I would of given a 5 for the fabulous massages, but I have to say, the manicures are horrible. The girls were rude (didn't talk or smile). As soon as I returned home, my moms nails were severely bubbled up. All great placed will ran down soon with poor nail services. read more

By far my favorite spa in Chicago. Just a few footsteps into their space and you're immediately a rush with relaxation and comfort. The staff is welcoming and so helpful. It's the type of space that even when you're treatments are over, you don't want to leave! Forget the high end, bougie spas all over the city this spa is worth your time and money. read more

Went here for a massage for the first time on NYE. My therapist and the staff were attentive and professional. The massage itself was good. The relaxation area is soothing. But when I go to a new spa I expect everything- robes, sheets, towels- to be clean and fresh. In the bathroom- rather than paper towels they had rolled up individual towels. The one I picked up was stained badly. The bathroom could have been attended to. The dim lighting covered this up somewhat but if you looked closely at some of the surfaces- walls, counters- they appeared to have a thick layer of dust. read more

I found Allyu Spa when I was pregnant and looking for a prenatal massage. That's when I met Cindy and I have been seeing her since. She is extremely knowledgeable about how to provide a safe prenatal massage and I continue to see her postpartum! Cindy does a combination of bodywork and massage that provides you with long-lasting pain relief - not just temporary relief the day of the massage. I have had chronic back pain for years and I cannot speak enough about how much Cindy has helped with my pain! Highly recommended this beautiful, calming spa and specifically Cindy for massages! read more

I rarely get on yelp to complain about a business and its services, preferring to tout the amazing businesses I've encountered and deny the less than stellar one's my repeat business is generally enough for me, in fact, I've only posted 1 slightly negative review in my years on Yelp; however, after many months of wrangling with myself and the way I still feel these many months later about Allyu I couldn't in good conscious not post a review about treatment I received. For my 30th birthday my husband planned a fantastic weekend for me. A girlfriend flew out from NYC, there was brunch at my favorite restaurant, he bought tickets and willing volunteered to attend a Shakespeare play, and he scheduled time at my then favorite day spa - Allyu. The kink in my 30th birthday weekend was Allyu unfortunately. We found out March 4th that I was pregnant, 3 days before our 1 yr anniversary. Mike being very thoughtful, saw that Allyu had a pregnancy massage available and booked it. Unfortunately pregnancy nausea really exists and mine in the first trimester didn't wane nearly as quickly as expected and definitely not by my birthday. My nausea was severe - I was the random woman you saw vomiting on the street in broad daylight at noon and 6pm and any time I smelled gasoline, humid air, fast food, or B.O. - it goes without saying I was quite the joy to be around. As a city girl, Chicago and NYC suddenly became my least favorite places in the universe and I planned to create a commune in the wilds of Montana to enjoy fresh air. Allyu has a 24 hour cancellation policy, which I absolutely respect. They are a business and have to have a policy that ensures their interest are cared for. I get that and I've never in life cancelled a service with them and have in fact referred and bought friends services there as thank you's to them, and my husband and I had couples massa ge there as well. So long story short - years of patronage and nary a cancellation. I woke up the morning of my birthday and felt nausea to the degree described above, immediately called Allyu, and asked for a RESCHEDULE. Not a cancellation, but a reschedule for when I might possibly feel better and was told no. Imagine my upset. It was my 30th birthday, I was pregnant, nauseous, and the only place I'd ever enjoyed a massage told me I couldn't even reschedule. After explaining the pregnancy, the nausea, my patronage, that I was adverse to smells - nothing, they couldn't help. (and let me explain, my aversion to smells was so severe that I had dreadlocks and had my husband shave my hair off because tea tree shampoo upset my stomach). So in the end I was charged $110 for a service I never received and I haven't been back. I'm 29 weeks along in my pregnancy and would love a massage and am fully out of nausea state (though that took longer than I expected), but don't know where I'd trust to go for services. I would have loved for that place to be Allyu, but for all the talk of The Art of Healing, they sure couldn't have cared less about my pain. Sidenote: Why offer a pregnancy massage, when you aren't willing to deal with the issues inherent to it? That seems like a faulty model on their part and a big screw you to any woman who might be suffering through pregnancy difficulties. BTW, we're having a girl and are very excited! read more

I am what one might call a massage snob. I try to get a massage at least once a month, if not twice. I also went to massage school myself, but I wasn't able to finish because my knee broke. All that being said, I consider myself pretty well qualified to judge a spa and its massage therapists. Allyu ranks right up there with the other great spas I've been to. The staff that greets you is friendly and attentive. The environment is relaxing, clean, and professional. My massage therapist both times was Amado. The first massage was for total relaxation, and that's what I got. It's rare that a massage therapist can get me so relaxed I'm almost asleep, usually because I'm paying a lot of attention to their techniques. The second massage was deep tissue, and it was just as relaxing as the first. Amado's respect and professionalism are among the top in the industry. If they had a reality show for spas, perhaps called Project Rubway, he would very likely win. Sopanya was my pedicurist at my first visit. Two weeks later my nails still look great and I don't need a touch-up. The signature pedicure, with chocolate, was fantastic. I'd like to say a few words to some of the people with negative reviews: To the pregnant people who scheduled but couldn't make it and still got charged: tough. Your pregnancy is not a magical pass for businesses to waive their policies for you. You're pregnant. You might have complications, but you schedule the services any way. You know the cancellation policy. That risk is on your shoulders, not the people you do business with. If they waive their policies for a pregnant woman, will they waive them for me if I have a migraine? Where does it stop? Take accountability for your choices. To the woman with the nose piercing complaining about the towel catching your jewelry: take the damn jewelry out. Seriously. Take it out. Then you won't have anything to complain about. If anything, the aesthetician should have asked you to remove it before beginning any work. To the woman who complained about the nail polish brand. From your review it sounds like you've had bad experiences with that brand before, and yet you still got your nails polished. And then, true to form, the polish came off. Wow. I bet that was a shocker. But is it really fair to ding the spa because you went ahead and used a product you knew didn't work for you? read more

I've been to Allyu a handful of times in the past, but this last visit left me feeling uncomfortable, literally irritated and disappointed. I purchased a package for both my mother and I that included a sugar scrub, massage and facial. The sugar scrub and massage were good--my mother expressed that she enjoyed both those experiences very, very much as well. However, I noticed that my therapist ended my scrub and massage 8-10 minutes early for each service. That's a loss of $15.83 for the massage alone. Unfortunately, my mother and I both experienced issues during our facials: After warning my facialist that my skin was extremely sensitive, I felt she went ahead rather aggressively with the extraction portion anyway. Tears were streaming down my face during the process. As soon as I exited the room and looked into a mirror I was horrified to find 5 red, inflamed pimples around my lips and chin where there were none before. I've had many facials with my dermatologist in the past, this has never happened. My mother's facial was generally nice. However, the facialist dropped a bit of stinging product into her eye which caused redness and a large broken blood vessel. Lastly, when I made my purchase over the phone, the person I spoke to explained that "a package would be a better deal because gratuity would be included". This led me to believe, reasonably I think, that I would not have to pay additional gratuity by purchasing three services. I was disappointed and bewildered to learn that an automatic 20% was added to my bill which brought the total to nearly $700, which obviously isn't much of a benefit or deal at all. I felt deceived and deliberately mislead. I'll probably never return to Allyu. read more

Allyu - Product fell in my mother's eye during a facial, which caused this reaction. Issue was simply ignored or unnoticed by staff. :( - Day Spas Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My pregnant wife called Allyu today (a day before her birthday appointment I made for her) to rescheudle, not cancel, her spa package. Her morning sickness, as she told them, continues to be pretty rough and another day would be better and allow her to enjoy it appropriately. To make a long story short, no reschedule was possible and they charged us 50% of the fee we would have paid if she had went. Classy, guys. Goodbye. read more

I had a great experience at Allyu during a spa day with girlfriends - we had fantastic massages and pedicures. I returned with my boyfriend over the weekend for 90 minute massages and had the opposite experience. My masseuse was inexperienced, uncomfortable and due to his lack of experience, abusive. He was a super nice guy but had no business giving massages to the public - Allyu management is at fault for putting him in this position. I have bruises from the experience and an overall feeling of regret for not getting up and leaving the massage. After telling the cashier about my massage she said that she'd make sure that there's a note in my account to not be placed with that masseuse again - that was how she solved the problem. I paid full price for an awful experience and won't return. read more

Excellent! My husband booked a massage, scalp massage and shower for my birthday. I am always skeptical being super picky and critical with massage therapists BUT was blown away. From the moment I entered the building, I was treated with 5-star service. Everyone is extremely kind, gracious and inviting. The relaxation tent was a great place to start my day. I was greeted by Leah for my massage and scalp massage. She listened to all of my needs and the massage was FANTASTIC! She addressed all of my back tension with great pressure and strokes. Was able to take a shower and get ready for the rest of my day. Check out was excellent as well! Loved the overall experience and will come back. Everything exceeded my expectations (which is hard to do)! read more

Husband always picks this place for gift certificates, and while I'm incredibly grateful Ill tell him to skip it next time due to customer service. So worst weather in 30 years today, traffic was a disaster. They have a 6 hour cancellation policy and I'm going back to work after maternity leave tomorrow so I say I'm gonna brave it. They had called prior in the day bc they had cancellations to see if I could come in early and since I was coming from the burbs I had to say no- so I feel like I was going to get punished regardless...mistake #1- I should have cancelled like everyone else. I get in traffic and realize that I'm going to be late. I call immediately (30 minutes before) to ask if its even worth it and the receptionist is super sweet and says- oh I know the roads are awful- be safe and we will work with the time you have. So I think I'm in the clear. I show up 15 minutes late and wait probably another 10 for my aesthetician (sp?). I apologize for being late, roads were awful, she totally agrees and we get down to business. At this point no one mentions anything about adjustments in time, or that I'm paying for full time even through I'm late, so I think I'm in the clear. I explain how stressful day was, how much I was looking forward to facial bc of décolletage and neck work (where I carry my stress) and she begins. Facial was OK. Good arm and hand massage. Doesn't work on my neck at all and touches lightly on décolletage (even though I have her signals like "wow- that feels great- I'm carry my stress there." Session ends on the original time. I go to pay and pay (mind you ALSO buying $70 face cream!!!!) and they charge full time full price. So I paid for $40 worth of services I didn't receive. Although I totally understand money is time, I think it's shady that not once did they mention (on the phone when I called, when I spoke to receptionist when first got in, when I met the aesthetician, etc) that I was SOL and would have to pay for full time. I get it that I was late but c'mon- literally STORM of the past 30+ years and when I called she was so casual about it!!!At least be opened about it so I knew, I feel like bc everyone else cancelled I took the brunt of the bad day. Ideal situation would be to just charge me for the time, or give me 10 extra minutes for the time I waited, or at the VERY least just let me know. Shady. Never again. read more

I went to Allyu for the first time to treat myself to a nice birthday spa day over the weekend, and left feeling like they took me for all I had. I took the bus to get there, and as the bus was running late, I called the spa to let them know and to profusely apologize, to which they responded that they would make it work. When I get there, I'm rushed into my first service - a 40 minute massage. My masseuse informed me that she'd give me as much service time as possible (huh?) and that the massage was only waist-up (double huh?) but I just went with it, and after a too-short massage, I asked her how long my service lasted. "25 minutes," she says, then rushes me into the shower room. Allyu by the way, doesn't have locker rooms, so you have to make appointments for shower rooms and cart your stuff around like a mule in a third world country. No sooner had I finished my very quick shower when I heard a banging on the door so then I had to gather my things in a hurry and get out so someone could come in and CLEAN it - NOT for another appointment. I then sat for 10 minutes waiting for my 60 minute facial to start, time I would have really appreciated to relax in the shower room I had reserved! As I checked out, I asked them if they were going to prorate the cost of my massage because they cut it so short, to which they responded that "it's kind of like a doctor's appointment" - if you're late, you pay full price. Actually, doctors reschedule you if they don't have time to see you - they don't partially examine you and expect you to pay full price! Allyu could learn a lesson in customer service. People come to spas to de-stress - not to be rushed from station to station like sweat shop factory workers. It's a shame, because the services were actually quite nice. With all the other nice spas in the city, you would think they wouldn't nickel and dime customers and would schedule appointments with enough room for flexibility and relaxation! PS - Sorry to the bachelorette party that was having words with the front desk on my way out. Apparently they were gypped out of their services too! I know you feel me ladies... read more

I have come to Allyu for personal spa days, and I leave happy and relaxed every time. I'll be back again!

I'm a bit torn about this place. I feel like if they figured out a couple of details and logistics, it would really up the ante. Also, this place is really heavy on the incense. It didn't bother me, but if you're sensitive to smells, this place is not for you. Pros: -The space is lovely and very calming. Low lights and soft music makes for a calm space. The "tent" is nice and feels enclosed. -The massage I had was really good. She totally found some knots I didn't even know were there. -The people were all very nice. Cons: -Per the web site, I reserved a shower, and chose for after my massage.I was told (only because I asked) that I had 15 minutes. After I showered, I discovered that they had this dinky dryer that didn't do much. After 20 minutes I got a knock on the door because they needed the room for someone else. It all felt rather rushed and a less than calming end. I actually left the spa with damp hair when it was 0 degrees outside. -I had really wanted to try the sauna; it was a part of the reason for trying Allyu. But they didn't have any time available. -They don't have enough space for coats. They were crushed together, and I found mine on the floor. -No lockers. This actually didn't bother me so much but if you're going to go all feng shui, then carrying around your stuff = carrying around your stress. So, this means it's less stressful. read more

Let me just say first, my massage from Maite was wonderful. It was one of the best I've had. She was professional and thorough. She paid special attention to my neck and shoulders as I had requested and asked me a few times within the first few minutes about the pressure which she maintained throughout. However, I had a couple's massage with my wife and her therapist was coughing, sniffling, and blowing her nose throughout the massage. Before the massage, she mentioned that she might blow her nose as she was getting over a cold, but said that she was healthy and that we shouldn't worry, so we didn't. She did this several times, but was also clearing her throat and coughing while she gave the massage. This was not only distracting, but also gross. She seemed to think she was well enough to be working, but she definitely shouldn't have been, especially as a massage therapist. I don't know if she was keeping this from the spa or if they were making her work anyway. Either way, we would have preferred the massage had been rescheduled. When we checked out we mentioned what happened to the receptionist. She said they appreciated the feedback and made a note of the problem. She apologized that the service was unsatisfactory, but offered nothing to compensate for it. I would expect a discount on a future service at the very least. We paid in full and left, pretty disappointed. To pay so much for a nice treatment and receive that kind of service is unacceptable. read more

I am not (yet) one of those people who uses organic toothpaste, all natural parokeet pee shampoo and sustainable toilet paper made from recycled cereal boxes, but I was very impressed with Allyu's "green," eco-friendly premise and atmosphere. There is a meditation room where you can wait for your appointment. I was surprised the area was so large since it's not space that is bringing in money for the business. It is very tranquil, and all the benches are made out of recycled scrap from the construction of the spa. The friendly receptionist described many of these details about the materials used which really makes the place unique. The location is beautiful on the river. Like I mentioned before the whole "green" concept seems pretty genuine; you won't be rolling your eyes or feeling like you fell into a trend trap. Four stars because I have not had many services to know it is truly outstanding. read more

This was my first massage after having a baby. I was looking for a place with Postnatal massages. I came across Allyu Spa. The massage was amazing!! Wayne was incredible and very friendly. I highly recommend Wayne and Allyu Spa to anyone having or who recently had a baby. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by the friendly staff. Awesome place, awesome people. Wayne was amazing and I had such a relaxing time although I was a little nervous away from baby he made sure Knew I deserved this and it was about me for a moment. read more

Loved my massage mani and pedi. Knocked them 3 stars because my boyfriend had bought me a gift card including gratuity for here. Before they let me leave they stopped me at the desk and told me to wait so they could tell me what gratuity he put on the gift card. In my book if it's on there everything is taken care of and it was a gift so they should have just let me go. It soured a really good experience and made me feel uncomfortable and judged for not adding more. (I hadnt brought cash because i knew the gratuity was taken care of....typical 27 year old with 0 cash) It completely defeats the purpose of a gift card including gratuity. I'm not sure if the front desk people are trained in high end spa etiquette but they should be. Patrons will leave additional gratuity at their discretion. read more

AHHHHHHhhhhhhh, I am totally torn on this review. I had a $20 gift to here and was in dire need of an eyebrow thread. I decided to use it for that and check out the spa/space/etc. Oh, la, la...the spa itself looked amazing. It looked like a great place for ambiance. So the apptmt process was slightly annoying. I called at 930AM for a 10AM apptmt...I still had to put a credit card down for my apptmt? Weird. Then the lady on the phone proceeds to tell me that they have like a 6 hour cancellation policy....I was like, ok, I am coming in in 15 mins? Again, weird. I am sure this is protocol, but come on. Next, I arrive and the lady tells me that they have everyone change into sandals. Slightly annoyed now because its raining and gross outside. I am coming in for a 5 min threading...is it really necessary to have me put on sandals???? Then they lead to me a relaxation room where Vanessa will come and get me. I have to say, I was a fan of the space. It definitely was spa like....as I am sitting there in my sandals, jeans, bears hoodie, purse waiting for my eyebrow thread...no sarcasm there, at all. So I get escorted to a room and lay down. Threads away, nothing exciting. It was pretty standard. I was pretty surprised at the end...no lotion, no massage, no nothing...I mean, this is a spa. I get better treatment at my normal thread place where they give a 5-10 min eyebrow massage with aloe lotion at the end. Not to mention...its $20...totally not worth the price. Alas, next time I will go to my normal lady for a thread where it only costs $15 and I get a mini massage and get to keep my tennis shoes on. I wanted to maybe check out the spa services, but the whole experience kind of turned me off...bummer. read more

After several months of disappointing massage therapist-shopping, my roommate convinced me to go see Gustavo at Allyu. She went on and on about how the massage would change my life. Seemed a little dramatic at the time. So I booked a massage and.. LIFE CHANGED. His trigger point technique not only makes you feel seriously high on endorphins, but has helped my lower back pain more than any other physical therapy, massage or chiropractor I have visited. My only fear is that now I'll never be able to give up a massage dependency that is proving to be fairly expensive. Furthermore, the spa is beautiful, it looks and smells incredible. A great place to go relieve a little stress. read more

I had a massage once, I think it was before they had figured out whether Al Gore or George W was going to be president, back when I still had hope for the world. My girlfriend decided to have me owe her big time and got me a full spa day at Allyu. Wow. It started in this very small hot room called a sauna. It was like 150 in there. Being uptight and hunched over a computer most days, the heat really helped de-kinkify for my massage. But wait! My girlfriend also ordered this salt rub thing. My masseuse was named Jenny or Gerry (my brain was still at about 120 degrees when she introduced herself). After kinda faux-passing my way through the changing process (I think you're not supposed to just dump your robe on the floor because after getting rubbed with more salt than a thanksgiving turkey, the robe magically had found the hanger on the other side of the room) I was ready for the salt thing. It was amazing, like getting licked down by a couple of lions. A scratchy warm rub with soothing music (I thought the first line of the song was "Osama" which was a little disconcerting, but then I decided it was hawiian due to a dirth of consonants). Then I took another shower (I took one after the sauna, and one before coming to Allyu), and got a nice long massage. Really long. I may never get another massage again though, come to think of it, because I just remembered something really embarrassing that happened. You see yelpers, whenever I fall asleep, just as I'm drifting off, I have a tendency to twitch violently. I don't mean like a little hand twitch, but a full on minor seizure flop that forced us to buy a memory foam bed so my girlfriend could sleep somewhere close to me without feeling like she was on one of those sleazy quarter operated beds they used to have in the 70's. I wasn't in the army, so I can't blame flashbacks or anything for this problem, but it is pretty spectacular. Anyways, at minute 80 of this great massage where my shoulders are actually allowing some fresh blood into their knotted muscles I drift off to sleep and wake up with my right leg practically jerking straight up in the air. Who knows what Jenna Jenny or Gerry thought, and I didn't say anything because, you know, I was pretty much unconscious, but luckily no police arrived to carry me away when it was all over, and I was allowed to get my mini mani-pedi, which was great. By the time I went back to the cubbies to get my boots on I felt wobbly on my feet and somewhat drugged. And so, I heartily recommend Allyu. Also, they stowed my wallet and checkbook for me in the office, and really helped me out in the process, but it may have helped that I literally had no idea what I was doing, and would have just hid in the meditation room if somebody hadn't explained it all to me. read more

24 hours later and I'm still completely blissed out. I treated myself to a 90-minute massage at Allyu, and from (almost) start to finish I felt completely wrapped up in the experience. I was at first surprised by the lack of a robe (and general lack of extras, no foot bath or aromatherapy as I've experienced elsewhere), but a cup of tea and 15 minutes in the relaxation tent were enough to put me at ease. I also reserved a shower for the end of my appointment, and I'm incredibly glad that I did. The rain shower was damn near perfect, the towels heated, and the room spacious. I wish I'd remembered my camera, because I'd use the entire space as inspiration for my home decor. And now, the most important part: Megan Rose gave me what was perhaps the best massage of my life; her moves should be illegal in 48 states. Unfortunately the price is out of my budget to regularly indulge, but it's the perfect special treat. read more

For my 25th birthday (2/23/2013) I decided to celebrate by spending a relaxing afternoon with 5 friends at Allyu. It was hands down the best experience ever. From the very beginning when I set up the event with their event coordinator the process was seamless despite my difficult group's schedules. Kristin was accommodating and patient throughout the entire process. It almost felt like I had my best friend planning my birthday party not a complete stranger just doing her job. She secured safe placement of the gifts I had received as well as the Sophia Coppola favors I had for my guests that she distributed at the end of their services. The sugar scrub and massage I received from Patrick was exceptionally professional. The care he took to make me feel comfortable, secure and safe truly aided in my ability to relax and enjoy the experience. The rainfall shower rooms that Allyu have incorporated are gorgeous and a great follow up to a sugar scrub unlike the space ship looking showers that some medi spas have that squirt water on you while laying down in a plastic chamber. I felt like I was in the middle of a rain forest instead of down town Chicago on a cold February day. Hands down the best shower I've ever had. I finished my day with a facial by Hayat. Her expert hands gently extracted all the dirt from Chicago CTA rides. It was the most comfortable extraction I have ever experienced (and those of you who get regular facials know there is a fine line between the comfort of facial extractions and a Brazilian wax). I don't think my face had ever been that clean before. She was incredibly pleasant and friendly and provided a quality consultation and suggestions for how to keep my ever evolving skin fresh, youthful and clean. I was also extremely happy with the care she took to ensure my freshly straightened natural African American hair was not exposed to any moisture! I left Allyu with my straight edges in tact and my hair just as whipped as it was when I left the salon! *extra points for that* At the end of my treatments I was presented with a birthday gift from Allyu which I thought was a great touch. I had a great birthday and everyone at Allyu definitely helped to make me feel special. Thank you Kristin, Patrick, Hayat and Tiffany and the rest of the Allyu staff for what you do. read more

Great massage experience and super reasonable for the service! I was a bit hesitant at first when I was notified there was only a male masseuse available for my appointment but after reading reviews on YELP I decided to give it a shot. Best. Decision. Joe was wonderful! He made me feel comfortable right away and was very funny. We spoke on and off through out my massage (but always letting me have time to relax) all while talking to me about the points in my body that were affecting certain areas of pain. (Crossing my legs a certain way when I'm sitting creates tension in my lower back, my flat feet etc). Joe gave me great advice about how to change my day to day routine and things I can do at home. It was one of the best massages I've ever had (and this coming from a gal who has been to Thailand). I will most definitely be back and I hope Joe won't be booked! read more

I am no stranger to the spa experience. Working most of my life in the spa/beauty industry, I have been to dozens of spas, had innumerable treatments... and not one of them compares to the experience I had at Allyu. The atmosphere, the service, everything was top-notch. I had a chakra-balancing massage with Jessica, and it was beyond fantastic. I honestly don't think I have ever felt more relaxed. I will definitely be back! read more

The Art of Healing and the Art of Perfection! I walked into Allyu greeted by EXTREMELY friendly staff and the spa's parrot that welcomes you with smiles (the staff, not the parrot) and spa sandals that are ultra comfy. Get this, I was only there for a facial wax, and i still got the sandals, OH YEAH! This place is absolutely gorgeous, and so was the FedEx eye candy that came in. Another OH YEAH! Time was of the essence since I went during my lunch break, and I waited, all of 3 mins., long enough to admire the Feng Shui style space. So, I had the pleasure of being serviced by Elizabeth, can I just say, this chick is SUPER-FANTASTIC? What the heck, I'm not asking for your permission, I'll just say it. THIS CHICK IS SUPER-FANTASTIC! To spare you the details, I have unwanted facial hair, so I wax regularly, and Elizabeth got every single hair as far away from my face I wanted. Not only that but, THEY USE THE PINK HARD WAX!!!! Hellooooooo...Can you say practically painless? Umm, I can. And furthermore, my face isn't vibrating from hairs being pulled from my cheeks! Every single hair that women just aren't supposed to have...GONE! I was out of that piece by 2:35 and my appt started at 1:45. Some of you might think, that's almost an hour, however, I waited like 5 Min's all together, ( I had to put on my sandals), and you have never seen my face with hair on it, so uhhh, what do you know?!?!?! Elizabeth was anally meticulous (I know, same word twice) but I need it to emphasize how precise she is to ensure pure satisfaction. I also got some exfoliating recommendations from Elizabeth to help out my pigmentation, so boo to you who has yet to visit this spot. In conclusion: Daniella wanted 75 Colette wanted 70 Allyu wanted 55 So, I went with the smart 55. And I'm sooooo excited I did. If I was rich, I would have totally tipped 30 bucks, just to say the best quality is always more expensive, it's so not true. I'm so going back here for a facial and acupuncture! i forgot to mention...I got me a tour and I'm sure it's because me and Elizabeth are bestest buds. Don't be jealous! read more

I am an unfaithful 'hoor. I'm so ashamed of myself. After swearing my undying loyalty to Daniella's I was swayed by Groupon- that crafty minx. http://www.yelp.com/user_details_review_search?userid=Xr750kQWrNwJt6z6TAw7IA&q=daniellas Great deal $59.00 for bikini wax & pedi . Could not pass it up. I figured Daniella would never know. So I bought my Groupon, and headed over to Allyu. In typical fashion I was running late, phoned them and they were all like "take your time" Allrightie. Space is beautiful relaxing and very zen like. Bikini first, Elizabeth is no Daniella, but is a very close second. Doesn't use muslin strips, just the wax so it doesn't hurt as much. (She used to work at Bliss). Asked very thoughtful questions,how much, how little, and was quick and in and out of there in no time. Pedi was next, very relaxing and best of all the manicurist could tell I wasn't the "chatty" type and simply let me read the most recent Instyle. All in all I will be returning to Allyu for mani/pedi/facial. Just not for waxing. I wouldn't want Daniella to find out. read more

I went out of convenience, though the price is expensive. One armpit is fully waxed and the other still has hair. I'll uber somewhere else next time and still save money. read more

I just got back from my 2nd massage (and my partner's 3rd) at Allyu. After going for a massage there a couple of years ago, we have since been to a couple more budget-friendly places in Chicago. Then, as I'm sure everyone does, we just bit the bullet and returned to Allyu. Nothing can top it, really. The ambience is perfect for what you'd want for a day of relaxation. Yes--the incense and the magic crystal vibe could strike you as a little too hippy dippy, but I actually think it's just enough Zen-ness for a spa. I had a facial there last night, and it is--to this day--the best facial I've ever had. I also really like the organic products they sell, which are reasonably priced. As other reviewers have said, the nail services are the only part of the Allyu experience that are underwhelming. I appreciate their using "vegan" and "chemical-free" nail polish, but if that means that my manicure is only going to last 2 days, I'd rather just have the toxic stuff. ;) And the nail specialists are clearly less attentive and less experienced than the rest of the staff. Overall, though, this is the perfect urban retreat. Grab yourself a glass of the lemon water, sit in the magic crystal tent, and do your best to zone out. It's the total pampered experience. read more

I don't go to a lot of spas, but I think I'll become a repeat customer at Allyu. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and had a great experience. I didn't have a lot of interaction with the staff, but in our brief encounters, they were accommodating and easy to talk with. The clean, natural interior design and calm atmosphere were what really relaxed me. I tried a salt scrub exfoliation, which had a citrus lavender aromatherapy infusion. I got the 30 min version, but it felt much longer than that (in a good way!). With this treatment, they automatically book you in one of the free private shower booths, which is awesome, because I wouldn't have known to ask for this unless they suggested it, and it was one my favorite parts of the experience. The shower experience is a within a private room that's like a bathroom space without the toilet. There's a beautifully designed flat sink and an open shower...no shower curtain, but the floor is slanted, so all shower water flows away from your dry belongings stowed near the door. But I put some things on the sink, and they got drenched...which wasn't too surprising, given that the shower head is at least 12in wide and rains down an amazing torrent of hot water. In addition to the rain-style head, there's also a hand held spout on an adjustable arm. The supplied shower products are almost natural to a fault, since they were unscented and non-foaming...better for the environment, I know, but I guess I'm used to my drugstore products with heavy scents and big lather. Small point. After my shower, I was shown to the meditation room, which was a surprisingly nice place to chill out...it's a largish cordoned-off area that felt like a Moroccan tent. There was a beam of light in the center of the room that focused on a tabletop full of crystals. Sounds a little hokey, but the large couches, sound of water trickling from a nearby fountain and hot tea really did make quite a relaxing combination. I left refreshed and relaxed and hope to visit again...my friend got a 60min massage and enjoyed it immensely. I think that's my next treatment...looking forward to it! One note-- bring cash for your tip...you can't put it on your credit card with the rest of your tab. But there is an ATM in the building. read more

LOVE the meditation tent, best massage I've ever gotten in my whole life by Kimberly!!

Best brazilian wax i've had in Chicago. Hard wax + no sticky wax leftover + attempt to remove leftover hairs in a relaxing spa environment. Here is the catch- I had a Groupon and under normal circumstances a brazilian wax runs $60 here. Sorry Allyu, I cant afford to come back, but I will if I ever feel like splurging. read more

What a cool "woooosahhhhhh" kinda place. For my first visit, I took my raggedy hands and toesies there on a friday evening after work and was glad I did. The desk attendants are very friendly and helpful and of course, all was calm and not too bright. I can't wait to try out the natable meditation room everyone is raving about. You definitely get the peaceful, new-agey vibe from all the ornaments and things upon entry. Maybe I should've gotten there early to look at it all. My nail technician (len, I think her name was). She was personable but wasn't overly chatty. Loved the pumpkin mask applied to my feet and the hot towels they wrap them in. I have to admit they're borderline scalding, but nevertheless, it hurt so good. My girl was speedy, but careful and had me out lickety-split. Nails and toes: perfect. Might I mention that I was astonished not to see the usual OPI and ESSIE polish brands, but get this: the polish they use is vegan! Didn't know there was such a thing. In fact, all of the products are organic/natural. No smells of chemicals and polish in this place. Just fresh. Felt like I was transported to an underground nook in the mountains of Arizona, with all the woodsiness and rocks. I guess their mission was accomplished then right, transporting me to peace and tranquility? Keep in mind parking can be a doozy, however, there is validated parking across the street for only $3. read more

I came here to spend my Valentine's Day gift certificate, and treated myself to a hot stone massage and spa pedicure! It was rainy and cold outside, so how perfect does a spa day sound? The hot stone massage was a great experience. I'd never had one before, but I'm sold. The room was warm, the massage table was heated, the music was peaceful, and the walls were soundproof. I felt like the only person in the world - totally blissed out. The 60 min treatment was a great length of time - honestly it seemed longer. Every time I'd think she was done, she moved on to a new body part. If you're a person who hates being cold, this is the massage for you. I had read reviews beforehand and knew to reserve time in the shower room - definitely a must-do! I loved my own personal shower space, and the showerhead just poured water over me like I was in a rain forest. All the products smelled yummy and earthy. I just wish I had more time than 15 minutes! I then waited in the meditation tent. I didn't realize that they had scheduled 30 minutes between my shower conclusion and my pedicure....I assumed that the appointments would just follow each other, so instead I was waiting, confused, for a long time, wondering if I'd been forgotten. I like the idea of the meditation tent, it was very zen with dim lights, comfy couches, and candles. Yet, after 30 min, I sort of wanted to read my book instead of sit in the dark with my thoughts. Just personal preference. My pedicure was very nice, it was less of a "blissed out" experience and more of a well-done, pretty pedicure. My nail tech did a great job, except this one part where, without warning, she yanked out this piece of hard skin I have next to my pinky toenail. She said lots of women get them, from scrunching their feet in uncomfortable shoes. I knew it was there and it was kind of weird, but I'd come to terms with it, and definitely didn't ask to have it ripped out - it hurt! I guess it'll be worth it in the long run, but usually I like to be warned before pain occurs. And it still hurts a few days later, so I think maybe I'd prefer it if we'd skipped that part of the pedicure. Other than that, my toes look great and my skin is soft and ready for open-toed shoes. Tips are cash only, be warned! Also, I dont' think the parking validation worked...I had to pay $8 on leaving the garage, even after they "validated" my parking, but I didn't want to go back in there and ask what happened. So that was weird. I'd definitely come back for a massage though! That was by far, the most amazing part of the experience. read more

Allyu treated me right just in time for a quick jaunt to CR. This chica needed a pedi and a wax - stat. Thinking ahead, I had purchased the Groupon coupon for a $65 wax/pedi earlier and called up Marsha to make my appointment. She was lovely. Just listening to her voice made me relax. I spoke with her on May 15th, made an appointment (no prob!) for May 22. She informed me of a couple of conditions up front: I would need to reserve my spot with a credit card, and I would need to provide 6 hours notice if canceling the appointment to avoid cancellation fees. The spa is located on the Riverfront and Chicago Avenue and despite its lower-level location is among the most beautiful, restful, and peaceful spots I've ever visited. The customer service here is absolutely phenomenal. This is a vegan spa that uses eco-friendly products. My waxer Huang (sp?) was incredibly efficient without making me feel like she was in a hurry to get me out to my next treatment. The wax job itself wasn't very painful, but when I got home and looked at my upper thighs I had huge spots of burned skin from the too hot wax. Ouch! Several weeks later, my upper thighs still look like they took on hot oil and lost. Susie was my pedicurist and she was nice as nice could be. I got the same vibe from her, as I did from Huang. Loved my pedicure, although I left with the same calluses on my heels that I came in with. As I was leaving, I asked about Allyu's yoga classes. A schedule is available on their website and I was told that the sessions are meant to introduce people to the practice, as Allyu does not want to compete with the classes at David Barton's gym located in the same building. 3 stars for results, 5 stars for mission and customer service. I'll settle on a solid 4 overall. read more

I booked a callus pedicure and 90 minute massage. I arrived 10 minutes before the start of my appointment. The pedicure started 7 minutes late and I felt it was good, but rushed. I am rating a 3 more so due to the uncomfortable massage experience. The masseuse kept sneezing without covering her nose and even left the room to "take care of her sniffles". I understand people get sick or have allergies, but the constant sniffling and sneezing around me as I am trying to relax for a massage was definitely not a relaxing environment. There were some positives about this place, but I know if I ever go back to request someone who is not having any health issues. read more

this is for sure the worst and the more unprofessionnal pedicure i ever had. And I paid 50 $, at least 2,5 X the price i used to pay. From A to Z, everything was really bad,and at the end, it looked like a 7 years old child had try to make a pedicure on my feet... When I politely said, "I think there is a problem", the manager came after a while, looks annoyed, calle the pedi who came after a while, looked annoyed, sait she is overwhelmed and cannot do anything, but that I should call someone else...and...At that point I left. The next day, i had to go to a régular place to fix it so my husband who offered me this very pricey gift certificate will not see how bad it was....50$! The massage was OK, the girl was very nice, but I found the place really overpriced and fake. Very desapointing experience read more

Awesome! I loved my deep tissue massage here. I wish I could remember the name of my therapist ... Elijah??? Not sure but he's moving back to California :-( He was really down to Earth and knowledgeable about body work. We had some lovely chit chat in the beginning of the session and then for the remaining 2 hours (yes, 2 hours!!! :-)) he was quiet and focused on every little knot that I had and I had a ton of them after a 10 hour flight to Chicago from DC ---Yes, a 10 hour flight; smh. Do better O'Hare, ugh. Anyway, the relaxation tent was interesting but not that relaxing for me. The spa is near the river and has a view so it actually has a much more calming effect in the waiting area up by reception because of this. In the future, I'd rather hang out there and gently whisper or surf the web on my phone there. We were there in January so it was cold and dreary out but I imagine it must be lovely in the summer. There was a lot of whispering and phone checking in the tent though there are signs everywhere saying not to but, alas, we're addicted to our tech, I guess. There are no lockers but instead cubbies so if you can help it don't bring anything terribly valuable. The staff tries to keep an eye on belongings and you can lock things away in the manager's office but eh, it's easier to just not bring too much stuff. We were able to keep our phones and wallets with us in the pockets of our robes. Really nice robes and slides by the way! The teas that they offered us while we waited for our massage were yummy; especially the ginger tea. Reserve the dry sauna and shower room!!! It is a must and absolutely enhanced our experience while there. It was a great pre-treatment for the massage and I think enabled the therapist to get in deeper to the muscles with minimal trauma or pain. All in all we had a very relaxing and wonderful time. I look forward to going back. read more

I had a wonderful first experience at Allyu. My boss, whom is a regular, gave me a gift card and I was excited to try it out. I recently started opening up my mind to spiritual healing and using stones and crystals so I thought this was a very cool place the way they tie that into some of the services. If you are not into such a thing no worries, they have plenty of services that don't involve this. The place is a little hard to find and parking is tough but they do validate. When you walk in it's a wonderful feeling of peace and tranquility, very quiet and peaceful. The front section has many things for sale- crystals, stones, jewelry, etc. I thought they all looked lovely. Of course I forgot to bring my gift card home from my office and was worried that it would be a hassle but the ladies behind the front desk, including the manager Kristin whom is a doll, were more than happy to try and look it up with my boss' account. We were unable to find it but they just had me call back Monday with the gift card number, refunded my card, and all was taken care of in a timely and pleasant manner! So thank you. I received a 90-minute chakra balance and massage from Amber and that's really where I was the happiest. Amber is fantastic- I've seen spiritual advisers and mediums before and she is a real deal, she knows what she's talking about. I just got a great feeling from her and she shared so much information with me regarding my balance, exercises that I can do at home to help, books to read, the tarot card she pulled during my session. This may sound freaky to people whom don't understand these practices but I promise there is no voodoo or witchcraft it's just a natural, spiritual way to approach improving yourself, nothing to be scared of and I think everyone should give it a try! Bottom line is she was extremely knowledgeable and didn't push anything on me I could just tell she really likes what she does and helping people. The massage portion was also great and lasted for about a half hour. The remaining chakra balancing portion is focused more so on the crystal use and hands- on and hands-off approach. Definitely do some research on what entails is you're new to it because I feel like some people don't fully understand it and then get disappointed. The have a beautiful little meditation room for before or after receiving your massage which I loved and also very nice shower rooms I highly recommend to reserve when you make your appointment. CON: It IS expensive, for me at least. Thank you Amber :) read more

My review isn't to discourage anyone from going, this is more about the specific service I tried. Please, regardless of your feelings on the service leave a tip! I did the Infrared Detox Body Wrap. There was no dry brushing, just a faint brush once or twice on an area then slathering in castor oil. The detox part of it was interesting and enjoyable. My massage wasn't to my liking. I specifically told the therapist to add more pressure. They kept going over my shoulder blades which was really painful, that as the only area they kept going towards on my back. Not sure why. When it was time for my to roll over to the front I requested more attention to my neck and shoulder area. Not enough pressure after I kept asking then suddenly it was over. Felt like a waste of money but it was my first time trying it. I think I will be back to try a different service. i believe it was a bad match up between me and the therapist. When asked how the service went at the end when checking out I simply said it was "fine". I left an appropriate tip and went about my business. read more