entrance fee is $15 and I thought it was a good bargain considering how nice the facilities were. It's definitely one of the smaller spas out there but I kinda liked the more intimate space as it was quieter and more conducive to relaxing. I still like Wi, as well, but sometimes it's just too darn busy there.
Please keep in mind that although Natura also has a women's side, you will not be able to mingle with them as both sides are totally separate and there are no co-ed areas.
Warning: The non-slip mats in the bathing area seriously hurt my feet as they're full of tiny "massaging" bumps on them. Make sure to grab slippers near the entrance of the lockers to use during your stay. It's been a whole day since I was there and my feet STILL hurt! :(
Parking: There's an outdoor lot in the back of the building. Natura will validate for any length of time. There's stamp for your ticket at the front desk but it's only good for 3 hours so if you're there longer than that, make sure to ask them for validation stickers.Listed in: Keeping Up with the…
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Review from Mike N.
Santa Monica, CA
8/2/2011
To the LOUD russian guys that go here, please note that people come here to relax, not listen to you converse. The men's side is very small, so voices carry and echo. They were talking loudly in the hot tub, sauna and steam room. Yelling to each other from one end to the other. It was very annoying. Other than that, I like this place. I don't think it's Natura's fault, since I experienced the same thing at Wi Spa. I guess they just don't know the etiquette, or care. I'm not sure which. Probably both. Oh, and they practically did a cannonball into the hot tub. There is a sign outside that says children 12 and younger aren't allowed. There should also be a sign that says people who act 12 and younger shouldn't be allowed. It basically ruined my time here, but since I'm a groupon hoarder, I have 5 more passes to use, so I'll give it another shot and update later.
It's a little hard to find, you park, walk in, go to the right, down the elevator to the basement, and then you see the entrance. The woman at the front desk was friendly-ish. She was basically just doing her job. Nothing more, nothing less.
The gym is small and the machines are decent. It gets a little stuffy but I'm glad the gym is free to use, unlike Wi where you are supposed to be a member.
The facility itself is pretty clean, there was a guy who came through every 10 minutes or so to pick up towels and make sure everything looked clean and put away.
I didn't notice a smell in the water, but I did notice that in the steam room, it smelled like curry. I'm not sure if it was from the little restaurant by the lobby, and had I not been boiling in a steam room, it would have smelled tasty. Seeing as how i was dripping in sweat and could barely breathe anyway, it made me want to puke.
Honestly I like this place. The parking is free, it wasn't too crowded on a Monday night, the fruit infused water was good, they had well stocked small towels, razors, toothbrushes, shirts in size small available (not only XL like other korean spas), slippers, basically everything was decent or better. The only reason I'm taking away a star is for the obnoxious russians that were there that day. I really hope I never see them there again, or anyone who doesn't understand basic spa etiquette. One more thing, they all wore the shorts in the water. While it's not only unsanitary, it's basically pointless because the shorts are white and see-thru anyway. Nasty. Other than them, it's mostly older koreans. -
Review from phoenix r.
Los Angeles, CA
9/1/2011
This was my very first visit to a korean spa...And BOY was it GREAT!
After stalking korean spas here on yelp for about a year, I finally got up the nerve to go. And after grabbing my friend who was visiting LA...we were on our way.
1. Parking is behind the spa which makes it great as no one needs to deal with street meter parking in korea town. Sign says $15 but Natura validates for 3hrs. If you go over it will be $3!
2. The womens side is acually kind of hidden on the right hand side and located downstairs.
3. The Lady at the front desk was very nice and welcoming. Making sure we were comfortable with the nakedness of a korean spa. We were excited and she was very gracious to us outsiders.
4. Use of the facility, numerous hot tubs. clay and jade rooms, saunas and showers, body scrub and massage...And STEAL @ $80 per person. OMG
5. The place was SUPER clean and organized!!!
6. Lee was my body treatment specialist...and let me tell you...She scoured every inch of my body with supreme knowledge. I mean there was so much ick,dry dead skin I thought I'd be another race when I left. And my massage...oh lawd...I have NO idea I had knots in some of these places. Still a lil sore today.
7. Now as a wearer of braids...I was almost tempted to skip the shampoo...boy was I glad I changed my mind. Lee gave the best scalp massage ever! Mini facial was great too!
8. We took a short nap on the lovely heated jade floors and watched a korean soap opera.
I love Natura and now am eager to visit other korean spas in the area. I'd much rather give my money to these types of places instead of the foofoo places around town. The best bargain in LA! -
Review from Jenny D.
San Gabriel, CA
9/9/2011
Went there today with my cousin to use my groupon that i had gotten a while back. aside from the initial shock that we had to be completely naked. It was good. The jacuzzi was awesome. Loved the clay room, the jade room was a little stuffy for me. The saunas were a little too hot for me and steamy... i felt like my contacts were going to pop out of my eyes.
we ended up getting a body scrub. OMG. it felt good. my skin felt so soft after the body scrub. and the mini head massage/hair wash/face wash was awesome too! Judy was my "body scrubber" for the day. I felt like jelly after i was done. It was really good. TOTALLY recommend this place! For sure going to come back if i have some money :) -
Review from La-Aja W.
Los Angeles, CA
9/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went to Natura Spa with my bestie after getting a Groupon for it, and I REALLY ENJOYED IT!!! After the initial shock of seeing old Asian ladies totally naked, we were able to relax and go thru the various bathtubs, steam rooms, and more.
The place is really clean. I love the hi-tech lockers. I got my electronic key wet and it still worked. They had shower shoes. Everyone showers constantly to keep the hot-tubs sanitary. I love the clay room where you can lay on salt rocks as sweat comes profusely through your pores. When I left the Spa I totally felt like my pores had gotten deep cleansed. I want to go back once a week!
The only drawback was that my bestie felt that they just threw us in there.It was our first time and we knew nothing. No one took the time to explain anything to us. -
Review from Kelly K.
Los Angeles, CA
Clean, relaxing, and affordable! What a find! For $15 I washed, soaked, and sweated away all my stress. My friend and I are Korean Spa "junkies" and we have been numerous times to Olympic Spa and Century Spa...Natura is WAAAYYY better! For the same price, Natura is cleaner, better constructed, well maintained, and has so much more to offer.
The parking lot is outdoors but it is plentiful and the spa validates. From the entrance, the men's spa is on the right and the women's spa is on the left. Take the elevator down (yes, you can only go down) to the lobby.
The front desk workers speak english and are very courteous and helpful. The basic entrance fee is $15 and a scrub (30 min) is $30. You get a key for your locker (containing a plastic tray with your locker number, a robe, 2 small towels, and 1 large towel). There are rubber spa slippers (located in the hallway) that you can use if you don't want to walk barefoot in the spa.
Basically there are 3 pools: warm (typical jacuzzi), herbal, and ice. They also have a wet sauna (with a yummy herbal smell), dry sauna (with large flat screen tv BONUS!), clay room (clay walls and clay balls on the floor), and a jade room. They even have citrus water available at the entrance to the spa and towards the back near the clay & jade rooms. If you go through the changing area, there's a lounge (with tvs) and a small restaurant that serves pretty decent food at an affordable price.
Bottom line, Natura is not nearly as crowded as some of the others (no kids running around), has a peaceful vibe, modern, well maintained, and provides a relaxing environment. Don't forget to ask the front desk for weekday coupons for an entry fee of $10 Mon-Thurs. Ahhhhhh.... I can't wait to return! -
Review from Ly H.
6/17/2011
Why do I love to be scrubbed by half naked middle aged Korean ladies? Maybe they remind me of my own bad-ass momma or because they scrub about 10 pounds of dead skin off my body. Whatever the reason, I absolutely love it.
Come prepared to spend half the day here, which can easily be done. There is a steam room, dry sauna, super hot jacuzzi, middle hot pool, icy cold pool, a jade room, a clay room, and a super chill out room. They also serve great Korean food.
If you're looking for a quiet hushed spa experience, this might not be the place for you. People are there to relax, but at the same time it's a communal bath. People come to relax with their girlfriends, sisters, moms, grandmas. -
Review from Rachel R.
6/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yelp's front page just asked me why I haven't reviewed this place yet so here I am.
SIKE. I'm really here because the very thought of my completely naked self who paid a half naked older woman to scrub my butt has not escaped my mind since. In a good way, believe me.
I did my research. I knew EXACTLY what I was getting myself into. And it only intrigued me that much more. I've never been in this type of environment before and have never pampered myself besides getting nails did. I loathe massages - some say it's because I haven't gotten a godly masseuse yet but I say it's because of my sensitive back. Regardless, I didn't come here for that, but strictly for the BODY SCRUB.
Oh my. I lied down on this bare table, they splash water all over my bare body. And it begins. Ze Scrubbing. Let's just say, your loofa will never satisfy your urge to scrub, EVER AGAIN. "Why do I even use that damn useless thing," was the only thought running through my mind as all these dirty skin cells began appearing next to me. The best part about it is, right when you're dreading it's end, she tells you to turn over, and begins scrubbing again. I seriously never wanted it to end. Granted that if it really didn't, I would not have skin anymore, it was the most rejuvenating feeling in the history of dinosaurs. I felt re-born, and you might as well have added labor room lights and green scrubs and I would've started crying. Happy tears, of course.
Onto the food. I ate bibimbap in my robe and pretended to read a Korean newspaper which mainly just consisted of me staring at the pictures and trying to figure out what the article could be about. Korean newspapers, add more pictures please, you had like 3 in your entire issue. Anyway, the tip is included in your order, so all you needed to provide was your bracelet key. -
Review from Dominique J.
Los Angeles, CA
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
So I literally just got home from Natura and I have to say the visit was awesome! I would've given it 5 Stars but there was something really small that I wasn't satisfied with!.. I'll explain later.
Anyways...
Facility was extremely clean and staff was on point, they kindly greeted me and gave me somewhat of a tour. They are not fluent in English so the directions and explanations weren't that helpful but their great personality made up for it!
My friend and I got a locker key and put our clothes and everything else in there! Inside the locker you will find a white Tupperware with towels, wash cloths, and a robe (which you will barely use), you're required to travel through the spa with it! It is a must you take a shower before you use the amenities, the showers have a nice shower head and shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel! Which all smell so good, kinda like an apple or coconut smell! After you're all showered up you can use any of the amenities but here's the catch for those who have never been to a Korean spa.... YOU MUST BE BUTT NAKED! No swim suits allowed! I thought it would be sooooo sooooo sooooo awkward at first but 5 minutes after I realized these women are here to RELAX not look at me! Trust me it's NO big deal!
They have so many amenities to offer such as a green tea bath, an ice pool, steam room/ sauna, jade room, clay room and etc. Crazy thing is its either going to be extremely HOT or extremely cold in the tubs and rooms! The sauna was so hot it kinda burned my butt so bring your towel to sit on to prevent that. On the other hand the ice pool is f****** freezing to the point where you might go numb! I recommend constantly going back and forth from some place hot to some place cold. All in all the amenities were great and for the small cost of $15 to use all those things is a deal!
My body scrub was so good! Too good for words! They literally cleaned me like a new born baby! A tiny lady in black under wear and a bra (not clear on why the heck they wear that) really did her thing! She scrubbed the DIRT off of me as crazy as that sounds! Who knew I had that much dirt on my skin that I thought was perfectly clean! I guess it took a tiny Korean lady to exfoliate my body for me to realize how much dirt accumulates on peoples skin!
The only sucky thing about Natura is their food! But hey, I didn't really come to eat right?! I didn't expect them to have amazing food because after all they are a spa and not necessarily a restaurant but my bulgogi lacked a lot of flavor and so did my BFFs kalguksu soup definitely not worth the HIGH PRICE! That is the reason why I removed one star!
All in all I will be sure to come back to this awesome place but will not eat here!Listed in: Beauty Galore
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Review from Eva V.
5/22/2011
When I took my mother to try this place with me as a Mother's Day adventure, we had no idea what we would find. I'd never been to a Korean spa but I had heard great things and this is one of the most highly recommended on Yelp. While this place is a real trip to someone who has never been to such a place before, it is one you will be happy you took. You will definitely forget you're in the heart of Los Angeles. You might as well be in Korea, and that's part of the fun!
If you have never been to a Korean spa, this is what you need to know:
1. You need to get nude. Totally nude. Don't be the one person who wears a swimsuit. If you being someone, make sure they are cool with seeing your "bits"
2. Bring any toiletries you want. Soap and shampoo are available, but if you have certain items you always use, bring them.
3. If you are a woman and you ask for a massage, your masseur will be a tiny Korean lady in only her underpants who slathers you with oil and beats the tar out of you. She will also speak no English so mime your requests precisely. Afterwards she will wash you like a newborn baby and then disrobe and wash herself. I'm being totally serious, but I will say that the massage is pretty good, but not the best.
My favorite part of the spa was the Yellow Clay sauna room. It made me feel totally relaxed and it never got too hot for me. Also check out the jacuzzi with Chinese herbs in the water.
Important point: park in the rear because they validate parking. I parked in a different parking garage off Vermont and I had to pay $14 because they don't validate for that one (totally my fault).
At $15 a visit, I am sure to come back visit this place again. I am a total fan.Listed in: Pamper Me...
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Review from Brian L.
Pasadena, CA
5/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Glad I finally chose to try this spa over all the others. It was clean, people were nice and did not feel uncomfortable. The shopping complex is a little difficult to navigate, but just look for an elevator and go down one floor. They will give you a locker and electronic key. You also get flip flops, access to robes, hand towels (I did not find any bath towels), toothbrush/toothpaste, and an array of products to use.
The area is large enough to not feel crowded. There were only 8 guys there on a Monday afternoon. Everyone walks around naked, that's what your supposed to do :) They have a spa (hot tub), cold dip, sauna, steam, cooling room, and a sleeping room with 8 leather recliners. Showers are stocked with soap, shampoo and conditioner.
I went for the scrub down since everyone said that was the service to get. I was glad that the table was not in the middle of the room, they actually have a half wall to give you some privacy. He scrubbed me down all over (except the bottom of my feet and my face) one time, rinse, and then scrubbed again using two hands, rinse. He also scrubbed my scalp and washed my hair while laying face down on the table. There was some back massage towards the end but nothing special. This was a unique experience but I may do it again. My skin is very soft now :)
I did have lunch in the kitchen. The seaweed and beef soup was big and good. They also give you 6 Korean side dishes and rice for $10. In the communal area (next to the kitchen), they have a bunch of comfy chairs, a TV, newspapers and a computer with internet. All the TVs are on Korean channels but I still watched them for enjoyment.
The spa was very relaxing. The TVs were not blaring. No kids. They validate parking. I would definitely come back. -
Review from S K.
Los Angeles, CA
11/21/2011
Its one of the "ok" spa in koreatown i guess(?) but the fact that its in basement and yes the ladies at the front desk can be rude and...the massage that i got in fact got my back hurting more...hummmm...can't say i like it but its not like i hate it....
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Review from Lauren Y.
Los Angeles, CA
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had never even been to a spa before, and this was my first. Now it is the only one I go to even though I have now been to many other much more fancy and well reviewed spas. This place simple and I love it!!!
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Review from Karina D.
Studio City, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wonderful, clean, my lovely Natura SPA. I love it so much, with best Choi.
Thank you for all staff! -
Review from Phil G.
Santa Monica, CA
5/8/2011
If you want more water than Kevin Costner ever imagined; icy cold, piping hot, the steamiest steam room ever, a cold plunge, pretty good whirlpool, though it could use jets higher up for the shoulders, very hot dry sauna, gym etc, etc, this is the place for you. The body scrub takes exfoliation to a whole new level, like being scrubbed down with a wire brush for the grill...I felt like they thought I was wearing a suit of armor that needed descaling and burnishing. The whole place was clean, no mold, which is impressive given all the moisture.
This is one of the only Korean baths for men - they also have a totally separate womens' bath, (even separate reception, elevator and cashier) which has even more options, so my wife says. Expect $15-$20 with no frills; massage and scrub added $60, with tips the whole event hit the magic $100. eeek. Next time, I'll just do the scrub.
