My husband and I were visiting Carlsbad and wanted to find a place that had a clean, and reasonably priced place for a 90-min massage. I cannot remember the staffs name but whoever completed our massages - they are incredible! With such precision of understanding what our body's needed - like amount of pressure, the technique, the check-in on if pressure was good, etc. I'd suggest to do your research before going anywhere for a massage but as a person who needs to give attention to their shoulders, neck, and lower back due to work, this place was great! read more

Peaceful, enjoyable, clean, reasonable, and relaxing. Happy to find this massage location. Ladies were very kind as well. Took my friend for her birthday. read more

I walked by and saw $39.99 for a 40 min reflexology massage. Just had a bad day at therapy and thought I could use a 40 minute foot massage to get my lymphatic system moving. But unfortunately, all I ended up with was a lady by the name of Amy who tickled my feet for 35 minutes. She had no idea where my pressure points were. Or how to massage in the right direction. Maybe I'll give it another chance and ask for a different person but warning if you go there skip on Amy she has no idea. Worst reflexology massage ever. 2 stars becuase nice atmosphere read more

There are always problems here! And they never take responsibility! I made reservations for a loved one's birthday way in advance and somehow it didn't end up on their books and instead of trying to make it right they tried to blame it on me. Don't go here!! There are plenty of places that offer these services that are way more responsible read more

I called a little before closing the night before and they were able to accommodate an early reservation the next day! I went with the hair and scalp treatment + 60 min massage (Package B; $170). Once you arrive, you go into a room to view your scalp. After that they walk you to your room. Both services were done in the same room and my therapist started with the massage first (face down). Cici asked if there were areas she should focus on, and she did a great job getting them all! She even got others I didn't know I had; but she knew was she was doing. The pressure was consistent, and I had to ask her to go lighter in some area and she was mindful of that. After a full 60 minutes, I moved over to the table next to me for my hair treatment (90 minutes). Everything was pure heaven! The scalp massage, getting my hair cleaned, neck and shoulder massage / stretches - it was all amazing! I fell asleep! The water does get in your ears a little, but as soon as Cici was done washing my hair or massaging my scalp, she would wipe my ears immediately with a towel so they didn't sit wet for long, and I never found it uncomfortable. They do another scalp analysis after the treatment so you can see the difference before and after. Cici was able to translate a few things using her phone to help me understand what I was looking at with my scalp which I appreciated a lot. This is my first time doing this and I had no expectations.. I thought it was great! I'd go back in a heartbeat. A few things to note: * There is a $2 credit card fee * Tips go to the person up front. 5 stars all around! A star knocked off because of their tipping policy, it wasn't my favorite. I prefer giving the tip to the person who performs the service. If you plan to go, and plan to go back - make sure you get a stamp card! Cici did a wonderful job! Ask for her when you book! read more

Not good. I've been here 3 separate times with my husband for couples message. The first time I came and filled a chart out with what you wanted to work on and avoid. I was hopeful when I saw that especially since moving on from a place that didn't ask those questions. It seems like they completely ignore the chart because they didn't concentrate on any of the areas. The first message was just like someone smearing oil on my body with very little pressure. The second message was the same with slightly more pressure but didn't seem to get rid of any soreness I was feeling. The last message I got was TERRIBLE! I specified I wanted firm pressure. They sent in a man that was grunting and coughing the whole time. Didn't seem to know anything about the skeleton because he was jabbing my bones constantly. He kept using his elbow and forearms all over my back in a really hurtful way and rushed through the message making me feel poked, there was nothing soothing about it. Literal knuckles into my lower back that I told him to avoid. I told home several times to slow down and he kept saying soft/softer back to me. I should have just left instead of getting tortured for an hour. Learned my lesson and won't be back my spine was sore for the week. read more

The therapist did an excellent job and paid attention to every detail. The session was comfortable, and the atmosphere helped me completely relax. read more

My daughter and I came in for a scalp massage treatment. We really enjoyed getting our hair brushed, I was dozing off to sleep. Unfortunately after my hair was wet and they began to scrub for about 20 mins with shampoo it did began to hurt a little, lol my daughters and mine head were a little sore nothing to extreme. I will say that our heads felt absolutely clean, fresh and smelled so good! The ladies that did our hair treatments were very very friendly and kind, both had very nice customer service!! We paid $222 for both. Will definitely be back for body massaging next. read more

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The grotto is one of the most consistent massage places I've been to. They are friendly, the location is always spotless, and the massages are always exactly what you want. Today I got a one hour full body massage. They recently opened up a salt sauna, which I'm excited to go back to try! read more

Grotto Massage and Head Spa - Couples massage room - Massage Near Me - Carlsbad, California

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I had a terrible experience here about six weeks ago. I called for a same day appointment, my first (& only) visit. The massage began and was going wonderfully. All of a sudden, another employee barged in and needed the heating pad...underneath my body!!! She didn't explain and physically started to attempt to remove the heating pad. I felt so incredibly uncomfortable, I leaped up and wrapped myself in the sheet. Even the masseuse was embarrassed! I was already ten minutes into the massage when this happened, just starting to fully relax. My experience was ruined. I immediately got dressed and left, after telling the front desk that I was so completely violated. I will not return. read more

Last night after a really tough day, I went online to surprise her with a great massage today. After I filled out the online booking, I got a call from the nicest person ever (Tyler I believe) who wanted to make sure I was all set. Amazing service!!!! The night before!! My wife just got back from her massage with Tina and is a new woman!!! She loved it. And that is saying something from a gal who lived in Phuket Thailand and knows her massage!!!! Thank you all!! read more

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I had an hour long Sports massage ( tight muscles from golfing ), and it was so good. She dig into some tight areas. And the FREE hot rocks was a nice unexpected touch ! I'll definitely be back read more

Yes, and quick. Massage was great! Hot stones were free. I would highly recommend this location and I will be back.

I've been going there for the last 2 years. The service has been good and the place is clean. Sometimes I do walk ins, which is nice to have such flexibility. So far this is my go to massage place. read more

Grotto Massage and Head Spa - Massage Near Me - Carlsbad, California

I had a very good massage over the summer at Grotto. I didn't realize how affordable their massages were and am glad I decided to find out! I didn't care for the Flamingo covers they used on the tables hut other than that, I felt it was a good experience for the investment. read more

Amazing scalp spa and wonderful massage this was my go to place in Carlsbad village and so serene inside .. every one is talented

Came in for the 90 min head scalp treatment and 30 cupping. I was so amazed by the space it was so beautiful and very roomy. They first brought me to the scalp analysis!! Then did the fire cupping once I was situated in the room. It was my first time so I had a little trouble relaxing but they were so professional and communicative. The head spa was so amazing!! Felt so pampered. There's even a lil warming/sauna portion to the service so I was sweating and felt amazing! She kept checking that I wasn't overheating and it was so nice read more

Grotto Massage and Head Spa - Room wall - Massage Near Me - Carlsbad, California

Great service. Took our walk-in of 3 with little wait time and no bad attitude. They stay open late and do a great foot massage

I made an appointment for myself and 2 of my friends. We were all very happy with our service. We did a fully body massage. They focused on the areas that we requested and they followed our specific pressure preferences. read more

Highly recommending this place especially ..... service is great ... and the place is so clean

I got a 90 min massage and a sauna session. The sauna is so incredibly impressive, clean and when I went it was pretty private since no one was in there at the time. More the anything, they are accommodating/kind enough to provide slippers and a new outfit for the sauna. This was highly appreciated and not something I've seen many massage places do. The prices are incredibly reasonable and I would definitely come back. The massage was good, I have had places where it just feels like they're caressing you, but they did a pretty good job. (Forgot to ask for their name) read more

Real hard to communicate with a therapist who doesn't speak English. I asked for a Swedish body massage. What I got was a typical Asian massage where the therapist simply repeats the same routine on the same spot for 5-10 minutes with no variation, rubbing you numb. No expertise in feeling the areas that need tension relief, just repetitive nonsense, so no skill in actual massage. I booked an hour but then the banging on wall from the next door construction, apparently, just killed the whole thing which was pretty inept to begin with. So I cut it short and left wishing I'd never gone there. I need an actual massage therapist trained to discern where the tension is, not just repeating the routine they perform on everyone the same. That's not massage. Any recommendations would be great. Thanks. read more

Did one more session on Friday because had lower back pain, I think her name is Mia, she is awesome. Very strong hands and takes her time massaging each part of the body before moving to the next part. Make an appointment and ask for Mia, you will be surprised how good she is. Thank you Mia read more

My go to massage place! Frank is the best! I go once a month for a massage! Staff is always so nice & facility is clean & well maintained.

Pretty amazing! While it isnt a "high end" place (towels instead of blankets on the beds, etc.), I can say my wife and I love it. We did a couples Combo "B" which included a 60min massage AND 90min scalp/head treatment and massage! 2.5hrs for $170/pp is unbeatable. Highly recommend! read more

Grotto spa has always been the perfect massage treatment. They always know what they're doing, they do it proper, and they'll almost always fit you in. Plus the hours are so accommodating that I always feel at ease popping in. Lemme tell you... they have options! 30 mins/60 mins/foot reflexology/couples/sauna/head massage always opt for the complimentary hot stones! Everyone at Grotto is so accommodating and sincere but never have I felt so in tune with my latest masseuse, Nancy! She was everything I needed to cure all knots and tension in my back... and she KNEW without me even saying anything!! I honestly could go on and on but it'd be best for you to just treat yourself! But make sure to ask for Nancy! Jk everyone is amazing read more

Unfortunately there is construction at the neighboring building and the noise from it vibrates the walls inside the massage room. It is very loud with saws and hammering noises. I wasn't able to handle the noise and had to cancel my appointment. I came to relax ! I wish the person I booked with had notified me of this. Before I left the counter person offered a 20% discount but that was AFTER I told her to cancel. Hopefully this is resolved soon until then I'll have to go somewhere else! read more

This place is IT! I didn't know what to expect. We haven't had a massage since before the Covid years. The Grotto did NOR disappoint. Coco is the best. She worked out every pain, kink, work stress, knot, muscle ache in my body and made it disappear. I feel so good. I asked for soft and she knew exactly how much pressure to put and when to stop in a certain area. She was the guru of bodies. From head to toe I feel amazing. Coco made my body feel as if it's on clouds in Heaven. Thank you Coco. Nancy did my husband. He says he feels so free. He said she worked out all of the hard, difficult and painful spots in his body. We both feel so limber and relaxed. Thank you Grotto Spa. It was welcoming from the moment that we walked in. They seated us to the side. Wrote down areas of concern and wrote down how much pressure we wanted. This was liberating. They topped it off with such a beautiful gesture of wishing me a Happy Mothers Day and handing me Chrysanthemums. Such a thoughtful and beautiful touch. I definitely feel as if this is worth the 2 hour drive that I will need to take to come here each time I need a massage. The pricing was very doable. $140 for an hour couples massage. And boy oh boy these masseuses deserve a great tip. We tipped $25 each. I hope that was enough for the amazing work that they put in. If you are in or near Carlsbad, you definitely need to make this a stop to continue with your day or start off a new week. read more

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I came here with 3 other girlfriends for a 90 min massage. Our appointments were on a Saturday around noon. This location is a shared building with other businesses with ample parking out front. When we checked in, it appeared that they were busy given their ask whether it would be OK for us to couple up in 1 room. We were good with it so we separated into 2 groups. My friend and I had a room closer to entrance. Our room was half princess and half baseball themed. It was spacious compared to our other friend's room, which was the last room toward the end of the establishment. Although the decor was super random, it didn't bother me since I was there for the massage. I requested a medium/firm massage. My person was a lady named Lisa, who didn't speak English. The other person who massaged my friend was a gentleman who assisted in translating. Yes, they use a lot of oil, but I didn't mind since they wiped it off towards the end. The pressure was too soft at first, but then it gradually got firmer. I enjoyed my massage and 90 mins was perfect. My request was no face and that was accommodated. I did enjoy some stretching of my legs and arms, and I did feel some cracks in my bones which actually felt amazing! Hot stones were included, although I could have done without it. I'm indifferent with hot stones. My only issue was that at times, I can feel my person's nails on my skin, so I felt like a scratching post when her hands were running down my back or legs. Overall, I would return. Good deal for what you get in return. If you frequent this place, then you can get a stamp card for future visits and discounts. read more

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If you just want the short version: 5 stars, go--you won't regret it! This was our first visit (my wife, my mother, and myself), and it was excellent from start to finish. For context, I have hearing loss and tinnitus, so communicating with people who have strong accents can be difficult for me. That said, the staff here was fantastic and did everything they could to make us feel welcome. The spa itself is very clean and inviting. They fit us in with an appointment within an hour. Do note that as of September 2025 there's construction in the complex, so parking can be a little tricky. But when we arrived, it felt like the whole staff was waiting to greet us at the door. Even though I couldn't understand most of what was being said, their warmth and hospitality came through loud and clear. There was no waiting around. We chose our services from their book, and everything was handled quickly and smoothly. My wife and I were led to a couple's room, while my mother had a private room. The staff gave us clear instructions and were very accommodating when we needed an extra minute to get ready. The massages themselves were wonderful. I was able to relax almost immediately, and my wife and mother had the same experience. My mom, who had back surgery two years ago, isn't sure yet if this type of massage will help her long-term, but she still had a good experience. For my wife and me, it was exactly what we hoped for--calm, peaceful, and rejuvenating. The hour went by so fast that I wished I'd booked a two-hour session. My only personal challenge was not being able to communicate specific focus areas because of my hearing. This wasn't the therapist's fault--it's simply my limitation. I know the experience could have been even better if I had been able to give her that feedback. Still, there's no question: this place deserves 5 stars. The staff was professional, kind, and highly skilled. We'd love to return regularly, and next time we'll ask if any of the staff speak a bit more English--not because they weren't excellent, but because it would make my own experience even more effective. The atmosphere alone makes it worth coming back. read more

We got there for 10am sauna and 1030am massage and co firmed several times. We wanted to do sauna together and then massage. First of all..the person that checked us doesn't know English. She sent my friend to the massage room and then me to the sauna room. Then a guy came at 1010 that the sauna was not ready yet and to do massage first. I went in for massage and she was talking to person thet was my helping my other friend out. It was not relaxing..it was kind of rough..my back and neck hurt after it. Plus massage person kept coming in and out of room because they were not prepared. We didn't have time to do much of sauna and paid for 30 min of sauna. Really disappointed. They were not organized at all. Don't offer services if you can't so them properly. Now they gave an excuse that mothers day is busy..that's no excuse. You knew we were coming and mothers day is tomorrow so disappointed. read more

One of the best massages and head spa I have ever had. I never felt uncomfortable and they made sure that I was getting the experience I wanted. Highly recommend and I found my new favorite massage spot , They are most Amazing! I go for therapy. I am a lash stylist and work long hard hours. My massage is always personalized to what my needs are that day. I always leave feeling like a new person. Everyone needs a few hours a month of self care. My only regret is that I can't go 2x a week. Because I would if I didn't have to work. All the staff are friendly take the time to get to know you and very helpful. I would highly recommend trying them. read more

Grotto Massage and Head Spa - Waiting area - Massage Near Me - Carlsbad, California

My masseuse did a fantastic job. Her name was Linda and she worked on the spots that ne the most attention. This was the best massage I've had read more

I booked the 90 min Hair Scalp treatment plus 30 min foot reflexology. It was 2 hours of bliss! Tina was amazing. And so affordable compared to other spas. I will definitely be back! read more

Went in for a couples massage with my boyfriend on Saturday. I called ahead to let them know I am 5 weeks pregnant, and they said they were fine with that and able to still preform the massages. Well, they ended up putting me in the most uncomfortable position (laying on my side for an hour), pet my body and hair for an hour, and only rubbed oil on my right leg and completely neglected the left. My back hurt way worse after the session. I told them I was okay with more pressure on my neck and legs, and okay with laying on my stomach (I am in the medical field and know first trimester tummy time is fine). They said it would hurt the baby. As for my boyfriend, they stepped on his spine, the bones not the muscles. Waste of money and time. Please find someone who knows female anatomy and reproduction if you actually want a good massage. read more

The best massage I've had in a long time. Friendly and quiet, great service and clean. Can't wait to come back.

Nancy was very good. I asked for deep pressure and she did great. She listened to me and focused on the areas I asked for as well as the rest of the body. I really needed that. Thank you. read more

My husband and I just had an amazing 90 minute couples massage. We couldn't be more satisfied with the service our masseuses provided. They were very professional and friendly. We left feeling great and very satisfied. We will definitely be returning when we're back in town. Thank you! read more

Got a head massage and body massage, both were great, Lisa is great for deep pressure!

First time here from my friend recommended, My favorite part is still head therapy. Head massage is the best way for me to relax after a day's work pressure, Shoulders and neck massage I've received has been absolutely amazing as well!! They listen to what you need worked on and also very knowledgeable. The table and sheets are very soft and comfortable too! Music is very relaxing ！I've amazing experience here, it's really worth every penny. read more