Lack of communication, sick masseuse, and rude front desk. We won't be coming back. I had a rough week that left a great deal of tension in my shoulders and neck. I looked carefully for a place because of an already bad back and found this spa on Yelp. I was pleasantly surprised of all the great reviews and decided to give it a shot. Check in was quick, there was a $2 per massage transaction fee (I brought my BF as a treat) which was a surprise but fine as the massages were $40 each. We went in and were told to disrobe and get under the covers, not talking to either of the ladies who would be helping us beforehand. The room was dingy and bare, they had to turn on several space heaters to get a little bit of warmth. No music, no dimmed lights, nothing. The ambiance was pretty bad. The massage was intense, extremely rough on my sensitive back. If you like rough, deep massages this might be for you but nowhere was it stated this was a deep tissue massage. My bf yelped a few times because of the pressure and I had to remind the masseuse to be a little gentle on my back due to a prior injury. My bf's masseuse was sick, continually coughing through out the massage which was fine until she went out into the hallway at one point and hocked a lougie right outside the door. It was disgusting! She could've walked into the bathroom but right outside of a thin door? Come on! Afterwards, we walked up to the counter to tip and I leave a 15% for each of the ladies. The front desk girl takes the money, counts it in front of me and makes a face. Absolutely rude! When we got home, I found bruises all over my bf's back and a scrape under my chin that wasn't there before. I would only recommend this place to anyone looking for a $40 thorough beating. read more

unprofessional ,overpriced, rude , could not understand what i was saying , could not get in the whole building to enter it

Great massage for a great price! The staff was attentive, courteous, and were very skilled. The massage was firm and thorough. We got their daily foot + body special, 70 min for $35 a person - great deal! The facilities were really clean and neat; didn't feel sketchy or gross at all (I've had those experiences at massage places before). All in all, great service at a great price. read more

I've been here enough that it's worth a review. You pretty much get what you pay for... it's the most affordable massage I've come across in the East Bay. That being said, it's been a bit inconsistent in terms of service. I usually get the whole body massage, but changed it up this past weekend with the 60 min foot massage and 60 min while body massage. Mary administered my treatment. While communication was limited, she was attentive and did a great job with deliberate pressure. So, my most recent experience was a pretty good value for the investment. read more

Okay, so this is not the place to go if you need a doe-eyed hippie to gaze at you lovingly and ask which parts of your body "have been talking to you." This is not the place to go if you want to listen to recordings of soothing pan pipes and trickling waterfalls while you someone caresses lotion on your back. This is not the place to go if you need to be given a cup of organic tea and treated like you're special. This IS the place to go if you want to have your knots worked out, very vigorously!, for cheap. No talking. In silence. With an amazing hot towel wipe down of your back/legs/arms at the end. I'm pretty sure my massage therapist (Lily) doesn't speak any English because when I asked if the oil was unscented, she had to get the front desk lady to come over and talk to me, and when I told Lily (three separate times/ways!) to ease up on the pressure, she didn't respond. Finally when I said "ow" she understood and lightened up...a little. I always get a little bit concerned when I see places like this with hella cheap massages and really bad graphic design, because I'm always suspicious if the workers are being treated fairly. But there are signs all over the place about how human trafficking is wrong and if anybody suspects it's happening to call this phone number on the bottom, so that makes me think they are legit? After every massage that I've had with other massage therapists, the knots in my shoulders and back are usually still there although slightly lessened. When I left Zen Day Spa, the knots in my shoulders and back were completely gone. I never thought I would see the day! And I felt great the next couple of days after too, so I guess it was worth it. I would go here again. Paid $35 cash (+ tip) for a 60 min massage during the 10am-12pm special, it's like happy hour for massages. It's normally $45 I think. Which, still, is an amazing deal. read more

This was such an awful experience. The only thing this spa did was take us on time. I went with a friend of mine for my birthday for a nice and relaxing massage but it wasn't even close to that. My masseuse clearly didn't want to be there which was evident by her attitude as well as the lack of effort she put into the massage. You can absolutely tell she had no idea what she was doing the way she was pushing on my back and legs. I told her to work on my neck and mid back because they were really tight but she kept focusing on my gluts saying it was the reason why my neck hurt. WTF??? I told her 4 times to stop working on my glut and she kept going!!!! I know it's not my glut because I am an orthopedic physical therapist and I know exactly why my neck hurts. I literally wanted to get up and yell at her because she thought she was right and wasn't listening to me at all. She clearly had no idea how to massage nor did she listen to what her client was saying. This was the worst massage I have ever received and am so mad I paid for something so ridiculous. Also- please stop pushing your elbow into peoples necks when they're on their stomach. You should never do that. To the owners of this "spa"- train your therapists- they're awful in their skill set and also have no idea how to listen to their clients. read more

Well.. I really had HIGH hopes for this place. My parents go to Zen Day Spa all the time for a foot reflexology and rave about their experience. The reason why I'm giving this spa such a high rating is most definitely because of their spa techniques and cleanliness. I also want them to prosper because I know others can benefit from their massage styles. Most importantly though--their spa is spotless! In addition, their beds have electric blankets so you're not freezing when you're laying on top of it half naked under a thin sheet. Their foot reflexology was really nice. You sit in a nice big comfy leather chair and they soak your feet in this wooden bucket which has a plastic liner so you don't catch any koodies from the person who last used it. The foot reflexology was only $20 for 60 minutes of foot and leg massaging action. It's actually quite worth it. My only issue is I'm easy to be tickled so yeah, not that enjoyable there. My massuese's hands were very petite and her knuckles very thin so I felt ticklish quite a bit. The full body massage for $40 was very....umm.. different. Look, I've been to many spa's in my 24 years of life and I've left feeling like I'm floating on the pretty white fluffy clouds in the blue skies..but this time, the after-feeling was very different. I felt like complete crap. It was like I was beat up by a bunch of bullies in some dark alley after school. Ugh. The massage hurt and I left feeling sooo sore and in so much pain. I'm NOT saying these folks don't know how to massage. I just believe their deep tissue massage isn't for the pampered spa types like me. I will definitely try their hot stone massage but nothing more and if that doesn't go well then I'll stick to my $200 a session day spa's because trust me, I love the 'I'm flying and standing on a white, fluffy cloud' feeling any day! FYI--The staff hardly speak English so remember to talk the nail-shop language when you go. And if you pay cash, there's a $5 discount for any treatment or package. Happy Spa-ing to you all! read more

Zen Day Spa - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

See all

First a few cons... -Language/communication can be tough, given lack of English skills among the staff -You may end up paying a little more than you expected given the complicated array of service packages and their seemingly random price points. -Sometimes the front desk staff seems a little disorganized/distracted. Now the pros: -Clean, appealing, peaceful environment, almost fancy! -Friendly, professional staff -Amazing massage if you are lucky to get the right person and communicate correctly and in advance. -Great, affordable pricing...simply double the price of everything you pay for to compare with industry standard pricing. In other words, the quality/price ratio is excellent. As with everything, it's the luck of the draw. Some days are going to be better than others. Once you know your therapist, get his/her name and call in advance to ensure he/she is available. Build a professional relationship with your therapist, tip at least 15% and you are good to go. I will continue to use and review this neighborhood gem that provides frugalistas like me the massage value some rich folks seem to get for a fraction of the price. Be nice and respectful with staff, but firm in clear communication, and Zen spa should become your East Bay massage central! read more

For the FOOT AND BODY COMBO AT $35. 30min foot and 40min body massage: put feet in tub of hot water, apply lotion, man uses knuckles on certain points in your feet, wipe with a hot towel. If you're lucky, he will whisper "hoooooooooooooot" each time before applying the hot towel. * Although I strongly believe there are more effective ways to relax, a massage once in a while is nice. JUST BE SURE TO TELL THEM TO FOCUS ON CERTAIN AREAS AS THEY DON'T ASK. read more

This is a nice, inexpensive, but good massage. And they have parking! Nothing fancy, not really your typical "spa" experience, but the massage was just firm enough to get the kinks out. read more

Of all the full body massages I've had in the US, the one I got here was the one I enjoyed the most. Unlike other massage parlors where I leave feeling black and blue, the massage I got here was so comfortable and relaxing I almost fell asleep. Maybe deep tissue massages are supposed to hurt to have be "effective", but I've always wondered why I would pay someone to bruise me for an hour. I would say other massages I've gotten were 80% of the time painful/uncomfortable and 20% of the time enjoyable. This one was more like 90% pleasure and 10% pain (when she was kneading the knots out of my shoulders). I only wish she massaged my hands and wrist longer, since I told her that I have mild carpal tunnel from excessive handwriting and computer usage. My masseuse was silent for the whole 1 hour massage (just how I like it, since I hate making awkward small talk to strangers in the nude. Personal preference I guess) and she was clearly experienced. Table was warm and the place was clean, not fancy, and smelt like vanilla bean. Would definitely come back. read more

One of the hardest/most painful foot reflexology massages I've ever gotten. It hurt like nobody's business as Roger was applying pressure to my feet, but as soon as he was finished, it felt like I was walking on a cloud. He got rid (as much as he could) of the knots and tightnesses... and even threw in a back rub at the end of the session. He certainly knows what he's doing. And it feels amazing now! This is a discount period as they get their business started so rush to it! As for next time, I might ask for a slightly more feathery touch--he would have obliged this time too, had I asked, but I figured I'd test my pain threshold; turns out it's not that high... read more

While the reflexology service was only $25, I expected it to include a bit massaging of the upper limbs as well -- just as I've experienced at every other reflexology place I've been. I was a bit irritated by the noise level since the masseuses are really loud when banging around the water buckets during emptying and filling; they also have the door open from the massage room to the reception area, so the bright light comes through and you can hear all the conversations at the front desk. Also, the receptionist's demeanor was short/abrupt without a single smile. The staff should be more mindful of the fact that we are there to RELAX in a SERENE environment. read more

Disappointing but that's the price I guess. Foot massage was OK, back massage didn't do anything. I'll be continuing to look for a regular massage place. read more

It's no Footspa, but the therapists know what they're doing. Location is awkward, explaining why it's always empty when I come. There's only one way in, and it's on University Ave right before the freeway overpass. Price is good for what they offer. Perfect for a midday rub. (no tugs, not that kind of spa) read more

Betty is the bomb. Business is clean, friendly and affordable. Also, received a prenatal massage twice during my pregnancy.

I have only been here once. I did an hour body and 30min foot. I didn't think the body massage was that good. It was a lot of rubbing and poking instead of actually massaging. They use light oil so it feels kind of rough too. The foot massage was weak and just rubbing. I left feeling worse than when I walked in. Be careful, they expect and kind of force you to tip. Also, they expect a tip a minimum of $10. $10 means "ok!." They will question you as to why you tip them less. I didn't really enjoy it. First and last time going. read more

Very clean. Dim lights.. Quiet. Peaceful. My masseuse was fantastic. They have an area for guests to receive a foot massage. The ability to accommodate couples massages and individual massages in private rooms. They have several different massages to pick from. I had a 60 minute hot stone massage for $55. Originally I was coming in for a 60 minute massage an it was only $40. That's a deal right there! I might just even come back next week! read more

Got a couples massage here once. As the masseuse was massaging me, I asked if she could add more pressure. She barely applied anything, so I asked her again assuming she just didn't want to hurt me. She snapped at me saying that I should have gotten a male masseur, so I just shut up and sat there while she did absolutely nothing. read more

I've come here for massages over time and Betty has been my go-to person. She's kind, good, and uses her knees and elbows appropriately and paid attention to areas I said were tender and where I wanted more work. Probably grossly underpaid (besides having to work in a place that resembles a dungeon) so I tipped her well. I liked their new guidelines of "TIP $10-20" because they won't pay the workers more regardless of what we tip. Last week I was here and my massage was limited just to my back. Too much simple rubbing with certainly cheap lotion/ time wasting just on my back. No scalp massage, no chest work, or any massage on the front of my body. Once I was told I needed to schedule a longer massage to get what I wanted so I did schedule a longer massage, but I didn't get a better massage. One time I left feeling the masseuse "phoned it in." I only go now when I'm feeling really optimistic that I'll be lucky and get the massage I want. Next time (if I go back) I may even say (or write out, or get a translation done from the front desk) that I want 20 minutes of massage while I'm on my back so I get a decent foot massage and some chest and abdominal massage. My first experience here was the cheap foot massage, but the constant chatting between practitioners was rude and annoying. They don't care. Other reviewers are right .. the only thing zen about this place is the name. Well, the background music was fine. I may head back to the Golden Island Massage (?) at the Pacific Mall in El Cerrito and try my luck there. read more

This place is great for people who like a more intense massage. I went a few years ago and was able to get a walk in. more recently, it's good to book a time. I came here after I overdid it on a home project and was very soar. I feel way better now. It's also good to tell the front desk what you want/prefer when booking. Female/male, more attention on a particular spot, lighter (default will not be light as you've likely gathered). etc., in case your masseuse doesn't speak english. read more

Meh. It was okay. My friend and I got the full body + foot massage. My masseuse was super nice. She was gentle. She laughed when I super tensed up when she got around my foot area (ticklish). I liked her but the massage was just okay. Granted, you get what you pay for. My friend's masseuse wasn't as nice. Supposedly, even though my friend had asked her to stop hurting her, she continued to give a painful massage. Place is nice and clean. Note that if you come late, that time is deducted from your total massage time and you won't get it back. Actually, I think they may have ended our session even earlier. Shrugs. read more

Unfriendly. Inconsiderate. Front desk person was cold. Therapist started late and finished early. Therapist didn't want to hear what body part needed attention. Therapist's style was as if he was trying to just finish another massage and get it over with, no care. Rushed. Gross. Towels felt unclean. Overly scented atmosphere using Fabreeze. Finally the therapist chased after me for tip and sent me bad vibes as I was leaving. HORRIBLE. read more

Good Thai hot stone massage. The therapist, LiLi, motions' were a bit too fast for my taste. It wasn't that the pressure was too hard but how fast she was moving her hands made it a little difficult to relax. Still did a great job relieving tension and great ambiance. read more

Perfect place to go to after a nice brunch buzz. Signed up for the 1 hr foot massage. We had Patrick and Michael- both men had nice medium to firm pressure with even flow read more

I got the strongest and most Muscle relaxing massage in my life. Roger gave me a meridian-based massage. It was extremely intense. This is what I was looking for. I can imagine this is not the right place for people looking for a gentle relaxing massage. For people like me who want a highly skilled Chinese style massage, I don't know if there's a better place. read more

My my wife and I come here about once every 5-6 weeks. We always get the same room couples massage. Most of the time we have incredible massage therapists, but occasionally we will get roughed up a bit. All in all we love it because we feel great afterward for many days. It's a must now. For the 1 hour massage price point, this place is hands down the best for low cost massages. read more

$45 for hand rubbing and a few elbow digs in to my back and on my spine. No technique, body massage worst I've ever had. Do they even have certified staff? Won't ever return, used to get foot massages. My partner had a female that pinched his nipples at least 6 times and focused on his butt for longer than necessary (and yet my butt went untouched). read more

I tried Multiple times To Explain to the Guy that I wanted only my lower Back and Legs, Do to my back being Injured And the Guy kept Going down Hard On my back . Sadly He didnt understand Me .I ended Up Cutting It short, to go and talk to the Clerk and she apologized But that doesn't really do much for my Waisted Time . read more

I like their foot reflexology quite a bit, so I tried their full body massage. I've gotten many full body massages, but the full body massage at this place was scary. I feel violated. Although I paid for an hour long massage, the woman spent nearly 80% of the time on just my butt. After about forty minutes of this, I finally snapped at her to please, no more butt, please! I have many other parts of my body that need a massage. Furthermore, when she moved my underwear to massage my butt (which i have had other places do before so am okay with it), she seemed to move it TOO much to the point where I kind of felt it was not okay. Additionally, when massaging my butt (again, this was about 80% of the massage), she didn't seem to notice where her fingers were, so yeah...that was NOT great. At some point, I wondered whether, despite the signage in the rooms, that this wasn't your typical massage parlor? Maybe other customers, when having hands on their butt for so long, expect something different? But I came in for a massage and a massage only! She spent almost NO time on my upper back, despite repeated requests for me. And she would do my legs, but then go back to my butt for many, many minutes. Do my lower back, then go back to my butt for a long time. Do my arms, then go back to my butt for another long bout. No matter what, she just stuck to my butt. And again, the WAY and DISTANCE she moved my underwear was not great. Furthermore, she clearly has NO skills as a masseuse. She would do different things on one arm than the other arm. Different things on one leg than the other leg. And she absolutely did not put any pressure on any of my pressure points. It felt like I just asked a friend to rub my back. This was not a massage. I got the hot stone massage. The stones kept dropping, and one of them crashed to the ground. Again, she placed one of the stones near my butt, right between my legs. So again I felt violated. Then she placed some on my butt, but those also fell to in-between my legs. I kept thinking the massage would "start" and she would actually start massaging my back, but this never happened. If she spent a second on my upper back, she would head right back to my butt. I've gotten massages in Asia (I'm Asian and lived in Asia for 8 years), including full body massages, and this is NOT normal for a full body massage. Additionally, I've gotten massages in Pakistan, the U.S. (in three plus states), and other locations. This was, hands down, the worst massage ever. Moreover, I had to shower after the massage, because the smell of the oil reminded me of how violated I felt and feel. I was tempted to ask for my money back, but thought that the business owner probably has no idea how violative her employees are. I had also thought about filing a lawsuit, because I feel so violated (I am a lawyer), but I think ultimately, I will just NOT be coming back here. I say, if what you're looking for is a deep butt massage, you can probably get that from your romantic significant other. Stay home and do that. If you come here, you will feel violated. You'll have hot stone massages right near your private parts and fingers hovering right next to it. This was not okay. If you want an ACTUAL massage, go to another place. I feel worse than I feel when I went into this place--both physically and emotionally. I do like the foot reflexology here, and thankfully, that is not in a private room, so you don't feel violated. The guy who work there actually do a good job. And they don't spend 50 minutes on your butt. read more

I've been here a few more times since my initial visit and I must say I'm growing to like it. I've found a couple massage therapists who I like better and have stuck with the them. I'm a fan. read more

Ideal price point and location for your mid day or evening massage. The staff is fast and friendly, and they don't hold long drawn out conversations with each other in the room while your trying to relax, which has been my experience now and then. Prices are beyond reasonable! Go see for yourself! read more

My mom and I stopped by on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised to received a wonderful, deep, opening massage. The massage therapist helped me identify tight places in my body and suggested ways to relieve tension in life. The room had a peaceful atmosphere and everyone was kind and accommodating. read more

It's always good service here. And good pricing. They have various price ranges to help fit your budget. Whenever I need a massage on the fly, I think of Zen Day no matter where I am. read more

I must have been here 15 or 20 times by now, over the course of the year and a half. I've never gotten a bad massage. Even the worst was still a really great massage! Dave, Coco, Lee Lee, Betty, and Mimi are my top favorites . That being said, no matter who you get, everybody is incredibly skilled. As if the massages themselves weren't a great enough incentive, the price is amazing! $45 for an hour long full body massage. Or if you book your appointment before noon, it's $35!! And this isn't some half-assed massage. Hot towels, oil, and lots of professional care is involved. These people are skilled professionals who genuinely know what they are doing. There's also very lovely classical Chinese music playing in the background, as well as the sound of water. You can generally, book your appointment a few hours in advance, but obviously the more time, the better. And you can request your favorite masseuse!! Just relax and let the professionals do their work. Because this place is so affordable, please tip generously. They genuinely earn it. Also, and honorable mention, they do couples massages. So you can bring your partner, and enjoy a little date. read more

The price is great. It's clean, they're efficient in getting you an appointment, and polite. They don't speak perfect english, but patience easily can overcome that. Hour long massage, and I'm pretty sure the knots are worked out of my back where I didn't even know I had knots. If you're expecting a luxury day spa, it's not. But you're also not paying the luxury day spa premium. read more

Foot/leg massage was very good. Minus two stars because my masseuse frequently conversed with the masseuse next to me. Spoiled the zen experience. read more

Relaxing and cheap!! Not your most luxurious spa, but a nice foot rub for $20! The part where they take you to a room and massage you on a table WITH your clothes on and cover you with a blanket is slightly weird and uncomfortable. Perhaps, don't go in your work clothes. Friendly staff. Will visit again soon. read more

I had Sam work on me and was very pleased. Strong hands and very thorough. The foot and leg massage finish up with a hot towel rub. Great atmosphere with dim lights, blankets, warmth, quiet. And then the price...how can they do that. Remember to tip. read more

I love this place. Best massage for a very reasonable price. They are able to use a lot of pressure, which I like. If you do not like very deep massages you should tell them. During a foot massage they press so hard that it hurts, but once they release it feels like all of your organs open up (in a good way). read more