I HAVE DOUND ME A NEW WAXICIAN!! McKenzie W. Did such a great job, as painless as it gets. She was engaging with me w a warm aura, very kind.. and made me feel comfortable. I have scheduled my next appointment in advance! If you're looking for a new wax lady, she's it! The Retreat overall is such a beautiful place w kind souls and very relaxing. Durham has a gem. read more

Their brand is smugness and condescension. More like "the abuse" and not "the retreat." I'm sorry to say they have lost my business forever and I can never recommend in the future. The attitude of the person I dealt with makes me never want to go again. My family has paid for a half dozen services and yet there is no thought to a long term relationship. Transactional thinking that will cost them. They are actually just around the corner from me and I would have considered making this a more regular stop, but one interaction has cost them a lifetime of business. read more

I had such a lovely experience today. My dear friend gave me a gift certificate here - really a first time for me. After reviewing the team, I picked Kenzie to be my therapist because of her explicit focus on the body - spirit connection. She did not disappoint! She is a kind and gifted healer. I felt safe and held in care! Will make this a regular thing! Thank you, Kenzie. PS... If energy work is not your thing, Kenzie is also just very gifted at sports massage... I have all kinds of injuries from years of field work, hiking, climbing, general wear and tear, she was a pro!!! So. Good. read more

I was gifted a prenatal massage here. This was my first prenatal massage and it was very nice and relaxing. I had Lee Galbreath and she talked to me about any concerns prior to the massage and made sure I would be OK with her working on certain areas. From the beginning you could really tell she was in tune with what she was doing and was able to pinpoint some tension spots for me. I don't normally get massages, but she made me feel comfortable. The room was simple and clean with dimmed lighting, which made for a relaxing massage. A bonus to this spot was that even though it's in the Brightleaf Square area, they have a free parking lot for their customers! No need to try and fight for parking or have to pay. read more

Scheduled my annual massage (I know I need to be going more) at The Retreat for the first time and I will for sure be returning in the future! My therapist, Shawna, was so warm and incredibly kind and I loved getting to chat with her through my session. It was immediately obvious that she has a wealth of knowledge. She was so helpful in educating me on things she was noticing in my body and gave such insightful suggestions to help me live a healthier life in my everyday life. I can't recommend Shawna and the Retreat more! read more

The place is clean and the front desk person was very nice. The only thing I really didn't like is that my massage therapist talked the entire time about herself and her life. It wasn't relaxing. I couldn't wait for the session to be over with! read more

Have been here for a facial as well as multiple prenatal massages with different employees. Each experience has been very positive and fairly priced. Everyone who works there is friendly, the atmosphere is calming and simple, and the services have been very great. read more

Great massage and got in last minute Would definitely recommend and will be going back read more

I had a weekend conference in Durham and was in desperate need of a prenatal massage at 6 months pregnant. I was able to get an appointment with Jennifer on a Sunday morning and it was one of the best massages I've ever received! I usually have to go to a therapist multiple times before I can really relax, but Jennifer made me feel completely at ease to the point that I fell asleep several times. About a week later I realized I hadn't been having back or sciatic pain all week after the massage. This is after at least a month of being in daily pain. The spa itself is lovely and everyone was very kind and welcoming. All together just a wonderful experience after a long week and a long conference. Afterward the Retreat even sent me a 10% off coupon for my next visit. Highly recommend! read more

I regularly get massages from Blake at The Retreat. She has a separate location called Shangri La which I've been going to for over a year. I was so excited when she said that she was opening a new place in Downtown Durham. Having seen the location I was floored. Very modern furniture and layout. Each of the individual rooms are themed around a color, which is also related to the treatment that you get in that room. I'm not sure exactly how she worked it out, but the place is very feng shui. I am absolutely in love. The waiting area is divine. I really really love the look and feel of this place! There is also a bathroom with shower that you can clean up if you want to do a mid-day treatment. There are aestheticians and soon there will be yoga or pilates. The place has just opened and it's a hugely welcoming, relaxing spot in the middle of downtown. I really suggest you try it out if you're looking for almost any type of massage or treatment. For anyone who has to complain about the actual massage therapists, I have this to say. You have to talk to your massage therapist before & while you're getting your massage. That's true for any place, not just this place. If the pressure is not what you want or if you feel uncomfortable with anything that the massage therapist does, say something. It's not a viable review if you're going to complain about something you didn't like when you had total control of the situation. That was always my problem with some of the chain massage places. I'd speak up and still get a bad massage. Sometimes I want relaxing and sometimes I want to be turned into pate. The LivingSocial deal was amazing (I bought like a kajillion!) and I'm really excited to try it out with one of the services I've never gotten before. My tip for The Retreat would be this: explain to the reservationist what type of massage treatment you'd like. Then TALK to the therapist when you get in the room. Oh, and another thing, these people are massage therapists. Licensed, trained and everything. They are good at what they do. They are not "massueses" and there is no sex in the champagne room. read more

The Retreat at Brightleaf - Entrance on Morgan St - Massage Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

After reading reviews of this place and then finding a groupon online, i was convinced it was time to give it a try! I booked a facial via email. it was very easy and quick. No need to pick up the phone! I found the place easily (after reading up on how difficult it was - i thoroughly did my hw before i left). I had an a.m. appointment for a facial with Katie. I was greeted immediately and had to fill out some forms. Katie then greeted me and took me to a room. it was small but standard. it was calming and relaxing and from what i could see, clean. Katie was very nice and informative. she asked all the standard skin questions without judgement and continued with the facial. I was in dire need of some pampering after a few long months of schooling. The appointment lasted 60 minutes and the groupon was for $35. It was a great deal, if you ask me. Katie spent a bit more time massaging than she did with my skin than I had hoped, but it was still a good experience. I've had $150 facials at resorts before and THOSE were ammaaaaazing. The facial I received at The Retreat at Brightleaf was very good for the price, I'm not sure if I would pay the full $75 though. Overall, the staff were friendly and the service was solid. I highly recommend! read more

I went for my first facial ever which was wonderful. I made an appointment for the signature facial but when paying the price was $50.00 more than what the emailed confirmation stated. This being my first facial I thought I may have misinterpreted the price. When I got home I looked at my confirmation which was $50.00 less than what I was charged. I called in to verify what type of facial I received, I was told that I received a peel and that I was charged correctly. I mentioned it may be helpful in the future for the esthetician to mention services that are an additional charge before performing the service, especially for customers who are not familiar with spas. read more

This was my first visit to The Retreat, as a "treat" to myself for my birthday. I scheduled my return appointment on the way out today. No need to worry about covid protocols, they have them down to a science. I'll be trying out their facials in two weeks as they just started taking appointments again. As for the massage, I've been getting massages for many years. I've moved around and many times, I try someone once and usually not happy. Not the case here. My 90 min massage was with LB, it was phenomenal. I have been sitting at a computer for 9 months now, neck and shoulders locked. For the first time in years, my back and neck have flexibility and pain-free. He someone knows how to apply firm pressure and it feels great. I highly recommend The Retreat, I feel their prices are far more reasonable than many other places, but the main reason for my return is LB. Thank you!! read more

I had an amazing facial with Mackenzie. I was having a rough day and her empathetic, kind approach was just what I needed. Thank you

As regards your appointment: Verify and reverify and then verify again. The Retreat has twice messed up my massage appointments. In January, I scheduled a 90-minute massage & received a 60-minute massage. The same day, I scheduled another massage for February & I found out today that the massage I scheduled, literaly a month ago, was somehow wrongly scheduled for mid-week instead of Friday...and now they have no time slots for Friday. What a chingadera. read more

I called in the morning to see if I could book a massage for the same day, and I lucked out. Paula had an opening at 5:00. I enjoy a firmer massage, and the receptionist told me the therapists who do deep tissue were booked. Paula told me she would do a little harder than she usually does, and I was very pleased. Nice spa with friendly staff. read more

This is a lovely spot! I highly recommend Lori for massage & Pascale for facials & waxing. I've been a client of Lori's for years. She is more knowledgeable than any other massage therapist I have ever seen. I'm a hairstylist & have a lot of work-related back issues & seeing Lori is one of the things that keeps me going. She gives the best massages I have ever had. Lori is hands down (pun totally intended) the best. I've only seen Pascale once, but I'll definitely be back. I got the most painless leg waxing I've ever had! And a really great facial that was thorough without being aggressive. I left with my skin looking glowy instead of blotchy. I recommend both of these women without hesitation! read more

This place is awesome! If you are looking for a massage, this is the place to go! Amazing service ! I love this place!

Best massage I have ever gotten (thank you Sally!). My fiancé, who had one at the same time, agreed!

August gives the best massage I've ever had. Period! The deep pressure is perfect. I've got my husband hooked on his massages too. I would never think about going anywhere else. read more

This place was great. The staff was lovely and I enjoyed the ambiance. It's been a particularly stressful month at work and August made me feel so comfortable and relaxed during the session. I told him my problem areas and he went above and beyond, before I knew it the massage was over. It was exactly what I needed and I'm glad I had this experience after well over 2-3 years of not treating myself due to Covid and other things. I'm definitely booking again - I needed this more than I realized. read more

I lived a couple of blocks from The Retreat for a year and started visiting for massages. I moved 25 miles away and still visit each month. The massages are THE BEST I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED! The employees are all so professional, encouraging, and just all around pleasant people. I LOVE THIS PLACE! read more

I received a gift card to this place and that's how I found it. I have to say that every single person who I interacted with was wonderfully kind. However, I will definitely never go here again. I received both a signature massage and facial. The facial was mediocre at best. It was definitely something I could have done in my house. The esthetician washed my face with a cleanser, an exfoliant, cleaned a few of my pores, put a mask on me, and then a moisturizer. I've had about 4 or 5 facials in my past and they are always slathering different products on me. Just felt like this routine was something that I could have done for $10 instead of the $100. Then, when I look at the receipt, she charged me for the facemask that I didn't even ask for. I definitely feel like if you're going to add something that's more than the original price, you should tell people. Lastly, she said she was going to give me a basic face wash routine to help with some hormonal acne. I agreed to a simple routine. 5 products later, I get the price and it's $281 for just the product alone. She never warned me of the expense, just gave it to the front desk and expected me to be ok with whatever price it came to. I initially paid for everything and then after having a freak out in my car, I returned it all. I just couldn't justify paying that much without preparation and warning. Overall I feel like the esthetician, while very personable, only wanted the commission. The massage was fine for someone who likes light pressure and solely a back massage - I do not. I'm used to a full body experience, which I thought a Swedish massage was. The masseuse was extremely nice and talkative, however she talked so much I couldn't even relax for a moment and felt like I had to maintain the conversation level as well. She focused solely on my upper back and the pressure was so light I could barely feel her. Could I have spoke up? I'm sure, but that makes me so uncomfortable and I'm a people pleaser. I actually wasn't going to write a review at all until I saw the extra $15 I was charged for the facemask that I didn't ask for. This was the first thing I've done for myself in four years since giving birth to my daughter 4 years ago and my son 1 year ago. I just wish it was worth the price I paid. read more

Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee LEE THE MASSAGE THERAPIST... AWESOME! I've had two massages with Lee and they were both just wonderful :) She is SO PRESENT and SENSITIVE to what is going on with my body. As a yoga teacher, I'm pretty attuned to when folks are in the moment with you or are just phoning it in, and I had her FULL ATTENTION for an entire hour. I like very firm pressure in a massage, and Lee is the FIRST therapist that could actually give that level of pressure for an hour. She also checked in with me about the massage at exactly the right moments! Upon discovering some knots, she asked me if I did anything in my life that brought me joy, which just floored me. I felt like she was invested in my whole health and not just my time on the table. :) I think of myself as pretty "body aware," but I was humbled that Lee seemed to be able to tell specific things about my muscles that I was only peripherally aware of. Lee also just seems like a lovely person: kind, thoughtful, engaged, drama-free, a person I trust to hold the space, and a pleasant presence in the room. She also is the mom of a rescue dog, which says a lot about her, I think! Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee...Lee read more

How have I not reviewed my favorite spa before?!?! sheesh! BAD DAWN! I LOOOVE this place. I go here religiously for facials and massage. Blake, the owner, is without a doubt my fave massage therapist here. She rubbed on my pregnant body weekly making those last weeks bearable (maybe bare-able in this case? hehe). Emily, my go-to lady for facials is so stinkin' knowledgable and easy to be around. She endures my endless questions and has me looking my best and feeling great by the time I leave. The receptionist, Fay, is even a huge hit with me, with her sweet little british accent and ability to usher me into relaxyworld upon entering the spa. It's beautifully decorated and often has art from local artists gracing the walls. They are price competitive and if you friend them on facebook they will update you with last minute openings. Le JoY! Le Purrrrr! read more

I love this place. I've been going to the Retreat at Brightleaf since they had their soft opening something like 18 months-two years ago. I love the decor and staff. I've had one hinky experience with a facialist because my skin reacted poorly to a product, but I seriously cannot think of going anywhere else for a facial or massage. My boyfriend says Kevin gives fantastic deep tissue massages. Emily is a good calm esthetician. I seriously am terrible at remembering all the names of the people who've worked on me, but its by far the best place for pampering in the Triangle. I would suggest liking them on facebook and following on twitter so you can get the monthly deals. Also, try their Taste of Durham services, they're so unique and awesome. I want a massage now.... read more

Until yesterday, I only had my eyebrows waxed once, back when I was in 8th grade and my mom got me a "makeover" for my birthday (which was really just a haircut and an eyebrow waxing), and I've been trying to keep their shape by plucking for the past *cough*teen years. Well, because The Retreat is sweet and cultivates relationships with other local businesses, I received a gift certificate as an employee of a nearby boutique for Christmas. And since my birthday's coming up, I used it on my second eyebrow waxing ever! I filled out the paperwork in the really nice, really comfortable waiting area. If I had to wait longer, I would have helped myself to some complimentary Tazo tea and flipped through a magazine. But Emily was ready for me right away, so we got to the hair removal. It was quick and almost painless, and Emily was really friendly and chatty. And the best part: my eyebrows look so fantastic-- perfect but natural! Maybe it's time to say goodbye to the tweezers! read more

A great spa experience completely spoiled by the incompetence of the front desk. I made an appointment for my girlfriend for treatments to help her unwind from a particularly difficult week. I could not have been more explicit about using my credit card to pay for the treatments. I even instructed the receptionist to add a 20% tip. Of course, she took my credit card to hold the appointments and charge me if my girlfriend failed to show up. What happens? My girlfriend has her treatments. She goes to the front desk. They tell her that I left no credit card for payment. The receptionist demand payment from my girlfriend. She calls me. Not terribly happy, I must say. With, shall we say vigorous prompting from me, the receptionist magically find my credit card information. The problem was not simply incompetence. It was laziness. Indifference to customer satisfaction is poison to a business. read more

I have visited the Retreat for massage, facial, and waxing and have been very impressed with everything. For facials and waxing I couldn't recommend Emily more. She is just excellent. I had a massage with Lili today and was blown away. She worked so diligently on my trigger points and I could tell she had a real commitment to addressing my back pain. She was so present and focused and it was one of the best massages of my life. I've already booked my next appointment with. I see a massage therapist about 1-2 times a month and have for about 10 years and she really is one of the best. The staff her is fantastic, they have chocolate when you check in, and the services are very high quality. An excellent option in downtown Durham. read more

The Retreat is a great space. Downtown had really been needing a dedicated massage space and the Retreat fills the niche very well. They have put together a great staff in a peaceful space. The Retreat was founded by a massage therapist named Blake Moriarty. I have been a regular client of hers for two and a half years. Blake is the best therapist I have ever seen, hands down. (ok, bad pun) There are three things that set Blake apart. 1, technical knowledge of the body. 2, intuition about what is bothering you. 3, being present every single massage. I've seen her probably 20 times over the years and there has never been a session where I felt like she was coasting or less than fully invested in making my body work better. Blake is just incredible. read more

The Retreat is a top-notched. I always look forward to my visits there. The staff is professional and friendly and goes out of their way to make your visit a pleasant one. I would recommend the services that they offer to anyone, man or woman. Emily is the best aesthetician I have seen. The massages that I receive from Blake help to manage my migraines and stress level. If only my health plan covered my massages! I will say that all of the services at the Retreat are reasonably priced. Everyone who works there is fantastic at what they do. Run out and get yourself a massage and a facial. You'll thank yourself for it. Oh, and don't forget the acupuncture! read more

I first went here after buying a Groupon. I bought two Groupons, for my fiance and me and when I called they were nice enough to put us in for a couples massage. It was AMAZING. We were placed in a really nice, clean room with music and after a quick chat with the masseuses about our needs, we got settled and the work begun. One of the best massages ever. I think I was with April. She was great. Because we used a Groupon, we were encouraged to book another massage on our way out at a 20% discount. My birthday was coming up so we thought why not. Same deal, couples massage, two different masseuses who were just as good. I highly recommend this place and the location is great because it's right next to Brightleaf and you can go for brunch or whatever right after. read more

Review for the receptionist on Thursday - she is curt and if it were the first time I had called I would have gone elsewhere. Sounds like she is chewing gum on the phone and talked to others while on our call without mentioning the lengthy pause in our conversation. Receptionist on Sunday was nice and treatment great, so will go again but would avoid the person on this call if possible. read more

I followed aesthetican Emily MacGregor to The Retreat from her previous spa a year or two ago. Initially, I wasn't too keen on abandoning a spa within walking distance of my home for a start-up, sight unseen. And then I had my first appointment. Wow. The space is lovely and calming. And as a full-on Durham-ite, I greatly appreciate the choice of our fair downtown as the home of their fair enterprise. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. (Yes. I have gone to a spa or two where the front desk staff was less than gracious) I hope some day to be able to afford to try many more of their services :) So far, I've been so pleased with Emily's capacity I haven't worked with anyone else. When I do, I will update this review with what I'm sure will be that 5th star. read more

Came here to get my eyebrows tamed. West Village residents 10% off all services! Prices are great for waxing! $15 for eyebrows with the 10% discount?! Coming from San Francisco, that's a steal! My tech Katy was wonderful! Can't wait to try their other services! read more

I discovered the Retreat when friends recommended Kevin Perrone for my Plantar Fasciitis. The facility is very relaxing, and the lobby is inviting. There are many philosophies associated with the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis. After reading various running forums and talking with local runners I simply tried a variety of things. I had been to the orthopedic doctor and had some minor relief. I used the iced waterbottle after runs to decrease the inflammation. I tried the Strassburg sock to sleep in and rest my foot. The prescribed orthotics actually hurt my other foot. I had already started using a golf ball at my desk to massage the foot. Working with Kevin, however, seemed to be the therapy that pushed the treatment farther and faster. His understanding and use of Anatomy Trains made a lot of sense to me. He explains the concept very well and sends you away with "homework." I appreciate practitioners who are good educators; particularly when it comes to underresearched, cutting edge techniques, like Anatomy Trains. I feel incredibly fortunate to be back on my feet and running again. I'm still not totally pain free, but I'm definitely in a different place than I was two months ago when I first went to see Kevin. I will be going back to the Retreat. read more

I recently had acupuncture with Brandy. It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend her. She is very compassionate, listens, explains the treatment process, and makes post treatment suggestions. I've had acupuncture in the past, where they've said you need X number of treatments or you should come every week, but there was no pressure from Brandy. I felt relaxed and refreshed after my treatment and I will definitely be back. read more

So, we had a Living Social deal for a discount massage and that wasn't something we could pass up. Our schedules were frantic lately, so we had to book our sessions more or less at the last minute, but they were able to get us in pretty quickly, which was nice. When we got to the address, we could not find the Retreat. We knew we had the address right, but couldn't see any signs for the place. We started searching for pictures on line and finally recognized a side door from the Spa's on line photo gallery (it's the white building shared by an auto glass business). The main entrance has a large sign above it that is nearly flush with the wall and impossible to see unless you're directly across from it. The receptionist told us a lot of people have trouble finding them because of that. Frustrating, but everything was uphill from there. The reception area is sparse, but not horrible, and everything was white and clean. We only waited for a few moments before we were escorted back to our respective rooms. We thought we had booked a couples massage, but this is something we were told you need to be very explicit about when scheduling an appointment, so it didn't happen. The massage room itself was nothing special: a table and a few small decorations with the standard soothing music playing in the background, but the massage itself was fantastic. Traci and Kathy were complete professionals and knew exactly how to work our the most difficult knots and sore areas. I always find it annoying when the the person massaging you tries to make small talk the entire session. Traci didn't - she was incredibly nice before and after, but during the session she let me relax and get into the massage. The rooms seem to have pretty thin walls, so you can sometimes hear someone next door if they are speaking loudly or laughing, but the quality of service more than made up for that. We will definitely be back read more

Not much in the way of decor, but TONY is a delight. Had a wonderful wax & facial with Tony today. She was sweet natured and gentle on my skin. I would highly recommend her for either service. When you walk into the Retreat there is a nice seating area with magazines and tea. The spa as a whole could do with some sprucing (not as nice as Bella Trio) but that's forgivable. What I really wish that they would provide is a pre-wax glass of wine to loosen me up (even at a cost to me)! When I suggested this to the owner she pointed out that there are a lot of bars in walking distance, which is true. So I've taken to getting waxed on Thursdays when Parker and Otis has a wine by the glass special and walking over to the Retreat with a friend. See my review on P & O for more details. If you decide to become a regular at the Retreat you will want to purchase their packages, which are basically buy 5 get 1 free. What's nice is that they keep track of these for you. Last year they had a Black Friday special going for BUY ONE GET ONE FREE!!! I bought 2 facials and got 2 free and gave them all away as Christmas and birthday gifts. You can't beat that. read more

I've been here a few times previously for Swedish massages, and all have been decent, but not great -- the real appeal of this place lies in its tranquil setting and layout. This time, though, my mother booked a massage for both of us (weeks in advance) to use while I was home for the week. When we arrived this past Monday, we were told we weren't booked in the system and that we couldn't be accommodated. The receptionist gave us gift certificates for our massages (which was nice) and told us the next available time was for Saturday evening (albeit, a really inconvenient time). It turns out that we couldn't make the Saturday evening massage, and when I called the receptionist to cancel and try to book another massage, she told me there was absolutely nothing available, even when I reminded her of our time crunch and that the booking fault originally lied with them. Really disappointing for a place with such a reputation. read more