After a ridiculously stressed out week of starting a new job and moving to a new city in the midst of a hurricane, I figured I needed a massage (at least). And WOW, saying that this is THE-best-massage-I've-ever-gotten might be an understatement. I got the first time customer special of a 1.5 hour massage for $ 95 which is quite frankly a great deal, especially in DC. John Parks is a masseuse extraordinaire who specializes in trigger point therapy (I had no idea what that was, but it's brilliant!). I quite literally stumbled back home because I was so mellow-ed out. A few sessions with John and you will be knot-free..and I can vouch for that. Clearly I'm a huge fan! The place itself is calming, very zen and no-frills which is exactly what I like. No one talks to you in a "spa-voice" and they most certainly don't offer you tea made with crushed flower petals. But they are truly great at what they do, friendly without being overbearing and well priced. It really doesn't get better than this. read more

I'm writing this review just after finishing my first session with Aaron and I'm in heaven. One hour ago I walked into Wat massage feeling like Pinocchio (in all his wooden glory) and Aaron slowly but surely molded me into a real boy (girl..but you get the picture). I have had chronic back pain for 7 years and chronic shoulder pain for 4 years. I've seen a lot of different kinds of therapists (massage, acupuncture, acupressure, trigger point, etc) and Aaron's methods have been the most effective I've felt to date. Let me clarify, Aaron is who you should go to if you're feeling pain anywhere in your body. This is not your typical relaxing massage. Relaxing massages don't help me one bit! I was here on a work trip and was in so much pain from the plane ride and carrying luggage and typing all day on my laptop and I knew I needed trigger point therapy. Aaron pressed trigger points (painful but in a good way) which released a lot of tension and relieved a lot of pain! My only pain that is left is knowing that I live in California and that Aaron practices here. I will just have to visit every time I'm on this coast. Since I'm a Muslim woman who covers, I am usually hesitant to have male therapists work with me. However, I was assured by the staff that Aaron wouldn't be able to actually "see" me! You see, Aaron doesn't see with his eyes, but I can tell you that he definitely can see with his hands. To the girl who previously said she's going to start an Aaron fan club in her review, I'm joining. Also, I'd like to add that the reason Aaron may be better than other trigger point therapists in the United States is that he was trained in Canada where they require 3000 hours of training, whereas in the USA, the requirement is only 1000 hours. read more

I loved this place! Such a beautiful salon with soothing ambiance all throughout. And most importantly, the massage was pretty amazing! There's a reason this place is rated so well. Lovely experience from beginning to end. I will definitely be back on my next trip to DC. read more

Had a wonderful experience with Wat for an in home massage. Thru Yelp, I communicated with Alan and Amber was assigned as my massage therapist. Amber arrived on time with all the required equipment (massage table, heated table pad, fresh linens, music) to provide a traditional spa experience. Amber provided a deep tissue massage tailored to focus on my areas of concern. The pressure was perfect and the massage was superb. Having had many, many massages before, I can say that Amber provided one of the best massages I have ever had. I look forward to having Amber as my masseuse again in the very near future. read more

OK I don't like to give 5 stars, but this was one of the best massages ever. I've had them all over the world including many in and around the Bay Area. But 90 minutes with Julio is extraordinary. I highly recommend him if you need pressure to get out the kinks. Can't wait to go back before I head back to NYC, in fact I asked Julio if he could move to NYC! read more

Hands down the best massage I have ever gotten!! I have been coming her regularly for 2 years now. I have had massages all over the world my whole life, and nothing comes close to the consistently great massages you get here. Unlike most massage places where there is usually one good massage therapist, at Wat, literally anyone you get is excellent. The only place to go to get a massage in my opinion. read more

First time coming thanks to a gift certificate! Booked my first Hot Stone massage ever and booked it with Luther. He was so incredibly professional, and made sure I was relaxed and able to comment on the amount of heat and pressure I desired throughout the 60 minute, full body experience. The ambiance was great and I truly have zero complaints. Will definitely be returning again in the future!! read more

The best massage ever!!! My massage therapist was Jackson. First he was a good listener. He also, created a relaxing atmosphere, which included dim lighting, soothing scents, and music. He has extensive knowledge of the anatomy of the body. He skillfully integrated more than one style or massage modality combining techniques from Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, reflexology, trigger point therapy and hot stone. These blend of techniques relived the stress and tension in my body. I was extremely satisfied because he succeeded in relaxing me, and made me feel well taken care of. read more

I came here after a marathon for some post race relief. Sheena did a FANTASTIC job on my massage and got all the right spots. I have a girl I usually see at home but I think Sheena was even better than her. The facility was very clean and comforting. I would highly recommend this place to anyone in the DC area looking for a great massage. I'll be coming back here if needed on my next DC trip. read more

I totally agree with what i'm reading here, I went for my first massage yesterday and can honestly say it was amazing. I saw Aaron, and highly recommend him for his understanding of myofascial trigger points and release. But it seems like you can trust the team there and go with any of them, based on the testimonials here. Enjoy, and thank you Wat Massage! read more

Let me just start this out by saying that my boyfriend got me a gift card for a 90 minute massage for my birthday and I was SO excited! I figured because of the reviews it must be the perfect massage place. Fast forward a few months...I scheduled my appointment for a Swedish massage. When I arrived my first impression was very good. The waiting room was very nice, I was offered a drink while I waited, and the receptionist was very kind/attentive. After a couple minutes someone came to walk me up to the room. The room was lovely. It had great lighting, perfect music and a trickling fountain. At this point I was very pleased. But this is the point where it went down hill.... I had to tell my masseur three times that she was rubbing too hard, but she never seemed to understand me. After the third time I just accepted that it was going to be painful. She also used a butterscotch scented oil. Don't get me wrong, I like butterscotch, but its not something I want to be slathered in. After the massage was over someone passed me in the hallway and actually told me I smelled like candy. I would have MUCH preferred peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, or any other normal massage oil smell. The other thing was I did not receive a Swedish message. I don't know what it was, but there was a lot of pulling and stretching and twisting involved. Some of it actually felt good, but I really wanted a relaxing message experience and that is not at all what I got. Given the other reviews I think its possible that my experience is not normal. But with that being said I probably won't go back, which is really, really disappointing. If you do go to this place make sure you are very clear about what you are getting yourself into. Or even better, get a recommendation from a friend about which masseur you should request. read more

I have been getting massages for 20 years, and Aaron at Wat Massage is hands down one of the top two best massage therapists I've ever had. If you are looking for a deep, therapeutic message, not the relaxing bullshit, then I highly, highly recommend him. He has a physical therapy background based on training in Canada, and it is evident in his work. I cannot say enough good things about him. To the other yelp reviewer Nicole -- If you ever start the Aaron fan club, please sign me up. read more

I had a massage with Alan and it was incredible. I told him about pain I've been having in my left shoulder, from a repetitive stress injury that has been with me for years. I also told him to give as much pressure as he wanted. He worked with trigger points all along my arms back and shoulder. While it was very intense at times, he was able to get to places I didn't even know were related to the pain. He recommended that I come back for future sessions with Aaron who is their trigger point expert which I definitely plan to do. I had no big expectations for this massage but left feeling incredible relief. This is good therapy. read more

I was referred by a girlfriend and all I can say is O. M. G! The first time I went I couldn't believe I'd been paying ridiculous rates for massages at these high end hotels. You will not be disappointed with Wat. Sheena is my masseuse and she is the best ever! If I cud go every week I would. The prices are also the best. Spread the word!!! read more

Best massage I've had in years! Claudia was excellent- really listened to everything I asked for and truly gave me an incredible massage. Even the next day, I'm still feeling a huge difference. The facility is beautiful, quiet, and relaxing. I will be back! read more

Returned for a massage with Irani at the suggestion of Alan, who I believe is the owner. The massage was much, much better than the previous one. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and it was what a massage is supposed to be like. Alan had read my previous review about Luther and sent me a message apologizing that I was not fully satisfied. That was a very nice touch--totally unexpected. I'm glad I went back too. Irani was super nice, extremely professional and very good. I had seen a number of good reviews for her the last time around but didn't ask for her because I'm normally very skeptical of female therapists. A lot of times, they can't quite put in enough pressure for my liking, but Irani definitely did not have that problem. I left feeling super relaxed after the session with her, and the massage was just what I needed after a stressful week. read more

I just had my first massage at Wat Massage and I loved it. The space is so calm and inviting and everyone was very nice. I hadn't gotten a massage in a long time and was having trouble with tightness in several different areas. Sheena focused on those areas and worked a lot of my knots out. She did such a great job. She asked me how hard she should apply pressure and when I told her I could take a lot of pressure, she did not hold back. If you want someone to work out your kinks, she is the one. It was painful during the process, but I feel much better now. Afterwards, she showed me some stretches I could do regularly to help avoid that tightness in the future. The $95 for a 90-minute massage deal for new customers is a steal. And now I'll be back for more. read more

First, I gotta say that I'm a tough reviewer when it comes to spas and massages. Having been to some of the best in Thailand and across the country, I wasn't sure what to expect at Wat Massage. But I contacted the front desk via email while visiting one of the Smithsonian Museums and had a response within minutes! I love promptness and the dedication to customers. This spot was already looking good. The house/location is easy to find and extremely welcoming. I was told David would be my therapist for the evening and let's face it, you can't beat 90 minutes for $95 as their promotional- so that was a plus as well. David was professional and welcoming of my input and my history with chronic neck pain. He explained what he would do and asked that I feel free to let him know of any preferences. The massage was outstanding. Absolutely what I needed, perfect pressure, extremely professional. I am, unfortunately, only in DC temporarily but I look forward to visiting again when I get the chance. Best place in DC in my book!! HIGHLY RECOMMEND AND HIGHLY RECOMMEND DAVID. Though I'm confident everyone at Wat Massage knows what they are doing. Thank you! read more

This place is calm, serene and clean. Many levels and great decor. Everyone there is very nice. I subtracted two stars because my masseur focused on the WRONG side from where I told him - and what I marked on my sheet. That was annoying, and I'll still have to get another massage to have my trouble area focused on. I kept thinking he was going to go back to the right side that I had pointed out so many times before we got started, but he continued to focus on the wrong side. This is basics. I felt like I ended up paying for more than what I wanted because the therapist didn't know left from right. It's too bad - because other than the almost useless massage I really liked this place :-) read more

Jackson deserves every rave review on Yelp. I found him when I was looking for someone who could do a combination of cupping and massage. What he offers is better than I even anticipated, from the ambiance of the Wat Massage establishment to the message itself. Jackson takes a holistic approach and a combination of techniques, incorporating stretching and exercise to resolve pain. As needed, he also uses aromatherapy and hot stones. Jackson earnestly loves what he does and always remains accessible despite his popularity. I highly recommend him for anyone, especially for athletes or those struggling with chronic pain. read more

This is my new FAVORITE place to get a massage in DC. My husband and I first tried it and got a couples massage - first time special - and I've returned many times since. It is clean, very peaceful inside, and I believe offers fair prices for the quality of the massages. I'd much rather have a skilled therapist than a fancy waiting room. The people are nice and attentive and I LOVE Irani. I am now 8 months pregnant and have been going to Irani consistently for the absolute best prenatal massages. She is so wonderful and I feel a million times better every time I leave Wat. I'm now a Wat Massage loyalist! read more

Had time to kill before flying back to Washington State and thought I would get a massage. The Wat is relaxing the second you walk in. Madeline was my therapist and she was immediately warm, friendly, and really listened to the areas of concern/pain I had. She tackled each of these areas with care the the perfect amount of pressure and technique. You could tell she was well trained and knew the human body well. I wish I lived in this area so I could see her regularly. I've had hundreds of massages and hers was one of the most memorable, relaxing, and healing I've ever experienced!! read more

Got my first 90 minute massage from Wat on New Years. They were timely and very nice. The receptionist recommended Aaron due to my migraines. So I ordered a trigger point massage from him and it was unreal. I left there so relaxed. Next time I will have my boyfriend pick me up after. I was so euphoric I could barely drive. Heavenly! read more

After my recent experience, owner reached out to me to make things right. I can appreciate businesses who take customer reviews seriously and try to make sure their customers are happy. read more

This review is for the combination deep tissue massage with cupping with Jackson. If you are super-tight and sore and are open to trying an alternative method for relieving tightness and soreness, then you should definitely give Jackson a try. The guy is very serious about incorporating deep tissue massage with cupping. If you are only interested in cupping because it is the current "fad" used by movie stars or some athletes, then you should pass. If you have been looking for a therapist that knows how to do cupping, then look no further and read on. I get deep tissue massages often and have been doing cupping for years in Houston. I know and understand cupping. I have been trying to find someone here in DC that does cupping and that's how I came across Jackson. I have an athletic build and for whatever reason, I'm tight as a brick - every masseuse I have ever had always said I'm one of their tightest client. Lately, my back has been very tight and I could feel that the blood wasn't circulating as it should, thus me wanting a cupping session. First of all, and very importantly, in order for these sessions to have the most impact, you must be willing to have an open mind and let Jackson "experiment" (for lack of a better word) on you. Second, the sessions with Jackson are very interactive - you have to communicate with Jackson as to what is sore or tight, what is working or not and if the pressure is too much or too little. Third, there is a lot of stretching involved so you need to be willing to try different stretching positions to help relieve the tension. Jackson is very keen on learning on what works or doesn't work and loves a challenge! He is the 1st masseuse that I have had that really seems to understand the human anatomy and the underlying muscles and how they work; it's almost as if he has a medical background. He is also a physical therapist, which maybe explains why he is effective. So what can you expect with cupping? If you are a newbie, I cannot stress enough for you to do some research first to see what you are getting yourself into and if it is for you. What I thought was a "bonus" with Jackson is that he incorporates "scrapping" or Gua sha in Chinese and Co gió in Vietnamese with the cups. You can go to this Wikipedia link to read about it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gua_sha. A word of caution, the site shows you what your back will look like when you co gió, but don't be alarmed.The redness on your back is not debilitating nor is it sore if you touch it, (it just looks really bad, like you have been beaten up). As a kid, whenever I got sick my Mom would co gió to basically expel the "bad wind" in my body. I won't kid you, if you have never had co gió, it may hurt (but not in a bad way). The process is not for the faint of heart either. The more stagnation, or bad circulation in your body, the redder your back will be (like the Wikipedia picture); my back was the color of a red lobster. The same with the cupping marks, the darker the color, the more stagnant the blood, mine were almost purplish in color, but I knew this was going to be the case. My marks faded after the 4th or 5th day. The tightness in my back didn't come back until the 3rd day or so. For my second session with Jackson, he did the same, except that my back was not as red and the cupping marks were not purple. The cupping marks disappeared or were very faint by the 3rd day. By the end of my 3rd session, Jackson used fewer cups and my back was not red at all. I can definitely say my back is more soft and loose now. I had my 4th session with Jackson this past week. The difference in my back is night and day! Before I started my sessions, my back could be described as being a brick, now it is soft and supple. I cannot say enough about how cupping with Jackson has worked for me personally, but this is not a one session cure-all treatment. If you want results you have to be willing to do three or four 90-minute sessions. Jackson truly cares about healing you and will find a way to make you feel better. read more

I went to WAT massage in Adams Morgan twice when visiting DC in July. It was one of the most surreal experience I've had...it's an awesome high end massage place with authentic decor. I had Jackson Miguel both times. He knew exactly where my muscles were stiff and he worked on my back for a long time to help me with the pain. He was very knowledgeable with the anatomy so he was extremely careful as to use the right pressure on various areas. If you are serious about getting a regular quality massage with someone to help you manage pain...than look no further...Miguel is the best. I got lucky as a visitor. Any time I'm back in DC...I will be going there. read more

This is a great place to go if you really want to have some work done on tight muscles. Irani is a wonderful massage therapist. She has such a calm and soothing demeanor. But she means business when it comes to getting out knots, and she really knows what she's doing. My massage was a great balance between relaxation and hurts-so-good. I would highly recommend Wat and Irani! read more

Great place, great environment, love the decor. Feels very zen. Massage therapist was really good! Very happy and will make Wat Massage my permanent massage place. read more

The reason I picked this place was all the great reviews here and was not disappointed with my experience. It was easy to setup a same day appointment. I had some tension in my shoulder that I wanted a masseuse to focus on and Alan ( receptionist/owner) suggested I try Aaron. He's not your typical masseuse that does Swedish or deep tissue massages. He pinpoints areas that you didn't even know needed work! read more

Love this place and Madaline is an amazing massage therapist! 5-star all around, with the nicest amenities, setting, and service all for very reasonable prices. read more

If you're looking to find Irani who was at Body co, she landed here. Got a wonderful massage, she's really great. Lovely place, intimate, comfortable, and convienient (across from L'Enfant cafe in Adams Morgan). If you buy a package, the cost is significantly lower. read more

I've been coming here for a couple years and have never been dissapointed. For my past 4 or 5 massages I've seen Krystal. She's the bomb. Being a hairstylist for 15 years my back can get pretty jacked and she fixes me right everytime. She's the best massage therapist I've ever had. The place is also just warm and inviting. The rooms are peaceful. All around 5 stars. read more

I had one of the best massages of my life from Irani. I did the 60 minute Wat Massage and even though she used some pretty hard pressure it actually did not hurt like it normally does. She completely removed the knots in my back and I walked out feeling amazing. I would recommend to her to anyone and will for sure be back. read more

Great massage from therapist Sergey. I highly recommended. My 2 hours massage was amazing, you can tell therapist was so professional, he did excellent work. Absolutely I am giving 5 stars read more

By far the best massage I've ever had. Sheila was amazing, she was very professional and would check in from time to time to make sure I was enjoying my massage. Amazing experience form the moment we walked in. My husband and I are in DC for the long weekend from NY and this is somewhere we will def come back to. The prices are good and the servuce is great :) read more

This place is terrific! My girlfriend and I had our second couples massage here, and both were fantastic. The decor is excellent and relaxing, and the massage therapists are courteous and top-notch. Could not recommend more! read more

I really loved this massage! It has been a couple weeks since I had my massage so I don't remember the lady's name, but she did an amazing job! The massage was 90 minutes for $95. It went by so fast because I was so relaxed. I definately want to go back! read more

Visiting DC. My friend and I tried it and we both were not disappointed. Welcoming house with private rooms. My Masseuse asked my preference and without another word released my knots and undid the tension. If ever I am in DC, this will be my first and last stop. Almost makes leaving that much harder. read more

Amazing!!!! I brought my mom and sister to Wat Massage, and it was such a treat! All three of us had the best massages! We will all be back the next time we visit DC! It's no wonder they sweep up Best Of awards in the DC area! read more

I have had a lot of massages over the years and I'm pretty good at picking out the good from the bad. I also have back issues which cause me a good deal of discomfort. I'm been going to Wat now for about 4 years and I can say that I enjoy the place very much. I like the feeling of comfort. In the last few months I have used Daniel, Alex and Jackson Miguel. All 3 of them have been very good and when I leave I always feel better. They vary in their techniques but they really focus on the areas I need help in and they are always considerate as to whether or not they are being too hard. When I leave I always feel better and if I were a wealthy man I would go every week. read more