Nirvana Apothecary & Day Spa

05/12/2008 Posted by robototron

I got a gift certificate to Nirvana a year ago, and didn't have time to use it until recently. The gift certificate had actually expired a few weeks prior to my appointment but the staff made sure to accept it anyway. I also had to change my appointment and got no attitude whatsoever even though they were essentially doing me a favor by honoring my expired certificate. My massage was great, the masseur was very attentive to what I wanted. My only complaint being that the music was super cheesy and a little bit annoying, but I understand that it's hard to please everyone's musical taste. Anyway the spa is lovely inside and it's obvious that the owner has put a lot of work into making it a unique space. I think that people who complain about the setting here aren't really giving them credit where it's due - given the fact that the spa is housed in what is essentially a typical urban storefront, in the middle of a very busy neighborhood, I was very impressed. It was a little bit noisy in the room where I was getting my massage, and they could maybe look in to doing a bit more sound-proofing given the small size of the space, but sometimes you have to be realistic with your expectations. As for the "dirty" floors - come on people! They're just unfinished! It's a pretty common look in contemporary design, lots of galleries and boutiques have the same floor... I guess those reviewers who had a problem with the floor were either looking for mistakes or from the suburbs or something. I had no issues with the cleanliness of the place.

Pros: Great customer service, relaxed atmosphere, nice extra touches

Cons: Bad music and a little bit of noise in the massage room

05/10/2008 Posted by mmelady

If you are going to purchase gift certificates from Nirvana Day Spa, don't do it online. I had several people order online who are out of town to contribute to a spa day for my sister in law, and Nirvana is showing no record of any of the people that ordered. Now, they each have to go through the hassle of prooving they ordered. Very disorganized and unprofessional system. Lets hope the spa services offered are better than the customer service!

05/05/2008 Posted by portland1973

I had booked appointments at another salon for my mom and I for manicures and pedicures the day before my wedding. When I arrived at the other salon they said thier manicurist had quit and they had no one available and they were rude and offered no apology or solution. We were forced to leave and walk around and find another salon. Although Salon Nirvana was unable to accomodate us, we were greeted by a lovely woman named Rose who called every salon in town trying to find us appointments and offering many helpful suggestions.I was thouroughly impressed with this Salonand Rose, she treated us with more kindness and respect than the salon that scewed up our appointments. If I am ever in the area again I will not hesitate to book all my services at this salon! Thank you!

03/20/2008 Posted by manipedigirl

I recently went to Nirvana Spa for a manicure/pedicure service, and I have to say I am quite disappointed. My pedicure was nice enough, but the manicure has been a disaster. Not only did I not have my cuticals trimmed properly (as they said my nails were in good enough shape) but after only 4 days my manicure is almost completely gone. I did get a french manicure, but regardless the white tips are severly chipped and the clear coating has peeled off. Considering I paid $150 for the mani/pedi service, I expected MUCH more. I usually go to a great little place on 23rd where the mani/pedi costs $50 (total), and the quality of the service is much higher, and manicures always last at least a week. Nirvana is a pretty place to go, and they do have good wine, but in terms of paying an insane amount for a manicure and pedicure, it is definitely not worth it.

Pros: pretty spa, good location, nice wine

Cons: took forever (3hrs and started 45min late), manicures don't last and are too expensive for what you get.

02/29/2008 Posted by gmlady

I really enjoyed the decor, the professional, courteous staff, and the hospitality. I went with a friend for several different services, and they were all great. We had a really good, relaxing and luxurious time. We left feeling completely revitalized, and felt ten years younger.

Pros: Everything

Cons: Nothing

02/15/2008 Posted by dolphingirl19

A few years ago, my best friend gave me a gift certificate to Nirvana. It has now become an annual tradition and one of the highlights of my year. The minute I walk into the spa I feel I've walked into a peaceful oasis away from my normally chaotic life as mom of a 2-year old. The owners and staff are always courteous, professional and welcoming. You can go anywhere to have a pedicure but if you want to have an experience then go to Nirvana. You might pay a little more but it's worth it!

Pros: Professional and courteous staff, peaceful/relaxing atmosphere

Cons: Parking

02/02/2008 Posted by apple5726

I seriously cannot imagine anyone with integrity (an acupuncturist? Trained massage practitioners?) wanting to be an employee at a place that seems to have to ply clientele with several alcoholic drinks (I watched several clients be served more than two drinks in an hour period, not making a very serene calm “spa” environment) and write their own reviews to look good. The review below about the owners stealing their email and using it to write a good review—I am sure that is not the only one—or maybe those drunk girls are the ones who write how clean and professional the spa is. Makes you wonder how many of their reviews are written by the owners. I had a manicure on a recent Friday afternoon, and was treated as second class because I did not want the $80 pedicure, did not want 3 martinis, did not appreciate the loud drunken bar atmosphere that was just beginning around me.

Cons: loud drunk clients, unprofessional and uncaring staff, dirty floors, dusty retail shelves

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/29/2008 Posted by ljbarnes

To celebrate a birthday of a friend, we booked massages at Nirvana to start our weekend. The spa is small and there are no seating areas for several people to sit and visit before services. So we just stood around and waited. I ordered an aromatherapy massage. The scent i chose was peppermint, the attendant failed to tell me how incredibly strong and menthol feeling the scent would be. The massage table only had one small blanket. I complained several times that I was freezing - she never got me more blankets, but just continued on with the massage. It was so uncomfortable I never was able to relax and was wishing it were over. After it was over, I complained to the front desk and was told that some of the rooms do get cold. I think it ridiculous to spend so much - $90 - on a massage that was horrible and not at all relaxing. If felt that there was no emphasis on customer service, which to me is the only reason you go to the spa - to be pampered and treated really well. If you want a good massage, do not go here. Also, do not plan to go here with group of people if you hope to relax and talk after or before services because they have no space for that. I feel very mislead by their website and the other reviews I read of their spa.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful

01/29/2008 Posted by kittykistner1

I visited Nirvana spa last week for the first time and enjoyed a facial with Naomi. It was absolutely amazing, the best facial I've had in years. Her technique applying the aromatherapy masks and massage relaxed me so much I almost slipped into a coma and my skin is still glowing a week later! She was very professional and knowledgeable about the various product lines and I found it VERY refreshing that she wasn't pushy regarding purchasing product and only made suggestions after I requested them. Overall an amazing experience I would definitely recommend. One additional thing to add is that the spa atmosphere is pleasantly different. Most spa's I've visited in the Pearl are very relaxing but somewhat aseptic. I found Nirvana to be clean and relaxing but it had a lot more character. The pedicure stations look like Moroccan thrones. Very cool. That is next on the list. We're planning a girl's night out so we can check out if the free cocktails are all they're cracked up to be. Stay tuned. I'll let you know...

Pros: Clean, Knowledgeable Staff, Warmth, Unique Services

Cons: None

01/28/2008 Posted by yvettesmall1

I vacation every year to Portland and have found Nirvana Day Spa to be my spa of choice. Last year I was treated to a Chocolate Pedicure and this year I was fortunate enough to find a lovely woman named Naomi as my esthetician who gave me one of the best facials I have ever been fortunate enough to have (and I am 73!). The staff was very welcoming, the decor was inviting and most of all the service was one of the highlights of my trip. In my many years of business, I have come to realize that service is everything and with that said, the continued service that this little gem of a spa continues to provide year after year is certainly worth the trip to the Pearl. Thank you Nirvana for once again making my stay in Portland a worthy one...

Pros: Naomi the esthetician, the decor, the service

Cons: Parking