This is my favorite kind of massage place. It's inexpensive but that doesn't mean you shouldn't tip 20% or more. Pay in cash if you want to pay less, there is a small fee for cards. I like this place because I can easily book if I call ahead an hour or two, walking in is hit or miss. I like that they use a lot of pressure. Good for groups, but if you want a fancy spa experience go elsewhere. No frills, but it's clean and they are direct. read more

I booked a 1-hour foot and body combo online for $55. When I arrived, the employee confirmed I was there for the combo, then immediately pointed to a price sheet saying the service was actually $73 with a credit card or $69 with cash. I considered leaving because the price didn't match what was advertised online, but I decided to treat myself and went through with the appointment anyway. Unfortunately, the massage itself was just average and didn't stand out. What really left a bad impression was what happened afterward. As I was checking out, the employee stood at the front asking about a tip. I was honestly surprised. I had already paid significantly more than the advertised online price, and now I was being asked to tip on top of that. Businesses need to honor the prices they advertise or clearly update them online before customers book. Charging one price online and another price when the customer arrives is frustrating and misleading. The experience wasn't worth what I ended up paying. read more

This place offers reflexology and a deep massage. Best of both I've ever experienced. If you are wanting a more gentle Swedish massage you can request a much lighter touch. But generally they provide a killer deep massage. read more

Yeah, right the advertisement says $40 I called and I did repeat everything about 3 to 4 times because I could not understand So yeah, it's $60 cash only and not $40 like the sign says I said I wanna make an appointment with Betty he said coming in an hour I get there Betty's not here. I'm gonna work on you. OK I was thinking I read the reviews about Patti not you. Did not ask what kind of bodywork I wanted he would've not understood me anyway which is not a problem He did my back not my front. He was a little rough, but I thought what the heck. On the way out, he points to the sign and said how much are you gonna tip me? Well, I was gonna tip him anything wrong price listed? Average body worker. I don't wanna insult him so I just put in $10. He's pointing to the sign. Yeah, I wonder if there really is a Betty working there or does he just take over? Not really that thrilled.! Control your employees. I hope that wasn't the owner. read more

Beware of this business, the LLC is G.c Zen, the owner is Huan Guan. Two years ago my husband and I went to the Zen Day Spa they also own in Richmond CA, which is now closed, and due to their negligence and dirty spa my husband passed away from legionnaires disease. These owners have been "lost in the wind" according to the lawyers and haven't take any accountability. While they continue to live life, make money, and be there for their loved ones, two separate families are still healing and morning the loss of our beloved ones. read more

Zen Day Spa - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

I'm so disappointed with this place .the massage was really good I took my wife in and we both got full body and foot combo the massage was really amazing the lady that massaged me really detailed my back everything was good until the end of the massage I gave a 20$ tip for me and my wife and the 2 people hounded me so hard telling me to leave a bigger tip with my credit card ... first off a tip is not Mandatory at all. I'm a chef so naturally I always make sure to tip but to be hounded and about leaving a bigger tip is diabolical and quickly went from really wanting to come back there maybe even make it a regular place to never going there again . IF YOU NEED TO BE RUDE AND HOUND PEOPLE FOR "BIGGER" TIP YOU SHOULD RAISE YOUR PRICES read more

Bought as gift for someone who said that she really enjoyed it and is going back again.

Painful massage that resulted in bruises. I would tell him it was painful and he kept going over the same spot. read more

Zen Day Spa - Bruise - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

It's my first time at Zen, it's a treat from a good friend for a 60 mins. whole body massage and yes this place is what I'm looking for- not a a rub but a real deep tissue Massage. Betty was thorough, she was able to hit the point that I've been wanting to loosen at . She deserves a tip. The place was clean and would definitely will come back. read more

I've been to a handful of Zen Day Spas across NorCal and while I have had mixed experiences - unfortunately this was my worst experience and I'll never come back. I'm only writing this here because the Berkeley site does not have an easily searchable website for me to connect - I'll happily delete as soon as I get a response. Please note: I do not want the therapist to be held responsible in any way - this is on Zen Day Spa generally for not training and supporting their staff. The therapist I had deserves their pay and the tip, 100%. To the purpose of this post: I had a 1 hour full body massage today. Not only was the actual time of the massage closer to 50 minutes but only the back half of my body was covered. Additionally, it was the most uncomfortable massage I've maybe ever had. The therapist massaged over bones and tendons, not muscles. When I reacted they stopped, which I appreciated. But it was a painful experience. Not because it was deep tissue, but because it was done without knowledge of basic anatomy. About 1 hour after leaving the massage, two areas that I felt pain during the massage are nearly immobile. Massage therapy is so necessary and I'm so glad Zen Day Spa provides affordable services. But, based on my experience I've had more harm caused than any good. read more

I came in for a 60 minute full body massage, and it was only like 50 minutes. The location has really raised their prices in the last few years. When I tried giving a tip of $10 (~15%) she guilt tripped me to giving more? Which I felt didn't really match the service, especially being below the 60 minute. Super awkward and the massage wasn't even that good. The service was subpar. moral of the story, I'm definitely going to look for a new massage spot, and so should you. read more

Let me tell you, this place gave me the WORST massage I've ever had, and the WORST customer service as well. The massage was awful. For the most part, she just rubbed me with her elbows, which had no focus and did not help to relieve my back pain at all. The only time she used her hands was when she just ran her hands up and down my back or leg without putting any pressure. At multiple points I just wanted the massage to end and was willing to forfeit my money. Somehow, the customer service was even worse. When I came in, before I even said what service I wanted, she said 60 dollars and wanted me to pay upfront. I tried to tell her I wanted the 30 min foot message combo, and she didn't seem to care and just continued repeating that it's 60 dollars for an hour. At the end, since the massage was so awful, I gave her a small tip. SHE LITERALLY FOLLOWED ME TO THE PARKING LOT, and said "you only gave me ___ dollars!" When I said I didn't enjoy the massage, she said "the minimum tip is 10 dollars". I couldn't believe my ears.... She followed me all the way to the parking lot just to ask for more tips after a terrible service!! Avoid and avoid! There are much better places for about the same price in cities like Richmond and El Cerritos. Please don't waste your money. read more

1st off it was exetremely cold even after they gave us blankets. There is no heat on at all so please keep that in mind. The staff was very sweet and tried to be Accommodating but there was a slight language barrier which made things A bit difficult. There was no zen music playing as well as there was an appliance that making a very loud noise which was very distracting. All in all I did not enjoy my massage and I left with my nose running. read more

No zen here at this place. I felt worse than when I arrived. The male masseuse realized I'm Chinese and spoke mandarin so he decided to chat with me. He asked if the pressure was okay and I asked for it to be harder on certain areas because some parts of my body need more attention than others. There was complete silence and out of nowhere he tells me I'm round and chubby in mandarin. I said huh? And he repeated himself. Then I asked if he was calling me fat and he said yes, as he chuckled. Then told me I should lose at least 10 lbs and suggested I start running. I was in shock and disbelief. I tried to ignore him and continue to stay for the massage. He then commented about how Mexicans and blacks were the fattest ones. Then he commented about my underwear, as he started tucking the towel covering my body. He joked and said white women never wear any underwear when they come for massages. As he got the hot towel to wipe my body from the oil, I told him the temperature was too hot. He then said something about black people loving it when it's this hot. The receptionist was aware of this after I provided feedback immediately after my session. She gave us a refund on the tip and the massage, which was helpful. But then they tried justifying the masseuse's toxic behavior by saying I was complaining about back pain and that's why he said I was fat. False. Then they tried to say there's a cultural difference. Also false. Because I'm Chinese just like them. They're not planning on firing him so I no longer feel safe going back there. Sexist and racist, no thanks. read more

Zen Day Spa was wonderfully pleasant, with private rooms and a clean, tranquil experience. I went for the first day, and was very happy with my 1 hour massage. I have back issues, so I try to get a massage every month or so. Betty (my masseuse), carefully found my knots, and worked skillfully. I left feeling light as a feather. Highly high recommend - this will become my regular. Oh, they also have a big parking lot which they share with Corepower Yoga - win! read more

Okay massages. I got the back and foot massage combo. Nothing about them were special than others places I've gone to. I thought about coming back again considering the price but customer service is not the best so at this point I am not sure if I would even bother. My bf tipped 15% for each masseuse, and literally as we are walking out the door we can hear the guy who did my massage (most likely) cuss him out in Chinese. Even beforehand as I was waiting for my bf to come out of his room, he was obviously talking about me to the receptionist for some reason because I could already see him pointing at me as he talked. Most likely because I didn't tip him immediately even though my beau was the one who was paying in the first place ??? Super poor customer service. Tacky tipping system. My whole "zen" massage experience just disappeared right then and there. I just noticed they have a $10, $15 or $20 tip "etiquette" thing where you tip depending on your experience. We paid $35-40 each for a regular massage and they're mad we didn't tip 50%? Maybe pay your employees better instead. Yikes. Not stepping back here and taking my $$$ elsewhere. read more

Getting an appointment was swift and the plaza has a large parking lot. The massage was perfect and the prices are so low. I rather have a two hour massage here body/foot for the price of 1 hour somewhere else. I recommend wearing ear plugs & eye mask, so you can relax deeper. It is definitely Zen here. read more

Such an odd experience. I called and asked if they could do a walk in for a foot massage and was told "Sorry, no foot.massage". I wasn't asked if I wanted to make an appointment in the future, nothing. So I took the initiative and asked myself and was told "let me call you back". I said okay and then was hung up on without leaving a name and number. I decided I would settle for a full body massage and called back. When I asked about the full body I was told "Sorry we don't have any appointments available". I'm thinking this must be an April Fool's joke and asked when they next have something available and was asked "Can you call back tomorrow?". This is easily in my top 3 strangest experiences at a business ever. The complete lack of customer service was somewhat comical. read more

It is pretty nice and a good massage.I would recommend,it is also very high quality,I really enjoy it!

Not sure where all the negative reviews came from, this place is a gem ! I had to add the foot massage last minute and they were super accommodating. Super covid friendly and staff was great! I definitely will be back! read more

Linda. Best masseuse EVER. She's been a masseuse for over 20 years and her expertise shows. I went in, twice, with specific pain and she honed in to the area and took care of business. So relieved to have found AN EXPERIENCED masseuse!!! read more

THESE PEOPLE ARE EXTREMLY RUDE!!! I have been here a handful of times and have never gotten great customer service. But today I went after calling and confirming an appointment and when I arrived the woman was super rude YELLING "MASK MASK!" First of all- what happened to hello?! I came here to relax and the greeting completely turned me off. Then the receptionist tried to charge me BEFORE my service. I just chose peace and walked out. This place is unprofessional, not very clean and just all around GHETTO. DONT EVEN WASTE YOUR ENERGY OR TIME COMING HERE. read more

Zen Day Spa - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

5 star massages but poor scheduling and I just gave up my last appointment because they had febreze air fresheners plugged in (they kindly offered me different rooms but the air has already circulated with open doors everywhere. Every room smelled the same. Last time I came they were 45 mins late even though I asked a couple times, and I thought I'd give them another chance bc the massages have been so great. Today they called 30 mins ahead of time and asked if I could come an hour late. I said I maybe could if they offered a discount and they said no. So I tried to make it work, then left when I walked in and was hit with very strong febreze wall plug-in smell (saw them plugged in). read more

Are you truly looking for a "Zen" spa? Do you want to experience relaxation and bliss? If so, DO NOT, go here! You will NOT experience that You will instead experience... Thump! Thump! Thump! Whack! Whack! Whack! WTF was that? Oh, what a big mistake when I procrastinate Needing a massage so desperately Prior to my foot surgery Didn't heed my friend's recommendations Of two excellent masseuse Too late now, they are booked with no openings And I am stuck in the gutter looking everywhere Then ding! I remember Above Blick's Art Store They have a cheap massage place that is walk-in It says $35 cash, oh what a deal, but is that for real? Walking into this establishment seems ok Nice receptionist lady took my credit card She explains to me it would cost more than $35 But that's ok with me, a deal is a deal Pleasant female Asian masseuse leads me to one of the massage rooms Looking forward to my much needed massage Get the kinks, tension, and stress out of my body Ready for relaxation, clear my mind of all worry Relax, fall asleep maybe My masseuse was nice enough to ask how much pressure I wanted And I told her, "Please not too much!" But did she listen? Did she pay attention to my needs? Nope! She banged up my body so many times Her fists pounding and roughening me up I YELPED several times "Please not so much pressure!" Apologies come and go with her All of a sudden my much needed relaxation and serenity I knew wouldn't be fulfilled here Thump! Thump! Thump! Whack! Whack! Whack! WTF was that? That wasn't a massage This is no "Zen" Day Spa Hell no! I tell you This was torture to the max My body feeling more pain Than when I first came in read more

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INCREDIBLE! I had a super stressful day and really needed a massage. My regular place was all booked up so I reached out to Zen Day Spa. They were able to schedule me on a Wednesday evening with only a 1/2 hour notice. I got a half foot-reflexology and half body massage session. I really like Asian-style bodywork which Zen Spa offers. Unlike Western Swedish, it uses a variety of percussive, compression, and contour strokes, sometimes with oil, sometimes not and addresses both surface and deeper tensions of the body and balances energy. Peter was my massage therapist. He is a MASTER! I've been a practicing bodyworker for 20+ years. It was one of the most effective, skillful, healing, blissful massages I've ever received. And the cost of the session was so affordable, so I left a generous tip. The setting was spacious, attractive, peaceful and very quiet with low lighting. They used high quality linens which felt great to the touch. I'm so grateful to know Zen Day Spa is here in Berkeley! I plan to go regularly. read more

Solid 4 stars for the quality and price of the massage! I will be returning here regularly. This is a no frills Asian establishment. You won't find fancy massage tables, decorations or teacups here, but you will get a good massage at a very reasonable price. My shoulders have been very tense lately from doing large amounts of desk work. Halfway through yoga practice today, I could really feel the stiffness in my body and needed a massage ASAP. I remembered seeing Zen Day Spa from my days at CorePower Yoga (right next door), so I decided to call them up. I called just before 3 pm and they actually had a lot of availability for the afternoon (Tuesday). I was able to book an appointment right after work--what a relief! I arrived before all of the CPY yogis started to pile in for class, so I was able to get a parking spot in the lot out front. You pay at arrival, which is a little bit awkward IMO because I also filled in the tip then. The price was $45 for a 1 hour full body massage (+ $1 fee for credit card), which is a great deal for massage services in the area! They also have a $35 deal available (cash only, 10 am - 12 pm weekdays) that I'll be sure to take advantage of in the future. Now, when they say "full body" massage, they mean it--hands, feet, arms, butt, head, everything. I felt that I was in there forever (in a good way) because there was that much being done for my body. Towards the end of the massage, the massage therapist stepped out without a word and I actually stood up to go and check my watch. The session felt so complete already that I thought time was up! Instead, he came back shortly with a hot towel--amazing--and then finished the massage. I unfortunately didn't get the name of my massage therapist. He didn't talk much, but he got the job done really well. I didn't have to communicate any of my problem areas; he was able to feel out the areas that needed the most work and gave them special attention. His technique was quite good and the pressure was excellent. I'm very pleased! read more

I have been here several times, and have always left feeling amazing and ready to knock out! This can be a place where their massage technique can help people feel relax or it can sometimes feel like a bit of a work out but it is because they focus a lot of the time on areas they notice have tension, knots, etc. Anywhere, I have gone that does this style of massage they always know where I'm hurting. I never have to say it, but I believe they are trained to understand the body's pressure points, nerves, and recognized when there is tension. I honestly do not mind their technique to get rid of my knots and nerve pain that does affect my body daily. I leave here and my pain subsides for a good while. If you want a very relaxing massage I think you will find it here, but you may also have Swedish massage in mind, which is definitely a different technique. So keep in mind there are many types of massage techniques. Do your research folks. This place should have higher ratings. I only knock off one star because I know it can be a struggle to communicate; however, for me this is very common for these types of establishments. However, I don't think it should be a deal breaker. This place is very clean, cozy, love the dim lights, and plays lovely and relaxing music whenever I come here. Trust me. They are pretty affordable and really great for their prices and deals. Here is some updated prices, as well! read more

Zen Day Spa - Updated prices!! 2019 - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

Synopsis: My (normally negative) mother RAVED Dets.: I'm a regular here, visiting monthly if I can. I brought my mother here yesterday and she RAVED about her massage therapist, Betty. This place offers a no-frills, no-nonsense deep tissue massage for an exceedingly affordable price. I've always had great - dare I say heart-opening - experiences here. Pro-tip: Request a female therapist. The one time I had a full-body massage by a man resulted in an emergency trip to the chiropractor the next day. read more

Andy is your man! Best hour long Foot Massage! $30 for the massage and $20 for the tip because he's excellent. It includes time on arms, neck and head. Prepare to relax and have your muscles taken care of carefully and with precise pressure. I booked for the next day and he provided the same service! My first experience was a whole body massage with Sam. My shoulders were so tight I couldn't put my head back at all. Sam pretty much beat me up but I let him because my muscles needed to be loosened. At the end we were both laughing and he told me it would be painful but better the next day and he was right. It was super painful and I was totally fixed and able to move my head as normal. read more

Y'all, this is the worst massage experience we've ever had. Please, please do yourself a favor and skip it. It's very cheap which is why we all decided to go on a day trip to Berkeley, but it was totally not worth it. First of all, and no shade here, but the massage therapists a) have no training, and b) do not speak English. Like, not a word. This is typically not a problem except for when you're laying facedown, naked on a table and someone is hurting you. In that moment, you realize the importance of communication! I've never had such an inadequate or painful "massage." I got pinched and pushed and prodded and poked, but not massaged. It was so bad that I ended it early - not something I've ever done before! A bunch of us went together and all had different massage therapists, but we all had the same negative experience. The rooms were janky and smelled terrible; not even the environment was relaxing. Boooooo bad massages! read more

Zen Day Spa - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

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I frequent Asian massages and I can say I found my to go spot. Now if only my to go guy Andy never leaves. I'm so happy I found him!!! I got the one hour full body oil massage and Andy worked out all the knots in my back. Some may complain that it's hard to communicate but I was lucky enough that Andy speaks Cantonese as well. However he does understand simple English so it shouldn't be an issue. As I'm talking to him, I come to appreciate what they do. They work all day and still give consistent massages. read more

Zen Day Spa - Prices as of June 2017 - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

I have never had such a painful experience during a massage. I went there for a 30 minute foot and 30 minute back massage, and though the place is pretty and all, my masseuse was as sensitive as a Mack truck driver. His touch was SO heavy, and several times, I winced on pain and asked him to lighten up. He did, at first, but before long, he was back to hurting me. Why didn't I stop him? It had been a while since I'd had a massage, so I was blaming my pain on my being out of shape. But, DAMN! It hurt soooo bad, and when he got to my back and shoulders, I was nearly in tears. It was only when I got home that I saw all the bruises he'd left all over my body. Nope, will never set foot in there again. Visit them at your own peril. read more

Zen Day Spa - Bruise on left calf. These photos taken three days later, we're originally much darker. - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

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Upon calling this spa, I not only liked its close proximity to my apartment, but how competitive their prices were. I was rather impressed. Most massage parlors I frequent average $60+ for a 1-hour massage. This place charges $35-45 depending on the time and day of the appointment. For instance, from Mondays to Thursdays between 10-12PM, a 1-hour massage costs $35! To me, that was unheard of. So naturally, I had to check this place out for myself because prices that low usually meant that either quality was compromised or there was a catch (i.e. only for first time visits). One other plus was their cancellation policy. It was very lax-- they accept cancellations 1 hour prior to the scheduled appointment without a cancellation fee. This was very much appreciated as my schedule on off-days can often change in a moment's notice. I left my home later than I should have, but arrived on time and found parking very easily. I walked into the darkened lobby and was greeted by the receptionist. She was very friendly and asked for my name. She then charged me $40 for the massage. At most places, I get charged after the massage, but I didn't mind it too much. Soon after, she led me to my room and told me the masseuse would arrive any moment. After a couple minutes, I heard a gentle knock on the door. Her name was Lili and I felt she did a fantastic job undoing the million knots in my neck and shoulders. By the end, I felt ready to take a nap. I almost didn't want to get up. The temperature of the room was warm and toasty. My favorite part about it all was that the masseuse was quiet and didn't ask too many questions. She allowed me to truly relax and almost melt into the massage chair. I got up too quickly and experienced light-headedness, but nothing a glass of water couldn't fix. I think I've found my go-to place of relaxation. SO HAPPY. read more

Wow!! As far as Asian massage "Spas" go this place is great !! Clean, good vibe, inexpensive, and good quality of touch. My therapist "Andy", who spoke very little English, seriously whooped my butt !! If you've never had an Asian massage before it will get intense! Just be proactive about communicating your needs. He understood "good" and "yes" and when it got to be a little much I just squealed "pain!" and he eased up. Really amazing how much work he was able to get done in one hour!! It all ended with hot towels to the neck, back, and feet. What a treat!! $35/hour was too good to be true so I slipped him an extra $20 on the way out. Thank you Andy !!! read more

Zen Day Spa - Photo from the parking lot, located on University and 6th street, above the art supply store and next to the Yoga gym. - Massage Near Me - Berkeley, California

I love this place I have been going for 8 years and I highly recommend it. My favorite is Betty. Everyone is great though.

I was at Blick (which is located right beneath the spa) and a lady almost fell down the stairs leaving the Spa ... I decided it was worth checking out! It's more the Asian style parlor - with a room full of chairs and I paid the $20 for a foot massage. They really prefer cash but do take credit cards. $20 for a foot massage which also included about 15 minutes on the table for a backrub. The last time I got a massage which was a few weeks ago in Mexico, it was mostly paying someone to rub oil on me in heat and humidity, asking for more pressure was going to cost me extra. This was pretty much the opposite ... painful and fast and the guy working on me took it as his personal mission to remove all the knots in my back. I'm still sore 2 days later. I definitely plan on going back and maybe checking out some of the other services. read more

I've been coming to Zen Day Spa for over 10 years now - this review is long overdue! It's a great deal and the masseuses here are very knowledgeable about therapeutic massage. I work at a computer all day, and they can really help get out the knots. It's a no frills kind of space but the price is great. read more

Zen is my absolute favorite massage place of all time. Very friendly staff and the actual massages are second to none. They'll work out the kinks and it will hurt at times (so warning if you like a lighter massage), but if you really like a deep massage this is the place for you. And that's before getting to the value. I've been to places that cost twice as much and give you a massage half as good. No thanks. Zen all the way! read more

I had a fantastic experience at Zen Day Spa on a recent visit with a friend. Betty took great care of me, and I know my friend was really happy with his foot and body massage combo with Michael. Betty has an excellent instinct for touch. I'm typically a self-confessed massage wimp who can't handle strong pressure -- or so I thought. Betty was able to give very firm pressure without causing any discomfort. She was thorough and professional, and I left feeling very relaxed and refreshed. This place isn't frilly, and you'll likely hear voices voices and some general din during your treatment. But, it's an incredible value for solid service. read more

On my day off, this is exactly what I needed....a great deep tissue massage........ At 40 bucks an hour, I always do an hour and half......55 bucks...can't beat it.... This place is very new, saw it on my way to dinner, clean of course, decorated nicely.... Roger is a great therapist, strong and knows his pressure points...... read more