I hate giving 1 star reviews. I try to make room for 'bad days' and cut people slack... that said, here's the reason why I am giving a 1 star review: I had an appointment for a gel removal and a pedi with Erica. She seemed disengaged and didn't listen to what I wanted from the beginning. She didn't greet me properly, never offered me water or tea (there were 5 other customers here at the same time, all with a drink). She ignored my requests multiple times and proceeded to be rude. When I insisted for the 3rd time that she please remove the acetone wrap from my fingers, she finally went ahead. She made it sound like I inconvenience her and told me that she wanted to finish the pedicure first. She also told me that I wouldn't save time that way?! At no point did I tell her that I was in a rush. When I pointed it out, she just said: 'my bad'. I decided to walk out mid service. Instead of trying to mitigate the situation, she wished me a nice day. I have no idea why she was so rude. The front desk seemed apologetic and I asked to get at least the gel removal completed. Aidan, another technician, did it wonderfully. When I left, I was asked if they can charge my card. I remarked that they should really rethink charging me for the service (I left a tip for Aidan). I left. This was my third time at Marlowe. I was here 3 weeks prior for a gel mani with Erica and it was great. I was impressed that Marlowe seems to try to do the right thing by paying fair wages and also benefits. I like the ambiance. I didn't mind that it was a bit more pricey than other places. After today I won't come back. ---- Update: the manager, Laura, reached out to me via email and we talked. She assured me that this was an exception and said that it might have been a personality clash. She asked me how she could make this right and I declined any offer to come back. I feel that Laura has great intentions and I hope that something good will come out of my bad experience. read more

The best nail salon! Completely worth the price. Everything about the experience here is so high quality. The manicure and pedicure last forever, the staff is friendly, and the ambiance is clean and relaxing. I appreciate having a more non-toxic nail salon option. read more

First time today for a mani/pedi. Erica was lovely. I have already booked a return visit. Very bright and clean space. I would recommend read more

Pros: It was really easy to book my appointment online. The salon is beautiful and clean with a relaxing atmosphere. The person at the front desk is really friendly and helps you get settled with water, tea, or peach prosecco. Also, according to the signs they have posted, they provide their employees with safe working conditions, fair wages, and benefits, all of which made me feel better about the higher prices. Cons: The basic manicure and pedicure I got cost $95 without tip (ouch) and weren't anything special. My nails starting chipping within 24 hours and after less than a week looked so bad I removed the polish. While the pedicure chairs give the salon a beautiful aesthetic, the big recliners at other salons are way more relaxing (even if they don't look cute). The nail tech caused me to bleed during the pedicure (ouch again!), which she dealt with quickly and wasn't a massive deal at the time (I do have short nails and sh*t happens). However, she didn't even acknowledge it, which bothered me. My toe was still hurting by the time the polish was chipping on multiple nails. I'm pretty bummed I didn't like this place more, but I'll be tossing my frequent buyer card they gave me and heading elsewhere in the future. read more

This place is severely overpriced and an extreme waste of money. $90 for a regular mani/pedi - paint chipping after 3 days. No special treatment, no hot towels, just subpar services and overhyped optics. The best part - I went with a friend - the receptionist claimed to not have two appointments, then charged me for both and made a big production of getting venmo tips from Me. Do not go here. You can take the $90 and go to any other spa in the area read more

Nice enough experience while I was getting my nails done on Sunday. BUT today, a mere 2.5 days later, my gel manicure has bubbled, cracked, and is lifting off of my nails. $70 for gel removal and new polish and it hasn't lasted at. all. Nicely decorated interior and easy online booking but that's about all you are getting. S read more

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Although I've been going here for years, when I woke up with a fever and tried to cancel my appointment for later that day, I was still charged the full amount. So apparently my choices were to come in sick (which, given the current Covid spike, seems unethical to me) or pay the full cost of my appointment. Pretty disappointed that Marlowe put a long-time customer in this position. I have also seen a decline in the quality of the manicurists I've had recently at Marlowe. Needless to say I will no longer be a customer. read more

My new mani spot in the east bay. Cute spot, really nice staff. I got a gel and a pedi. The pedi didn't last super long, but I went surfing but maybe that's why? Docking it one star because normally a pedi lasts months but this one lasted two weeks. Anyway, I know where I'll go next time I need to get a mani/pedi. read more

If you look at my reviews of other venues, you will see that I tend to be very positive and leave great reviews. This salon, despite paying nearly $100 for mani padi, unfortunately turned out to be a huge disappointment. First, the positives were the ambiance (modern and clean) and they provide complementary sparkling wine, which was a great plus. Now, when it comes to my technician and the actual service, her mind was definitely somewhere else. My toe nails were unevenly trimmed, and the extra 10 min massage I paid for was less than 3 min and mediocre. (They don't keep a timer.) One of the toenails were cut so short that the nail now pushes against my skin and it hurts to walk. I specifically also asked her to clean my cuticles of my finger nails, but she completely ignored that or just simply did not pay attention. I tried to open her up by saying hello and giving her smiles, but she barely even looked at me and seemed bored and did not want to be there. It baffles me that someone like this could be even hired. I chose to come to this place because its website indicated that they provide 401k to their technicians, which I think is super awesome. But this experience is making me wonder if the salon knows how to hire staff with adequate skillsets? I see that some of the reviews here also raise similar issues. With all due respect, I hope the salon takes initiative to do something about this. read more

Just had a fabulous gel manicure with Lydia. She REALLY cares about the quality of the final outcome. I'm thrilled. Will come back again and again. Update 2 weeks later: The amazing every-lasting mani. I work in the medical field and wash my hands at least 40 times a day. I also have 2 little kids. My hands take a beating! This mani is going strong. read more

Marlowe - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I've been going to Marlowe on and off for the last few years. I've begun going regularly because their staff is stellar! Yes, they're pricey but you're helping to keep a living wage possible, which is a rarity in a nail service industry. read more

I got my first Marlowe Pedi today. It was divine! I had Thi as my technician. She was wonderful. She really took the time to attend to the little details. My feet were a mess before a went in since I'm a dancer: lots of dead skin and calluses. She was both gentle and thorough as she attended to the bottoms of my feet, cuticles and areas around the nails. My feet look and feel great now! She even put my flip flops back on my feet for me when it was time to check out so that I wouldn't accidentally mess up my toenails. So sweet! Again, I'd highly recommend Marlowe if you're looking for some high quality pampering. read more

I came here for the first time for a gel mani and a regular pedi. They offer easy online booking and I was able to book an appointment for the next day which made this very convenient. The atmosphere is very nice, clean, and welcoming. My nail tech's name is Thi and she did a great job. My gel nails still look perfect after 2 weeks! Overall, the experience was lovely and I think I have found my new regular spot. read more

Love the aesthetic of this place, they have an awesome variety of colors and fun nail art! The fact that they are nontoxic is also great, they even have nontoxic nail polish to choose from. When you first get in they offer water, tea or Prosecco, which is awesome. Everyone is pretty personable if you talk to them but if you're not in to having a convo they get that as well. Overall I love this salon but the prices are a bit steep for what you're getting. I guess you can expect that on 4th street though! read more

Marlowe - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Forgot to mention that Elle is the technician I recommend. She is thorough, efficient, talented, sweet.

Love love this place. Never had a bad experience. Thi is amazing. Such a perfectionist who does such nice work. read more

Marlowe - Thi's nail art skills - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Found this on a whim, and was glad I did! I had landed from Europe for a friends wedding and we needed some TLC mani and pedis before the big day. The ladies at Marlowe were super accommodating and did a perfect job on my gel pedicure. I love the concept of this salon from full wages for all their employees to leaving nothing to waste and sending you off with your files etc. Would definitely go back again when I'm in town! read more

Marlowe offers manicures and pedicures with organic products! Booked an appointment online for a manicure, but walk ins were welcomed when I was there. After checking and selecting my color I was offered tea, water or a peach Bellini! I went with the California Mani (organic products) with Nicole. She suggested a great color for healthy looking nails. Upon checkout I did not have to go digging in my purse for my card and ruin my nails, because they were able to use my card on file from my booking. I was also offered the file, buffing block to take home with me and the salon had no harsh chemical smell like most nail salons. Definitely coming back! read more

Mixed feelings here. Overall a great experience in the moment. Their salon is gorgeous and everyone was very kind. We were offered coffee, tea, or prosecco upon arrival and were immediately instructed to pick our colors. All the manicurists were ready to go for our appointment. I had a group of 6 total and booking was a breeze. However, for these price points, I would expect a verrry high-quality manicure. I got the Marlowe mani plus a cuticle stripe on 2 accent nails per hand (which was an additional $10) on a Sunday. Things started chipping by Tuesday and had to take all the polish off on Thursday night because two or three fingers had chipped off almost entirely. Pretty disappointed as I'm not careful with my hands but things usually stay intact for 5-7 days from previous experience at other salons. The cuticle stripes were good but not great so I'm thinking my nail tech just wasn't very experienced. Maybe they should have varying prices by seniority? Seems like that would make sense at a pricey place like this. All in all, a great treat-yoself spot for a day out with friends in the bougie 4th street area of Berkeley but not somewhere I'd go if I really care about the manicure. read more

Very very very clean. Inviting. The staff was very polite and accommodating. High end, reasonably priced. I would definitely recommend and come back. I was there for a reasonable amount of time and it was efficient and pleasant. All natural. 10/10 read more

I was initially turned off by the high prices at Marlowe, since there are so many way cheaper options in the area. However, I'm officially a regular at this place, and here's why: First of all, hospital grade sanitation, single-use tools, and no nasty jets means that I'll never ever walk out of this place with red, swollen, infected fingers and toes. And you know that blast of fumes you get walking into a nail shop? Not here -- just lovely, light essential oils in the diffuser. Equally important is that Marlowe employees make a livable wage with health benefits and 401(k). Pretty sure that's not happening at most nail shops. They listen to their customers and keep up-to-date. I recently asked for an ombre french manicure, but they weren't able to make that happen because they weren't sure they'd be able to do it. (Most other shops would just agree to do it, it would be super crappy, and I'd leave disappointed.) Guess what! I went in for my usual appointment last night, and it sounds like they'll be offering ombre french manicures soon. Everyone at Marlowe is super friendly, my appointments have always started on time, I'm always offered a variety of beverages, and the shop is just one big Instagram-able moment. Oh, and every.single.nail.and.toe is perfect when I walk out, and my mani/pedi lasts until my next appointment three weeks later. (Shout-out to Hiep!) read more

Very disappointing experience. I have been looking for a nail salon like this in the East Bay for awhile and had high hopes for this new space. The salon is aesthetically beautiful and they did offer beverages when we arrived, but that is where the positives stop. I had scheduled a mani/pedi combo for both me and my mother the day before we were flying out on our trip. I made the reservation the day prior IN person and initially, the receptionist seemed friendly/accommodating. She said she was able to get us in together for a manicure but our pedicures would be staggered, one after the other. I handed over my credit card and reserved our appointments. We arrived to the appointment and told the receptionist that we were there for a mani/pedi. As we were picking out our colors she informs me that we are only booked for manicures, in an accusatory tone. I told her no, I most certainly booked both and we had had a discussion about how long the services would be with them staggered. We are seated and the receptionist comes back over and says again that its not on the schedule and she isn't sure what happened, that it must have been booked on a different day, but they are fully booked and can only do our manicures. Meanwhile, she keeps going back to the front desk to speak to another woman with her back turned (the manager/owner) and relaying everything I am saying to her. This is only a few feet away, so I can hear everything. The owner/manager never once turned around to acknowledge me and never came over to apologize for their error. From what I could overhear, she had a very "oh well" attitude. Our mani appt was at 2pm. Their best offer was to do a single pedicure at 6pm and acted as if they were bending over backwards for this to work. Mind you, there is only one other person in the salon, mid manicure when we had arrived. No - I have a baby and I can't wait around for four hours to get a pedicure, this was already an effort to get time away. I asked if I could just shorten my manicure and get a quick file/polish change on my toes. As a new mother herself (the owner was outside with her infant when we got there) this is something I would think would resonate with her. I understand that mistakes happen. There are scheduling errors and they were fully booked on Saturday. I get that. However, I didn't appreciate being made to feel like this was my problem. There was no effort by the staff to apologize (genuinely), to make things right by owning their mistake and making a shortened appointment work or at least offer something for their shortcomings to say, "hey, we are sorry your experience wasn't as expected, we hope you give us another chance." As we were leaving the salon, the owner was outside fussing over the sandwich board sign and never once looked up and said anything. I am stunned by their terrible customer service. During our manicure, we also overheard the receptionist and owner again whispering back and forth in a negative/inappropriate way about one of staff members who was black. The tone in which we witnessed them speaking to her was awkward and condescending. It was uncomfortable to observe and at this point, we were ready to be finished and get out of there. To add insult to injury, my manicure was worse than at most random salons I've been to. The paint job was uneven and the top coat didn't fully cover all of the color with obvious brush stroke outlines. The paint also started chipping within 24hrs and by day 3 the polish looked pretty battered. A beautiful space doesn't equate to a classy experience. Such a shame. I definitely will not be back. read more

I went to Marlowe for a pedicure with a friend. Very nice experience. The salon is clean and sunny, the nail techs who did our Big Sur pedicures were thorough and gave excellent massages, and the staff was very attentive. It's in a great neighborhood for walking, shopping, and eating, so definitely a really nice way to spend a day (important to note that we were there on a weekday at lunchtime; Fourth Street on the weekend is bananas with parking). I would definitely make Marlowe part of my pedicure routine! read more

Disappointment of the year. It has literally been 27 hours and my nails already look like they've grown out a week. Ugh. I really really really wanted to like this place but a sub par mani at double the price-- I can't recommend it. You're paying for ambiance. That's what you're paying for. I got a big sur gel mani. I don't think my massage was any longer than the one given to the lady next to me. The nail techs are not experts or pros by any means. Look at my nails. You can see. This is far and away the most relaxing place to get your nails done in the east bay. If you're dying for an insta perfect atmosphere and comfy chairs go for it. If you want a flawless manicure this just isn't the place. read more

Marlowe - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Marlowe is unlike any nail salon that I've been to. It was clean, quite and the employees were very friendly. If you've passed by it just give it a try. I went in for a gel manicure but keep in mind that if you already have gel to also book the gel removal. Erica who was my nail lady did such an amazing job. She works in a way that is very unique and she was very detail oriented. I loved talking to her and she guided me on how to take better care of my own nails. I paid $60 for my gel nails which in my personal opinion is a little too much but the way I justify it is that they go above and beyond to keep their tools sanitized. They are also just as clean as a hospital which they have a sign that lets you know how they do that. Overall I would go again because I'm paying for quality and you really can't go wrong with that. read more

I must say I have loved this nail spa since day one. I began coming here about 6 months after searching high and low for a new place. It's clean, cute and the customer service is amazing, it doesn't hurt that Laura and Jamie are there to greet you with lovely smiles and a Prosecco offering. My last visit was particularly amazing I usually have a very hard time keeping my gel up for the full two weeks ( I'm pretty rough on my hands) but Miriam proved to be the champion of gel application it has now been 3 WEEKS and my gels are still fully intact AMAZING!!! I still can't believe it.. All of the ladies are great but this is beyond belief read more

Marlowe - 3 week old gel application by Miriam - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

Did my nails Friday evening and they chipped on Sunday morning like in the picture already... And by Monday and Tuesday they look like disaster and I had to remove them. I know it's not gel manicure but usually my regular manicure would hold up for 5 to 7 days. I'd thought their quality would be better to match up their expensive price.. =============== (Original review) This place is very clean and modern. Service is good. Tools are sterilized and nail filer is one-time use. My technician is skilled and professional. I was given good advise about color choices and offered beverage. The whole experience was quite comfortable. Definitely expensive. Almost double the price of some other places after tipping. But I guess their technicians are employees and enjoy benefits that other place don't offer as what they advertise. I'd love to support that! I'm just not so sure if tip is still expected on top of the higher price tag. I mean my technician Mai did a good job so I tipped her anyway. I do hope she get good pay! But I just don't think customers should feel obligated as in traditional culture anymore. I likto see this kind of changes in the service industry. I hope technicians, waiter, waitress all get fair pay as in other culture so they don't need to rely on tipping anymore. read more

Marlowe - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I got a big sure pedicure from Angelina. She was very sweet and did an amazing job. She even helped me pick a better color out. Great conversation and great work! Definitely recommend this place. read more

Marlowe - Not the greatest picture but she's amazing - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

I had a wonderful experience at Marlowe and was my second time. The technician who took care of me (I have forgotten her name) was lovely, made my poor hands look great again. I am rough with my hands and had a mani that lasted a week. I love how their polishes are grouped by color makes it easy to select a coordinating color for my pedi. Nice color palette and selection of best polish brands to choose from. I liked the fact I knew all tools used were sanitary and they offered to give me the files to take with me. Very easy to relax and enjoy being pampered. I live in the neighborhood and it's terrific to have a place to walk to. On the more expensive end - but worth it. Beautiful space and well designed. Nice place to come alone for me time or a dear friend to relax together. read more

Amazing place, so cozy and clean! Naomi did my mani and pedi, I'd go back to her again!

Excelente service, high quality staff, super clean and pleasant atmosphere. Already booked my next appointment!! read more

Marlowe - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I started coming here because I am pregnant and was scared off nail services when reading about the heightened risk of infection when pregnant, as well as the potential risk from exposure to chemicals. A friend spoke of Marlowe's exceptional cleanliness and single use files and buffers, plus the option to select all 10-free polishes and organic products. It did not disappoint. Great service that I feel really secure in using, even while pregnant. I don't know if I'll regularly make the drive from Oakland after the baby comes, but as a special indulgence for sure! read more

My mother-in-law and I got mani-pedis as a special outing for us (a rare treat for me). We were offered tea/water, and were seated next to each other for our pedicures and manicures. I liked that everything was clean and comfortable, a nice relaxing atmosphere. Tram and Ashley did a great job, asking several questions at the beginning to make sure it was the best experience. I love how the shape of my toenails turned out. Our manicures were also very relaxing, with a friendly conversation going. (We like to chat, but they mentioned that some of their regulars use the time just to relax/zone out, so convo is not required!) We were served sparkling peach prosecco in clean glasses, and we were allowed to hang around a little bit after we were done so that everything could dry. They even sent us home with a buffer and nail file. Overall a very friendly team and a beautiful location. Even the bathroom was very clean! I highly recommend if you want a more spa-like experience than your typical nail salon. (As a side note, I ended up getting glitter accents for my manicure, and my 4 year old was very impressed - we'll have to bring her next time!) read more

I found this cute place on Yelp and I thought to give it a try because I had had a bad experience in traditional nail salons. The service was great and the space was spotless clean which is very important to me given my previous experience. I got a Marlowe Pedi and Marlowe gel Mani. I got the service done on March 14th, and by March 17th (3 days later)my nails were already chipping and the gel material was coming off. I sent them an email and they accommodated me on March 20th to get 4 nails re-done. I thought that was very nice of them. Gel manicures usually last about 2 weeks right? So it's been less than 2 weeks since I had it done and I already lost other 4 nails. So here's my bottom line: the service was great, complimentary drinks, clean space... but pricey and the gel manicure didn't even last a week. read more

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. I went to get a gel set for my birthday and It looked very nice. The pricing is a little more than other salons, however you are paying for the pampering experience as well as the professionalism of the manicurists, so it's worth it. Would definitely go again. Especially because it super cute inside and they offer a delicious drink to sip on while you are getting your nails done. Thanks Marlowe! read more

Marlowe - Nail Salons Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Help staff , scrupulously clean, honored our reservation even though we changed it last minute. Really bright enjoyable salon will definitely go back read more

I've been struggling to find a go-to nail place in the East Bay, and with Marlowe, I think I finally have it. My first visit was over the weekend with my bestie, and we each got the Marlowe pedi. Every part of the experience was great: from the friendly check-in, to the tasty prosecco, to the attractive selection of nail colors (it was clear a lot of effort went into choosing the enamels available; I appreciated not being overwhelmed by colors or brands I would never want), to the clean & modern interior, and finally to the skilled artisans who knocked it out of the park. My friend and I walked out extremely happy; seriously nice job. I loved it so much, I booked a Marlowe mani for a few days later, and had a similarly great experience once again. The 10% discount when you book your next service at checkout is brilliant-- no excuse to ever have less-than-killer nails again! Thanks, Marlowe! read more

Stopped in and got a Marlowe manicure, it was a lovely experience! Their polishes are all varying degrees of toxic-free, the interior is lovely and very clean and their technicians are friendly and very customer service oriented. You are offered water or green tea upon entering, it's a very peaceful, relaxing atmosphere. The seating is also very comfortable. While the price is higher than your typical nail salon, you're paying for the high quality products used and great results. They have a loyalty program (get 9 manis, get your 10th free) as well as 10% off of your next service if you re-book. I highly recommend! read more

I do not recommend this place. I got there 5 minutes late and they didn't want to take me. Only 5 minutes late. It's worse that if your late to a doctors appt! read more

Marlowe is amazzzzzing. The aesthetic is super cool, the nail technicians are super nice/great at what they do AND most importantly, they have an incredible mission. They make it very clear they want to be more than your average nail salon by taking incredible care of their employees. While getting my manicure and pedicure I read about how they give their employees 401Ks, health insurance, fair wages etc. It made it totally worth spending a little more knowing it was going to a fantastic cause. This place is especially great for bridal parties, birthday celebrations, mother's day... all kinds of celebrations. It's also located right across the street from a parking lot on the charming fourth street in Berkeley. After getting our nails done we popped into Madewell, Anthro, and Warby Parker. Great people. Great location. One of a kind. Totally worth it. read more