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The Hidden Spa
Rating Details »
Categories: Massage, Skin Care, Day Spas
Neighborhoods: Ocean Beach, Point Loma4969 Santa Monica Ave
(between Cable St & Bacon St)
San Diego, CA 92107
(619) 224-2160
80 Minute Couples Massage for $180!
Cookies, fruit, sparkling cider, two full body 80 min massages finished with peppermint foot scrubs. Only $180!
- Hours:
Mon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Sat-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Accepts Insurance:
- No
- By Appointment Only:
- No
87 reviews for The Hidden Spa
This business is a Yelp Sponsor
12/14/2008
11/16/2009
11/4/2009
10/6/2009
11/18/2009
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1/27/2009
One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?
yes, yes, yes. This place is awesome. I had a couples massage with my hubby and we both felt like going into fetal position and napping afterwards. We had to play rock, paper, scissors to decide who would drive our floppy bodies home.
Jenn and Maggie were suuuuper. The massages were relaxing, soothing, and with just the right amount of delightful pain as they kneaded away knots and tension spots.
AND... the prices are sooooo reasonable!!! a full hour for the both of us for 140??!!! WOO-hooooo!! I want to live here.
I chose this spa based on everyone's awesome Yelp reviews and they're great prices. My friend and I both had hour long massages that were heavenly. Our massage therapists really worked us over and the best part of the massage was the scalp massage.
This spa is cleverly tucked away so if you're not paying attention you'll miss it. Once entering, you're enveloped in this tranquil atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at ease. The staff is professional and very kind in their demeanor.
I definitely recommend this spa to anyone on a budget looking for a great massage in the San Diego area.
We had called and asked for the Yelp couple's special 2 days prior to our desired date, and they were able to accommodate us! However, they did mention that there were no available female therapists, and instead was it okay with me and my boyfriend that we would get two male therapists? I said it was fine!
The day of the massage, BF and I roll into Ocean Beach and start hunting for parking. We parked a block away from the spa, which was okay since it was a busy Sunday afternoon.
Hostess was nice and helpful? Check!
Venue was cute and relaxed? Check! (By no means was it a 5 star spa, but it was cute)
Waiting area presentable and relaxing? Check! (goodies were served too: a few berries, chocolates, apple cider and champagne)
So after being escorted into our couple's room, BF and I settle into our tables and got ready for a mind-blowing massage.
As soon as Joel started on my back, I couldn't help but think lustful thoughts! OMG, I was thinking, "Only in this profession can a guy feel up a girl in front of her boyfriend, and he gets paid to do this!" And then I proceeded to think how many guys probably get aroused getting a massage from a male therapist and then thinking to themselves, "NO NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I can't be GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! WTF is happening?"
Because of my lustful/weird thoughts, I couldn't concentrate on relaxing. But this went on only for a few minutes, after which I completely forgot everything and was awakened an hour later with slobber dripping down my mouth.
Soooo good.
i've been to spas all over and the two female therapists we had for couples massage (a month ago) were incredible. I felt so completely relaxed I wish I could've taken a nap right there in the dimly lit room.
I love how comfortable this place is. It feels like home... not some fancy spa that only caters to expensive people.
came here with my mom two days ago. we both had male therapists... mom said she just loved the touch of a handsome, younger man... I had no complains either :)
This spa is real. The people are so friendly and professional you have to give them a try. Also, because of their business structure their prices are affordable. I love the non-corporate overly decorated charm. My girlfriend and her best friend went for a massages and facials and they were both totally pleased and they both are harsh critics of everything. Give it a try!
I love this little place, if you go take a little extra time to walk a few blocks down to the beach after it really completes the spa experience!
Ben gives a very relaxing massage and he is very nice I will be back!
I don't know why i waited so long to write a review for this place!
i went to the hidden spa about two months ago (and i could have sworn i wrote a review already... oh well) and im still dreaming about it! I can't remember the name of the girl who did my facial... lisa? maybe but it was fantastic. very gently and she made sure that i was comfortable the whole time. However it was my massage that was the star! I was pretty sick at the time and my masseuse Kimba made sure i had plenty of fluids during my massage ( she was genuinely concerned about my health) I was sick in the first place because i was being grossly overworked at my previous job and i was full of knots. I will say that Kimba beat the shit out of my back and i mean that in the nicest way possible. I told her i was having alot of pain in my back from standing for 8+ hours a day. She took out all of my knots and although alot of what she did was a little...rough it took away all my pain! I even got over being sick in two days! I don't know what she did but i swear even two months later i havent had any back pain since. Kimba is fantastic and i recommend her to anyone who is feeling any discomfort in their back, im sure she would do fabulous sport massages. Not to make her sound like she was all rough, the majority of my massage was very soothing. I also loved the chime music she had on, reminded me of the massages in Bali.
Hidden Spa is awesome!!!!
No joke, its so hidden I almost missed it when I walked by. Took the girlfriend here for a very fun anniversary and saying that she absolutely loved it doesn't do this place justice. I got major bf brownie points.
Had the couples massage which was very romantic. Jarrod was my massage therapist was the man, firm but still gentle and the one hour flew by. My girlfriend's therapist was awesome too but I don't remember her name, started with an s...sarah...or sally...sandra? Ohhh samsonite!
Well, its by far the best money I've ever spent on myself and I'll make any excuse now to return.
First off the location is great...Ocean Beach is so charming and I love the drive out there.
The interiors are calm and lovely. The receptionist is very accomodating and serves you tea and water while you wait. The waiting room is relaxing.
I have been here twice for a couples massage, which is quite a deal, $140 for 60 minutes. Both times the therapists were great.
My first visit was really a 5 star visit. They served us a full plate of seasonal fruit and glasses of wine with some large chunks of gourmet chocolate to boot.
Then maybe they had some budget cuts. Our second visit we got 3 stale faux oreos to split amongst 2 people (I arm wrestled and lost), 6 grapes, and some room temperature uncarbonated apple cider.
What happened? Did their shopper buy inventory with foodstamps? :(
It's businesses like the Hidden Spa that add to the uncomparable charm of OB. The staff are so warm and welcoming....not at all stuffy like other full service spas.
I've been here twice for a massage with Kimba...she's got powerful hands (I requested a firm massage) and was able to make me melt like butter. They have great deals and I plan to return with my girlfriends for their "3's a Spa Party" package....it's $99 per person (for groups of 3) and includes a 50 min facial, 50 min massage, spa lunches, and arm & foot scrubs.
I knocked off 1 star for 3 reasons. The massage rooms are a little bright for my tastes, the linens are not very comfy, and parking can be hard to find. The 2 different rooms I've been in have windows; and although there are window coverings, it's still a little too bright. I prefer a really dim lit room for my massage. The linens on the massage tables could use some improvement. You can get some quality high thread count sheets at Ross or Marshall's...since you only need a twin size, you can get them for a really good price. And lastly...free parking is hard to find on the weekends.
This is a FABULOUS spa! I give a highly enthusiastic recommendation!!!
Jill is incredible...She is very informative and friendly. She's very professional and did an amazing job on my facial! My skin looks and feels like there was 10 years of fun in the sun reversed!
The entire experience, from the first making an appointment to the last thank you and goodbye was a complete pleasure, and ended up being exactly what I wanted. The service is exemplary even before you set foot in the spa. They take very seriously that you should get exactly what you want, and they gave me no reason to believe otherwise. They are very affordable and the remodel is beautiful if you haven't been in.
The entire place smells wonderful, as expected, and at every turn there were friendly faces. Whether it be the therapists/technicians or the owner Jill herself, who is very hands on. You are just made to feel very welcome.
The services themselves are wonderful. Overall, the experience is definitely one that I am looking forward to repeating again.
I can't wait to go back to the Hidden Spa!!!!
It's hard finding a good massage therapist but OB has it covered. They must give them all a test run before they're hired because the massage I got while visiting friends in San Diego was top notch.
Everyone at the spa was friendly and helpful, you would've thought I was a regular client. I even got to meet the owner...how often does that happen?
I've been here 4 or 5 times. Each time I get a facial and each time its by a different person (I always try to book with Lisa but the heavens keep us apart). She was unavailable or the timing just wasn't right). All the estheticians are different. I think its a matter of preference and finding the person. Some I found were way too hard on my skin and left scars after extractions, others were far too gentle. Lisa was perfect-- do I sound like Goldilocks?
But everyone here is super friendly and very sweet. They just remodeled too. Some of the rooms are a little small but it's okay, I don't really mind since I'm there to get a facial not sit in a big room. The prices here are unbeatable. I'll probably keep coming here but schedule appointments with Lisa whenever I go.
I went here on Monday night for a little pampering (ok, a LOT of pampering). I had the 60 minute massage from Ben and the 60 minute facial from Amy. Both were awesome.
Massage side note: If you get a massage from a male here, please be sure you understand what clothes you should have on and off - and for which portion of the service. Hahaha. This little misunderstanding resulted in a very hilarious turn of events prior to my massage. Apparently, if you are getting multiple services, there is a bit of a "clothing-optional" transition between the massage room and the esthetician room. This isn't as weird as it sounds, but it can DEFINITELY make for some interesting conversations if you get a masseuse with a quieter, less direct manner of speaking.
Facial side note: this was my first experience with a facial (no jokes here, please haha) and it was truly miraculous. Amy was very knowledgeable, sweet, and professional. She made me look amazing!
Highly recommend the Hidden Spa. Prices are right and the service can't be beat. (Remember to ask what "undress to your level of comfort" means when you go though!!!! LOL!)
I have about 6 years worth of reoccurring knots on my right shoulder and sadly it will probably never disappear. Since my man constantly complains about how deep my knots are and how much pain it's causing his thumb, I decided to treat him and myself to a 90 minutes couple's massage. At first I thought 90 minutes would be too long, but omg, my shoulder and body felt so relaxed afterwards I didn't want to move.
My man had Kimba as his masseuse and fell asleep after ten minutes. I'm sure he enjoyed every minute of it as he kept snoring throughout the entire process that it kind of disrupted my serenity. At first I wanted to poke him with a stick and squeeze his nostrils, but once Jarrod massaged the knots out of my shoulder, I let the snore go and started to relax. Jarrod listened to my shoulder needs and was extremely attentive to that area, massaging it for what felt like 45 minutes. He also placed two hot stones and a hot towel to help loosen my knots. He used aromatherapy oils on my back and mixed different techniques like deep tissue and deep pressure points which gave the right amount of pressure on my tired body. When I laid on my back, he covered my eyes with a warm scented eye cover that put me into a deep sleep. I guess I was in such a deep sleep that at one point, my left leg jumped and twitched leaving me a little embarrassed. But I guess that just shows how relaxed I was. At the end, I had my foot scrubbed which felt divine. This was definitely the bf's favorite part of the treatment. He told me that Kimba also used the same treatment/technique (hot stone, hot towel, oil).
They are currently offering a special on their 60/ 90 minutes couple's massage, so if you need some body tlc, do it here at Hidden Spa! Despite the name, this spa was easy to find and parking was not a problem for us.
They also offered water/tea and our treatment came with two strawberries, two cookies, and two ciders.
I'll definitely be back, but I'll probably make the bf wear a mouth guard or something to block out his insane snores!
Spas are always a treat to me and The Hidden Spa is one of my well treasured treats. My stress of work goes right out the window everytime I come here. The staff is there to make you happy. I try to book the same people but never have the luck. I haven't had a staff member that displeased me in the least. From the decor to the music and lotions, Hidden Spa definitely hit the spot in more ways than one.
Cute place, relaxing atmosphere, friendly staff, and a very good massage.
My wife and I recently tried The Hidden Spa's 90 minute couples massage. As others have mentioned, parking can be tough in OB, but with a little patience or a couple of dollars, you can find a space.
When we arrived, we were pleasantly greeted by one of the staff members and escorted to their patio while they finished preparing our room. We didn't have wait long and the patio was so nice, we were relaxed before we even started the massage.
Our massage was fantastic. This was my first 90 minute massage, and I didn't want it to end. Our therapists asked us where we needed work and then actually worked the areas we mentioned. They were responsive to our requests to change pressure or to work a different area. The music and aromatherapy complimented the relaxing atmosphere.
While we didn't tour the entire facility, every room I saw was very clean and soothing. The aesthetics really add to the experience. You should feel confident choosing The Hidden Spa for your next massage.
I absolutely loved my experience here! From the time I made the first call to set up an appointment for a couples massage, including tailoring the session to include a couple of different massage styles, the staff was very friendly and helpful. And the massages themselves were simply awesome. I'm not overly experienced, yet, with massage but have done things like this as well as further up and down the 'spa' scale and by far this is the best I've felt not just walking out but for days after. And the price was more than reasonable.
The only knock, the thing that keeps this from being a 5 star as good as it gets review, is the setting. While done very nicely it's still in an old house that used to be a real estate office behind a grocery store on a commercial street in Ocean Beach. Inside and outside sound sometimes filters in to the massage room and the space wouldn't be laid out as it is if it were originally built to be a nice day spa.
I will most definitely return to The Hidden Spa the next time I am in SD and have even the slightest desire and motivation to get a massage.
My confession. I made it to almost 36 years of age without ever having gone to get a "professional" massage.
It started a couple nights ago, I was convinced I needed to make out in the back of my car by a very cute guy. Being as adventurous as I am, I decided that was a very good idea. I tweaked my shoulder in the process and two days later I was still trying to rub the muscle loose. Yeah, it wasn't working. So all I could think of was having someone work it out.
So I started calling around at 10am this morning. I tried local first, because I'm a crybaby when it comes to Friday traffic on the 805 south bound. The only place I could find that didn't have a disconnected number was Coldwater Creek Spa, but they were booked out for the entire day and only had 30 minutes available on Saturday.
I turned to Yelp for some Help and found The Hidden Spa.
I called and spoke with a very helpful and friendly youngster named Elise, she answered my questions, booked an appointment for 1230 and told me that I would have to get naked...well, down to my panties and asked if I would like to have a guy or a girl. Being completely heterosexual, I chose a man.
Okay... if we're gonna be honest, the real reason is because I'm not a tiny person and if I had an 80lb cutie rubbing my body down I would feel like a hippo. I've never been a hippo, but I can't imagine it being easy to relax when there's a little bird flapping it's wings next to your mammoth body. Talk about the psychological ramifications associated with that too!
First, let me tell you, getting into OB wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The "bad" was that I forgot it was a beach town (hello) and parking was a nighthmare to find initially. After I circled the block, I splurged and parked in the Appletree Grocery Store parking lot and paid $2. Not bad. Walked around to the right of Appletree and tucked behind the building was a small gate that pointed you into the spa area. I was honestly pretty impressed with the nice clean comfy couch, the wonderful smells and the overall "zenish" feeling. It kind of reminded me for a second of the Aveda Salon in the mall, Gila Rut (the best haircuts and colors are found there!). Anyway - I filled out a form, peed, washed my hands and came back into the reception area, where I was introduced to my new hero.
His name is Jared. He's filipino. I have no idea how old he is, what his status is but after having him rub my body down, I'm positive he's received his share of marriage proposals. I wasn't tempted because well, marriage is a big step, but I am down for seeing him once or twice a month. OMG!
I can't believe I waited so long to get a professional massage and with rates as inexpensive as they are there, I don't think I will be going anywhere else. I left a $20 tip, so all in all, $80 for a whole hour of pleasure. I totally snored a couple of times (scared me to death, so i woke up!)... anyway, I don't have a lot of experience with this kind of thing, but based on my experience, I don't think you'll find this kind of value anywhere else.
I don't mind sharing Jared, but please don't overbook him. lol.
Feeling confident enough to go make out in the back of my car again... takers?
Kristen
I went to hidden spa with my friends last month for a girls day. The ambiance was nice; there's a cozy little room off the to side to sit, drink tea and wait for your room to get set up. It had been a while since I got a real professional massage and I prefer a deep tissue massage to get all the stress knots and kinks worked out. I'm always wary of spas that indicate they have a "deep tissue" massage therapist because often, the therapist doesn't specialize in a real sport-deep tissue massage and may just offer a good pressure back rub.
I was happily put at ease when after talking to my therapist and when I learned about the spa owners criteria for her therapist. Before we got started, we went through the areas of focus for the deep tissue massage and he was caring and asked questions back to make sure we were on the same page. This guy knew exactly the right amount of pressure for my shoulders and back. It was heaven!
The spa itself is nothing fancy but the therapists here are good. Two of my friends were very pleased with their massages as well. Only one friend was not happy, but apparently, she got some guy who just got his certification for massage therapy.
If you're looking for a spa place for a very good massage at a great price, give this place a try.
My wonderful, amazing, gorgeous, thoughtful boyfriend booked a massage and a facial at the Hidden Spa for my birthday. I was so excited because I needed to unwind after entertaining my Ma and Pops for an entire weekend.
I walked in a few minutes early and was put to work filling out a form about my preferences, skin type, goals for my therapist/esthetician. I LIKE that they were asking me what I was looking for, not telling me what I needed. I sat sipping tea as my therapist readied the room.
She set me up with fruit and sparkling cider and cookies, and left the room for a few minutes so I could munch for a bit, strip down, and hop onto the table. It was a nice little refreshing snack, since I had skipped breakfast in order to take the dog on a walk.
The massage itself was wonderful. My therapist (I suck because I don't remember her name - I was so excited about the process that I forgot to listen. I'm a dweeb!) asked me where I'd like her to focus AND SHE ACTUALLY LISTENED. She sought out all the little stringy knots in my back and shoulders and worked each one out individually. Oh, and the ears. She massaged my freaking earlobes. I might as well be a damn puppy because that is such a weak spot for me. What a treat. I didn't need a lot of time on my arms and legs, so she spent the majority of time on my back and shoulders and neck, and then focused on exfoliating my arms and legs rather than trying to find any non-existent knots. She continuously made sure that the pressure was acceptable and that I was relaxed. She also did something that is rare, but something that should ALWAYS be done - she made sure that at least one of her hands was on me at all times. It's comforting, relaxing, and proper. I walked out of the room feeling like an oily hunk of Jello. I was not sure how I was going to stay awake during my facial.
Well, Sheena answered my question: it's not possible to stay awake. Because the weather had been so warm lately, she decided to incorporate hot and cold stones into the facial. What an experience! The switching between hot, warm, cool, and cold stones was so invigorating yet relaxing. The scents were fresh and light and appetizing. And beyond my face, she worked on my shoulders and my arms and hands, too. At one point I totally conked out, because I dropped one of the stones she had placed in my hands. Whoops. Finally, she set me up with an SPF30 so I was set to go outside and conquer the beach! How thoughful is that?
All in all, a truly wonderful experience. My only suggestion to the management: check your CD or MP3 before you broadcast it over the house sound system. The one that was playing during my facial started skipping. It was a minor annoyance, but it was something that I noticed and could be fixed with one button. However, the music that wasn't skipping was a relaxing blend, and added to my experience that morning.
Thanks to all of you for a great start to my 25th birthday!
I'm not a spa expert, and this was my first time, but WOW!
i'm going to be such a spa addict after this experience.
So, the story was I came here on my birthday. No waiting and making an appointment was very easy. I changed my plans a couple time and Elise was great on helping me. She gave me a call back on deals that they had. Too bad that they can only have specials if you bring 5 or more ppl. So they lose a star on that. The reason being is that It's my birthday. give me some slack.
I got the 30 min massage which was wonderful. Felt very comfortable and afterwards got a european facial from "LISA". I HIGHLY RECOMMEND HER! she made me fall alseep lol.
Most definitely I'm going to make this a once a month routine=)
I really do not like writing bad reviews, but I'm making an exception for this place. Let's start at the beginning of my experience, back in early January. My boyfriend got me a gift certificate for a "spa" mani/pedi for Christmas. So I call to make an appointment, and am informed that they no longer have a manicurist, but took my name and number to call me when they did. Fine. Almost 3 whole months go by and I haven't heard anything, so at the end of March I decide to give them a call. This is an excerpt from the convo:
Me: "Do you have a manicurist yet?"
Receptionist: "I don't know." Silence.
Me: "Could you find out?"
Receptionist: "Why, do you want the job?"
After explaining that I've been trying to use my gift certificate since January, I finally got to make an appointment for Saturday.
First of all, on their menu of services is a regular mani/pedi, or a "spa" mani/pedi which costs more. I got the spa mani/pedi, but I don't think there was anything spa about it. There is no pedicure chair, which even the cheapest of places I've been to have. I sat in a regular wicker chair and had to soak my feet in a bucket, and then put my feet on my manicurist's LAP! Plus it was in a tiny, poorly-lit room, which was actually a walkway that people had to keep squeezing by us to get through.
My boyfriend told me it included a parrafin dip, which was never offered to me. There were about 12 nail polish colors to choose from, none which I really cared for, and the bottles were dusty.
They get one star because my manicurist was really nice and tried to work with what she had. But I left feeling completely ripped off.
Comment from Jill P. of
The Hidden Spa
8/6/2009
I have personally apologized to this client and have…
More »
came here on recommendation of my fellow yelpers. :)
cute little place hidden away off santa monica in ob. the receptionist and the esthetician (lisa do~ who is apparently the lead esthetician) were super kind. came in for a european facial at 9am. considering i was one of the first people in today (friday), they were a nice way to start off my day.
lisa has a really soft and gentle touch. she also gave some good advice (apparently the teen acne and st. ives peach scrub i've lived by is no good for me!). i don't really have that bad skin quality - but i had a few things i wanted extracted. lisa was gentle and nearly made me fall asleep. :) only thing i noted was that she doesn't use extraction tools that i'm familiar with. i'm still not sure if that's a good or bad thing. good because she was consistently gentle with my face (i scar easily). so-so because i found a couple things that were not extracted. i acknowledge that every one has their own way of doing things and i have nothing negative to remark about lisa. i would definitely recommend her again. i guess i was just hoping that all the things would have been extracted. my face does feel soft and smooth minus a few spots~ but i assume that they were unable to be extracted. she turned on the steamer but i didn't really feel it. hmm~ i guess i would have preferred gentle over scars and/or pain.
the worst experience i had was being left in the room and totally neglected. i appreciated that she told me when she was leaving the room for water and came back timely.
she also gave me some samples and recommendations on product without harassing me to buy from their place.
i would give this place a 3.5. i would probably come back for different services. i would recommend lisa. :) prices were also reasonable.
Sissy and I had a girly day of facials, lunching and handbag shopping. My facial with Lisa was pleasant and very relaxing, however, I do have 2 bones to pick.
1. It was sposed to be a 60 min facial - it was about 45 min. Now, it was still quite enjoyable but if its not really gonna be a 60 minute experience, why bill it as such?
2. When I went to pay, I was told it was 70 smackers. What? Your brochure clearly states it as 60. What's up? Well, Lisa had added on an enzyme dealy but forgot to mention that it was an extra $10. That was a little odd but she apologized and only charged me $5. So, I guess that was ok but I would think that anytime there is an add on - you would need to get an OK on that, no?
I appreciated that Lisa suggested some budget/drugstore alternatives to my current facial routine and didn't upsell up the wazoo. I really hate when that happens but she was cool and kept it to a minimum.
I really like the spa and the staff is nice. I think we may bring our mum back for some mama's day treats. Just be sure that you get what you pay for!
Oh my.
I took my mother here for a couples massage. She was more angry than surprised but after an hour of getting pampered, she lightened up. It was totally worth the money!
I've also went to the Hidden Spa for a Euro facial and a Brazilian wax. I'd recommend the Pretty Kitty for the wax tho..
I had never gotten a professional massage until The Hidden Spa, and I'm going to have such high expectations from now on because it was AMAZING. I got a 60-minute full-body from Jarrod and he was incredible! He used just the right amount of strength, taking into consideration that it was my first time (hence I probably couldn't have taken an intense massage). The ambiance of the room was really relaxing, and the music was really soothing. They also lather this really minty/coconuty lotion on your back - the scent was so refreshing. My massage ended with a foot scrub, which left my feet so clean and smooth :-) I was so sad when my hour ended!
Was vacationing in San Diego and found this FABULOUS spa! Highly recommended!!!
First and foremost, I've had a million waxes and massages all over the world. Elissa gave me THE best wax I've ever had in my life! She's courteous, warm and friendly. She's obviously a top notch professional and did such an amazing job! I'm usually very squeamish about the pain but Elissa put me at ease and I felt extremely comfortable. Best of all, the results were INCREDIBLE!!!! She got every stray hair and it was so quick and virtually painless!!!!! I loved the way she arched my brows too!
Next I had a massage by Lucas. Since I'm used to the Chinese massage places in my hometown, I thought Lucas would be too gentle. I told him about my shoulder and lower back problems and he was phenomenal. The massage was extremely soothing...yet my problem areas improved and felt better than they have in YEARS! I loved it so much that I went back within a week. I miss him already because I went for a massage tonight in NY and felt like I was meat on a chopping board. It was brutal and I felt no improvement afterwards.
I can't wait to go back to San Diego for the Hidden Spa!!!!
I just went here with my best friend for a couple's massage. It was WONDERFUL! They served us some tea before hand (we had to wait awhile even though we had made an appointment but they were very apologetic so I wasn't angry).
The room was very relaxing -- tea light candles, low mellow music and they had set up some snacks and sparking cider for us. The massages felt great and it was well worth the money.
I think the only down side compared to other spa's would be that there isn't a sauna or shower. Oh and the parking is a pain.
Suggestions though: bring some loose clothing and sandals to wear afterward because the massage oil they use can leave you feeling greasy.
This place is awesome. I was able to book a last minute appointment for a massage (I really just wanted a quick 30 minute massage to get the knot out of my back), but walked out of there after having both a great massage and an AMAZING European facial. I've only had one before, so I guess I really can't base too much on experience...but I still think it was incredible. Lisa was so very nice and friendly (and by far, my favourite esthetician), and was extremely knowledgeable about skin care. The pumpkin peel was definitely worth the dollars. The massage was good, but I only booked 30 minutes and ended up wishing I had gone for more.
I could go on and on with compliments about this place. Bottom line is, they are friendly and down to earth (not snobby like some upscale spa joints are), have GREAT affordable prices, and I think its by far the best spa experience I've had since I've been in San Diego.
$90 for a 90 minute massage. Seriously? Holy crap man, I was barely able to drive home after that. My body was butter. And not the "I can't believe it's not butter" butter that you just took out of the fridge. I'm talking fully unhydrogenated butter. You know, like the kind that's been sitting out on the table for 2-3 weeks, that you have to scoop up with a spoon rather than cut with a knife.
You get the idea.
They incorporate lots of different techniques into their massages, so I was a little taken aback from the deep tissue my masseuse performed on my upper back (a little painful, as I hear it's supposed to be) so would have appreciated some warning before hand. Even so, she got a lot of my kinks out and really concentrated on the areas I pointed out to her. Plus she found a good median between making friendly conversation and letting me relax. A good talent to have as a masseuse, as both extremes can either be really irksome or a little awkward.
Definitely recommended. As a gift, as a personal reward, or just because. Because everyone deserves to feel unhydrogentated every once in awhile.
Ok little tip, going for a "spa day" when you are severely hungover isn't the best of ideas. So, I think the reason I'm giving this place four stars instead of five is partially my fault, and also that I am not really a spa aficionado. I wasn't ever completely able to relax, and I think that was again, my fault. Everyone was really sweet, and everything was so reasonably priced.
I got the European Facial with the pumpkin peel. I loved the facial, my skin still looks awesome. I'm not the biggest fan of the peel, because well, it made me peel! hahahaha... now I know. No peel for me.
After my facial, I had a 30 minute massage to truly make it a "day." The massage was pleasant, but I really should have just sucked it up and gotten an hour. 30 minutes is way too short. I kept thinking about it ending, instead of just relaxing. Maybe this is a personal issue or something maybe some meditation or yoga should be added to my regime. But for now, I'll just go back to the spa when I am not so hung over. Either that, or chocolate.
So this place is really hidden..among the office suites. The staff was really friendly and helpful. My hubby and I did the couple massage and he liked his. I had the hot stone massage and it was ok. I am saying it was just ok because half the time we were in the room, the heat from the gadget they heat up the stone caused the temperature in the room to soar. By the halfway point it felt like a sauna in there. And it wasn't just me feeling this, my husband felt the heat too. Maybe a better ventilation? or beforehand, they could turn up the a/c knowing that heat was part of the massage? Also, when it came to us paying our bill, they couldn't take credit cards.(we were there a while ago so maybe they had not set this up yet?). My hubby had to run outside to get cash.
The service from the staff would make me come back but I can't bear the thought of not breathing while getting a massage.
I went on a weekday, around noon to get a warm stone facial. It was fantastic! The ambiance is great, but you wouldn't notice at first. The place really is hidden, it's tucked away in between two buildings. So if you go, make sure to look for the sidewalk leading down to the spa.
The reception area was simple, but comfortable. There were magazines to read and the receptionist ask if I wanted tea or water.
I decided to get the warm stone facial because it wasn't too much more ($80), and sounded exotic. My aesthetician was Sheena, and she was wonderful. The facial was very relaxing, the room was nice and dim, and she handled my extractions very gently (I have a low threshold for pain). The warm stone part was so nice, although I don't know if I will pay the extra money again for it. I also got one of the BEST EYEBROW WAXES ever. She was extremely knowledgeable and had expert sense of what I wanted.
The music was nice, although it's from a cd stereo in the room. The cd ended, and Sheena had to start it again. The biggest downfall were the room sizes. They were so small, that Sheena could barely walk around the bed. Either my feet got bumped, or she bumped into machines and whatnot, trying to get to the other side. I felt bad for her!
I know that they are expanding and remodeling, so hopefully the rooms will be a bit bigger.
Afterward, I got a lovely card in the mail, thanking me for my visit and offering me $10 off my next facial. I am definitely going back.
Quick breakdown:
service: excellent
cleanliness: excellent
rooms: okay
parking: great (on weekdays)
prices: excellent
overall experience: great
I got a gift certificate for a European Facial for my birthday so I was "forced" to come here. The reason there are four stars instead of five: on the gift certificate, my service was listed as a "Eropean Facial." Shudder. Um, shouldn't you be able to spell your services correctly?
The facial was extremely relaxing and legit from what I could tell, (I'm no spa junkie), and there was no snobbery or "Oh my god, you've never gotten a facial before!" shock when I said I had, uh, never had a facial before. I had Jill, who was very informative, friendly, and much deserving of a good recommendation.
UPDATE: So I went back for another massage with Kimba. It was the first time that I've told a masseuse about particular ailments. I've been running a lot lately and my foot has been killing me and my back has been so tight I couldn't take a deep breathe. She fixed everything! I felt so good afterwards, I was even running faster. Adding a star. She's the truth!
I'm on the fence with this place. Here's my breakdown by service. I'll have to update after my facial and Brazilian later...
Couples massage - was nice. My fiance had this really spunky masseuse who really worked him over. I like that when we came in she was up beat and lively. The super mellow stereotypical masseuses kind of weird me out. I'd never had a hot massage before. That was...hot. Kimba worked on me and it wasn't as good as I had hoped but I think it may have been because I didn't ask her for more pressure. So maybe I just have myself to blame.
Eyebrow wax: Fantastic! The girl there is SO thorough and it's the first time I've gone somewhere that I feel like I got a consultation. Sure, they're just eyebrows but hey! I have some opinions I'd like to voice before you go crazy with the wax.
I went here with my sister today to get facials. The place is very nice and very relaxing. This was my first time getting a real facial and my skin is a lil sensitive so I was worried I would be walking out of here with a bright red irritated face, but luckily that didn't happen! I had the 60min acne prone skin facial. It was very relaxing and felt wonderful. I was supposed to get a foot scrub with the facial, but didn't end up getting one. I got an arm scrub tho, and that was pretty nice! I will definitely be coming back here for sure! And it was only 60 bones! That is pretty darn cheap for a 60 min facial. Most places cost about 100+! Check this place out!
I called and I was in 15 minutes later...on a Sunday at 5. Everywhere else I had called were rude or were already closed. I just needed a brow wax and it was quick and painless...can't beat the price either. The girl who waxed me was really nice to talk to as well. I really like that they didn't try to get me to buy any fancy stuff to put on after the waxing. Clean, fast and painless!!
I wish you could give half-star ratings....this would get a 3.5 from me.
I had the Pumpkin Facial with Elissa, who is brand new at the Hidden Spa. I enjoyed talking to her, and she was super-helpful with product and treatment suggestions for improving my crazy complexion. The facial itself was pretty good. I requested some extractions, which I normally don't mind, as typically my face is steamed for 10-15mins to open my pores and make for easy cleaning. But, all i got as a prep was a hot towel, and then it took her that much more squeezing and pressing to clean out my numerous blackheads, OUCH! That was a minus-one star in my mind...steaming is SUPER necessary!
The room itself was a bit cluttered, which detracted from the "relaxation" part of a facial for me...minus one-star (would be half).
Overall, I think for the price it did what I had hoped, which is clean up my face. For true pampering I would explore other options though....
beautiful and wonderful services!
I came here for a facial, massage and salt scrub. First of all these services were a great deal! I paid $180 or something close for all three services. Alissa did my facial and it was the best one I have ever recieved. then Kimba did the salt scrub and massage, it got a bit hot and stuffy in the room but it was very very very relaxing. Im really impresssed and I will come back soon.
