I have never really written a review on Yelp, but wanted to because every time I have a massage here, I feel like a whole new person. I have had two massages with Aafka and one with Alyna. Both are fantastic. My shoulder and back aches after sitting hunched at the the computer desk all day long. Both these therapists knew *exactly* where the problem area was and hit the spot. Alyna presses down on the knots, takes her time and my shoulder and neck feels fantastic. I have their membership. I like that there is no contract and how the massages roll-over to the next month if you can't make it a particular month. Totally worth the $60. read more

Tried calling this place many times, the one in Shadyside to schedule and no one ever answers the phone for calls back smh. I have been here before and enjoyed the service but it should no be this hard to schedule an appointment. read more

Customer Service is Awful. They can cancel on you regularly but if you have an emergency situation oh well. I love workers the owner can kick rocks. read more

Had a facial done by Kaitlyn at LaVida Massage recently and it was wonderful! Kaitlyn made everything very comfortable. She told me what she was doing throughout the session, but also kept the session quiet, so I felt very relaxed throughout the whole hour. The face lotion she used was so smooth and felt awesome....definitely worth purchasing after my session and I use it everyday now! read more

Absolutely horrible had a snow storm so had to cancel and still took money out of my account have been with this place for years and still charged me a fee ridiculous I have had them call and tell me that there worker couldn't make it because of bad weather but I don't get any money back but I guess I still gotta pay because I can't make it in because of the weather and there was no exceptions it is ridiculous I do not recommend this place read more

I love getting a massage here! All the therapists are so nice and do an excellent job! I also love checking in at the front desk! Everyone who works there is so nice! read more

Julius is gone, and I am the most sad. He was my favorite masseuse, and it would have been nice to know where he went. I emailed the manager to find out more information. Andre is also gone. I found out from the manager that he moved to Philadelphia. Ok, so clearly, I can't get anymore massages from him. But Julius...where art thou?! Ivan is also very good, but I liked having the variety of my three favorite masseuses. Now I am not sure if I will enjoy my membership as much. read more

I had one of the best facials! Toni is amazing! The staff is very friendly, location is clean and they practice excellent safety measures. My skin looks great and I already have the appointment scheduled for next month! read more

I am a member at LaVida and love my appointments there whether for facials or massages. Call and get your intro service at a special price!

Jeff the owner will blame you if one of his therapists injures you during an appointment. Then, if you write a poor review he will revoke your membership (despite mine already being terminated after this incident occurred) and continue to berate you via e-mail. Go elsewhere. read more

My Masseuse was wonderful at the pressure point massage and really pin pointed my trouble areas very well. They worked me and my friend in for a last minute appointment and we're very courteous. Easy parking lot to get in and out of with free parking. read more

LaVida Massage - Skin Care Near Me - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

I went for 1st time at this place for a knot in my back that restricted me. My appointment was set up with Yvonne and SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT! She impressed me by feeling my back and identifying certain areas she felt were tight and asked if those were the places I was feeling the pain. She was spot on and after working on the area, she said she saw a "ripple" across my back & that she thinks she got the knot to release. A day later, I feel a lot better. I couldn't be happier and thankful. I will definately go back to see her. In fact, I signed up for a membership. Thanks Yvonne! Mike L. read more

this place was absolutely fabulous from the time I walked in I was greeted with a smile. I was offered beverages and checked on a few times as I was early for my reservations. Highly recommend this place. Very clean and calming atmosphere. read more

I was stressed from work and decided to give massage a try. Never had one before so I didn't know what to expect. Lavida was near where I worked so I just walked in. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised. Their attention to detail for their customer service was impressive - from their cucumber water to asking about my preference for different kinds of massage (not that I had any idea what each kind was about). It was relaxing and the staff was super friendly, professional, and personable. Needless to say, I immediately brought my girlfriend with me for a couple's massage the next week. The service was consistent and deserves my business again. I highly recommend this to people who are overworked and need a new revenue for relaxation. This is definitely a good place to start and learn about what real relaxation is. read more

I had a birthday massage here, I called ahead five days in advance and I got one the day and time I wanted. They have a strict cancellation policy.... so do not miss your appointment or call if you have to cancel when they ask Otherwise you will be charged. I have not had a ton of massages in my life but I have had enough to know mine was pretty a-ok. Nothing mind blowing but good enough and definitely relaxing. I would be sure to discuss pressure and specifics etc ahead of time with your masseuse. They say arrive 15 minutes early... I would do it. I got there right on time for my scheduled massage due to the bad weather that day and I shaved about 5-8 minutes off of my massage time. It was just shy of the full hour I paid for. I am sure they do this for scheduling purposes. It is a very nice clean atmosphere and the music was decent. Its very good value considering most spas charge 65-100$ an hour. Depending on where you are. Its not the best but it will do the job. read more

I am extremely satisfied with this location of La Vida Massage. As a professional massage therapist and yoga teacher I am very picky about my massage and this was a five star experience. Upon entering, soft music was playing, the place was clean and the customer service friendly and professional. They were very prompt, starting and finishing which is important to me. Caitlin is an experienced and friendly therapist, she was thorough with her intake, making sure she knew what I wanted and needed. I requested deep pressure and she delivered the perfect amount of depth without it being too much. She was not too talkative but he perfect amount of conversation which I also appreciate in a therapist. Afterward I felt calm, relaxed and de-stressed and the checkout process was simple and easy. I would highly recommend this location to anyone looking for a massage. read more

Love this place! I've been going for over a year for massages and facials and it's a wonderful experience. They have such wonderful and friendly staff. I love arriving and seeing Jeremy at the front desk. He is so welcoming and always upbeat and with a smile on his face. Melanie is so great and thorough with the facials. My skin is always smooth and looks great afterwards. The massages are great and they always make sure to review your preferences and needs for the visit. They offer a variety of techniques and have male and female therapists. The membership is reasonably affordable and forces me to pamper myself regularly. read more

This spa is beautiful. I had such a good experience that I express it. The owner was is just so genuinely sweet and warm. She really makes sure you feel comfortable. The room is clean and the ambience is very relaxing. I especially enjoyed the warm tables. My massage therapist really paid attention and listened to how I wanted things, so professional! Would definitely recommend coming here to anyone who is looking for a proper massage and wants to have a courteous staff that attends to your preferences. Thank you Lavida! read more

I was a first time visitor to LaVida and I booked a couple's massage for me and my boyfriend. LaVida left a message early that morning saying that one of their masseuses could not make it so they had to reschedule for a different day. I called back 5 minutes later and was told they figured it out and we were fine to come in. We got there and everyone was so nice. The two women at the front desk and both masseuses. The place was very clean and has a good atmosphere. We filled out the paper work indicating what type of massages we wanted and the areas we did not want massaged etc. I wrote that I did not want my face massaged on the form. We were then taken into our room with our masseuses and when they came back into the room to start, my masseuse immediately pulled up her stool and put oil/lotion on her hands and rubbed them on my face. I asked her to stop and she apologized, but it was frustrating as I specifically wrote that I did not want that. Although my masseuse was very nice, she seemed to have a distinct not so pleasant smell that affected the relaxation of the visit. Lastly, the room was very cold. It was tough to relax at times due to how chilly I was. All in all, I'm not sure i would pay to have another massage here. read more

I love getting my massages here. It's literally the best place to go in the Pittsburgh area, and totally underrated! I guess it's the best kept secret in Shadyside. The service is great! Pam at the front desk always knows what to suggest when I have questions about what kind of massage to get. She's so lovely and helpful. The therapists are all qualified and never make it awkward. I've had only good experiences. The aroma therapy here helps with my allergies! read more

I see Aafka here and she's great. Everyone here is licensed and that's SO important to me because as an athlete I'm going to these places to be fixed during competition and not really for much relaxation. Hours are great, there's parking and the places is clean and professional. They have hot stone massage, aromatherapy and some other offerings as well. What I signed up for was a monthly payment package that actually makes getting massages a great deal AND keeps you there at least once per month which is exactly what I need. Take time out to try this place, you also have Panera right next door to enjoy a coffee after as well as a parking lot which is busy but makes it so easy to pop in and get some serious bodywork done. I"ve only lived here 1.5 months and have been 3 times. read more

I have to admit, the first time i had to find Lavida in the plaza, it took me a minute, but this time I didn't have that issue. I came in a few minutes early and upon entry, was cordially greeted at reception by a very nice young lady. My appointment was right on time and my massage therapist, Angel, was very attentive and literally oozed my tension out during the 60 minutes session. I paid a little more than I had on other massages, but the ambiance and experience, imo, was well worth it so I actually signed up for the monthly plan to save a little $. Overall i would definitely recommend Lavida as I see other yelpers have, which is actually what brought me to Lavida in the first place. read more

The worst experience! I had a facial at Lavida in Shadyside, Pittsburgh. The place is filthy and all the towels that the lady used were smelly! I had to take a shower immediately after my facial!!! Even the headband that she placed on my head was smelly! The blanket that they had on the bed was super old and looked completely worn out! She offered me to used it, but I was afraid of catching germs! I will never go there ever! read more

When I arrived at the location I was please to find that there was free parking. The inside decor was relaxing and clean. It was quiet and it seemed like I may have been the only customer there at the time (Friday afternoon). Although my massage therapist was nice, she didn't seem to be very experienced and what she did to me was mostly painful instead of pleasureful. It has been five days since my massage and I am still sore from it. My neck and back have been frequently cracking and I'm sore most of the time. The first two nights after my massage I couldn't sleep because I was uncomfortable. In my opinion, a massage should feel good and reap benefits but I feel that neither of those applied to my experience. Their prices are reasonable and they do accept SpaFinder gift cards. read more

I came here today for the first time. I booked a massage with Kyle and let me tell you something... he is a GEM. I have a stressful job and as soon as I got into the room, all of my stress melted away like butter. I met the owner while I was there as well and she is so invested in her business. I would recommend this place to anyone in the area or from out of town. A+++ read more

My girlfriend and I scheduled a massage there several months ago because it was close and had times available. The couples massage was average at best but on our way out we were told about the monthly membership that came with a savings in service. I signed up to give them a shot as the employees were nice. Our first two sessions were lost due to a death in the family (was a cancellation within 24 hours) so that was two month's fees gone. We understood that and let it go. After another 2 months past we decided to cancel the membership but had to pay for an additional month since the paperwork stated they needed a 30 day notice. Again, we abided by the membership. So we were left with 2-3 massages that were paid for and yet unused. When we submitted our cancellation we were not told that the services had to be used before cancellation took place. I was told that we can use them since they were paid for. We had no problem with that. I reached out to schedule our pre-paid massages less than 2 weeks after the cancellation date and we're told that we can use them and that everything we had paid to this point was forfeited. We asked to speak with an owner or manager - none was there but I was assured that the next day they would address the issue. No one took the 3 minutes to return my call as was promised and when I reached back out I was told that the owners looked at it and I had no options left. If it was in the very rigid agreement then we were stuck, but no call, no care, no attempt on the part of ownership to try to even talk to a paying former member. I had to call back before I was told any of this. I rarely post reviews like this unless my experience was that bad. I don't want to negatively affect anyone's business but I also don't want anyone to spend money when the business does little to address customer concerns. There are far better places to receive a spa treatment in the city and I would recommend looking elsewhere for a place that values its clients and offers much higher quality services. If you should choose to sign a membership (the cost of massages goes up on your second trip if you don't sign up) understand that it extremely rigid, the terms are not customer friendly and ownership didn't seem to want to be bothered by my original call simply to schedule services that I had already paid for - a 3 minute call from a manager or owner would have at least shown me some level of concern which I would have appreciated. This was just my experience and, within my experience, this ranks as the worst spa experience I've had, not just in the city, but anywhere. read more

I got the introductory massage, and while the masseuse was so-so (she was a little too harsh and I felt sore at the end of the massage), the room was under a vent and it was COLD and the heating blanket did not work. I complained about it and the masseuse said that there was nothing she could do about the vent because it was centralized and the outlet was not working instead of moving me to another room so I was just cold the whole time. Over all, it was like I paid $50 to be miserable and cold for an hour. Would definitely not go back. read more

I had a great experience at LaVida last week. I called that morning for an appointment and the woman who answered was really pleasant and helpful. I had a massage with Kat and I absolutely loved it. She listened to what I wanted focused on and really helped my neck. The price was really great, only $60 for the hour. From start to finish I had a great experience, and there was free parking! read more

I've been massaged in 4 states by dozens of masseuses over ten years. I have received sports massages, Swedish and deep tissue. I consider La Vida to be a very good facility and Angel to be a very competent therapist. For more than 6 months I have gone once every 3-4 weeks. I work out regularly and consider a massage a great way to heal sore muscles and low back pain from sitting at a desk all day. After my old therapist moved to Florida, I began the annoying process of trying new ones. Some have trouble dialing up or down the pressure. Some can't get the low back pain out like others. Some reek of cigarette smoke. Some are lazy, using one hand at a time instead of two. Then I found Angel, who is quite competent. If you wanna chat, she'll chat. If you want quiet relaxation, she'll put you at ease. If you say "I hurt here", she will solve it. I consider one of Angel's attributes to be the fact she can dial up or down pressure just BARELY, and maintain that. She can find where it hurts and, due to her through knowledge of fascia and layers of tissue, massage the pain away. After repeat sessions, she understands I need more pressure on the right side of my spine than my left. Angel's ability to meet her clients needs combined with her through knowledge of muscle and fascia along with the ability to maintain consistent pressure make her an extremely competent therapist. If Angel is busy or sick, Ivan is a fantastic alternative. He's an A in my book, with Angel an A+. Edit: Forgot to mention, Ivan's strengths are deep tissue and neck work. If your neck specifically is killing you or you need real deep tissue, Ivan is your man. La Vida is an upper middle / yuppie chain massage location with ample parking. I feel strongly that these are superior to middle brow chain massage places (such as Massage Envy) and superior to upscale spas (such as Sewickly or Seven Springs or Esspa). Simply put, La Vida has lots of returning clients and as such, a steady stream of business and competent and calm massage therapists with little turnover. read more

The place was nice and clean and they had free off street parking, which is not common in shadyside. My therapist, Ivan, was great. He did a deep muscle massage and even stretched my muscles as part of the massage. One of the best massages I have had. The girls at the front desk were nice but a bit awkward. But that's ok. Their membership rates are a bit higher than massage envy but a lot less busy and chaotic in the lobby. I would consider changing my membership to Lavida if they had more locations in Pittsburgh. read more

I think these high-star ratings are fakes. I don't get massages super frequently, but I would say I get them several times a year. This was the WORST massage experience I've had. Don't go here. They called me a half hour before my session, first of all, to change my scheduled 90 minute massage to a 60 minute, blaming other clients for being late. Big strike one. Then, when I arrive (on time) I'm kept waiting for an additional 15 minutes. Boo. Then, my massage "therapist" seems to be very new, or at least the most inexperienced therapist I've ever had. The pressure was completely inconsistent - at times barely gracing my skin, and then other times she was stabbing me in the spine with her elbow. It's almost like she really didn't understand how muscles work. She spent more time massaging bone than muscle. It was very strange, but I'm willing to give her the benefit of inexperience. However, she only massaged me for 45 minutes, which is literally half the service I intended to get that day. Boo. Then, I'm trying to leave and the receptionist wouldn't stop trying to sell me on their monthly service plan. Like Would Not. Stop. Talking. I had to cut her off mid-sentence to leave. All-around a poor experience. Go to Ultimate Beauty Spa in Squirrel Hill. read more

I needed some muscle relief post-surgury and from working in a sedentary position. Kelly asked about my health and concerns. She was very efficient and explained to me where my point of stress were, with advice on how to release them at home. Overall, I left with a new body and a refreshed soul. I also took my daughter with me as a gift and she was extremely happy with her massage from Kevi, another very talented young masseuse. LaVida in Pittsburgh is the best place to go for massage services. I recommend it to everyone as a place to go. It's a great gift for your friends and family, too. read more

Been here twice . . . this place is clean and very nice. I've had a different masseuse both times and they were both capable and professional. They have a membership program that looks interesting. read more

Went into this new business to try out their massage with their cheap intro incentive (will be trying the facial next week and will report back). So far, I have to say that I am thrilled. Everyone was efficient and friendly, but, most importantly, my massage with Gina was outstanding. Excellent and left me ready to come back for more -- and I am a tough customer! I give LaVida 4 stars, which I might bump up to a 5 after my facial and once they fully settle in (some things, like hooks on the doors, are still in process). The only negative was the automatic fan and harsh light in the bathroom -- at a spa you don't want to walk from calm bliss into jarring light and a loud fan. It's just no fun. Otherwise, from the cucumber water to the essential oils and smiling faces, excellent. If they keep this up they will be the place to beat. *** Later: the massages are still good, but the facial was, perhaps, the most amateur one I have had in 10 years. Not worth even giving a second chance IMHO. read more

This place is so worry free. The massages and facials are GREAT, and you can't beat the price. Very friendly staff and relaxing environment. Can't ask for more. read more

Ivan (ee-vahn) is AMAZING. I've been rubbed down by countless people -- this dude gets a megaHigh-5. Word!

This was my first time visiting LaVida Massage, but I'm sure it won't be the last. The staff was very friendly, and the place was very relaxing and professional. I got a 60 minute Swedish massage with hot stones. It was awesome. Jim was great! They offer a monthly membership program, which seemed like a good deal. I am not religious enough with massages, but for someone who is it would be worth checking out! read more

I went there while visiting Pittsburgh and am glad I did. The staff were friendly. Great service and great price. Definitely would recommend. read more

I made a last minute appointment while I was in town. The woman who greeted me was really nice and friendly. The place was really clean and I enjoyed the cucumber water. The massage therapist started right on time and listened to what I wanted focused on. My back was really hurting me from flying in and she did wonders to get things back in place. If I am in Pittsburgh again, I will be back. read more

I would highly recommend Ivan. He clearly knows a lot about the body and does not just give you a relaxing massage, but also recognizes where things are tight. My shoulders and back were supertight and he knew exactly where the knots were. Certainly one of the best massages I have ever had. The one thing that was disappointing to me is that a super high tip (over $12) is expected which I did not realize beforehand. The massage is around $50 which I think is not that cheap (I'm from the Bay Area and get massages for $30 an hour there). The receptionist told me that Ivan actually only gets something like $13 an hour. If that's the case, I'm even more disappointed in LaVida. After all Ivan is doing the work so I think he should get paid at least half of what I'm paying? Otherwise I would recommend Ivan to start his own massage business. Ivan, you're a great masseuse and you would get so many customers right away! I would give Ivan 5 stars, but because of this money-issue I decided to give 3 stars. read more