Zen Massage Place

Great job, Zen! Cherry was very mindful to my massage needs, adding perfect pressure. The place is very clean, harmonious, and comfortable. The music was relaxing and had adequate volume. Location is right next to busy streets, so occasionally, I was distracted by the cars driving by. However, the masseuse was great in helping me bring my attention back to the massage. Looking forward to next time.

What a relaxing 90 minutes! Lisa worked on me and did an amazing job! She began with opening my chakras. Then an invigorating massage! She used just enough pressure! The ambiance is inviting and harmonious! It was very, very clean!!!
The only minus is the squeaky bed and if you decide to use the couples room in the front, know that, although it was not too disturbing, you will hear people coming in and out! However it was so insignificant that I am still giving them full stars!
We will definitely be back!!!

Just visited Zen for the 1^st time and had an amazing 1 hour massage. So relaxing it was towards the end it was not easy to come back to reality again ! Like many of us working at a desk each day I have neck and back pain issues. Nancy my masseuse greeted me with a nice smile, she spoke good English and was gentle and soothed away the pain in areas of my neck and lower back. She asked if I’d every had hot stones massage and I said no, but always up for something new I told her go ahead. Wow this was really amazing. Thank you Nancy for introducing me to this technique, what great energy you gave to me. I will be back and bring my wife next time. A 5 star massage, the place is clean, well appointed with very courteous and caring service.

I just had a 1 hour massage here and it was amazing! I usually go to those foot massage places where you keep your clothes on because they’re pretty cheap but this 1 hour massage was only $ 49! My masseuse was Amy and she was so thorough and hit all the spots that were sore. And I even got a face massage towards the end which was also AMAZING! This will definitely be my go to place for massages from now on. If you haven’t been, you must try them. Best massage I’ve had in a long, long time.
Update: went again for a massage and I didn’t schedule with Amy and massage was not great. I was in a room by the front door with just curtains so I could hear every person walking in and all the chatter. My masseuse left the room a couple times during my massage and the level of massage was comparable to a $ 25 foot massage. Not the same experience as the first time.

Amazing experience, off the beaten path but the 1 hour massage was worth it for $ 49 and I was tempted to get the foot massage as well but ran out of time.

I found Zen Massage on Unilocal and decided to try it during my wife and my getaway weekend first without the baby in Santa Barbara.
I really wanted to be like one of the reviewers who raved about the awesome deep tissue experience w the therapist that just knew where to press.
Sadly not my experience.
Most of the negative reviews I saw seemed about discomfort with language barrier etc. That’s not my situation as case as I went to a similar place for years in San Jose and had great massages.
Pros:
Very nice construction, clean calm and fairly quiet for main streets the music was calming and just the right volume. It’s recently renovated and while I only saw my treatment room it was one of the nicer ones I’ve been to.
Cons (and the reason for 2 instead of 4 or 5 stars).
The massage just wasn’t good. She would press lightly in one area then hard in another. There was no apparent order for what she was doing or where she was working. She would hit in a sore area and as I was asking for more she would just move on. I asked for more pressure a couple of different ways and she couldn’t do it. She also left the room 3 or 4 times. The last time she came back w hot stones but didn’t know how to use them (at least based on other massage places I’ve been– never had someone just rub up and down my back with them). Lastly her finger nails were a bit too long and I’m pretty sure I have several scratches on my back.
I would consider going back but only if I could be sure I was getting someone good, not someone just filling in because I was a walk in.
Hope this helps!

I think Zen Massage is great. It is very clean, has a shower available for before or after your massage, the Vichy shower is awesome and the staff is great. Not to mention very good prices. Linda, the owner is very professional and nice. I highly recommend this place for a good, relaxing massage. They also have a resting area with comfortable lounges to relax after your massage.

I did the 1hr full body massage. She was nice and did a great job at trying to get my knots out of my back. She did neck, back, a little on arms, and legs.
It was a little weird getting fully naked and her massaging part of my butt. Lol The room I was in was not dark.

Traveling trough the Santa Barbara area on business, got recommendation from a local on this massage place. I am a regular at getting massages and I have paid from $ 50 to $ 150 per hour depending on location .
This experience was probably the best massage I have ever gotten. I guess I hit the jackpot as the lady who gave my massage, she is actually a trainer and massage teacher. Wow wow
Simply put, the place is spotless clean, professional, smells good, towels were fresh. And the massage by lady name summer, best best, I didn’t ask for hot stone therapy, I guess it was bonus .
I think she seriously spoiled me, as I can’t get same massage where I live. So have to make an excuse to go back to Santa Barbara.

While planning a getaway to Santa Barbara for my boyfriend and I, I thought it would be nice to relax with some massages.
After doing a through search on Unilocal and on different massage websites, I decided on Zen Massage based on location, price, and reviews.
After my experience, I was extremely disappointed and left unsatisfied. See my reasons below:
1. Upon entering the establishment I heard heavy construction going on inside. I thought the construction would subside once we started our massages, it did not. Throughout the one hour massage I was NOT in a Zen environment or mind. I heard banging of the hammer and since my boyfriend was located in the room closest to the construction he heard entire conversations between the construction worker and staff member.
2. Professionalism was also lacking. There was no actual lobby or seating area for customers to sit prior to getting placed in a massage room. The masseuses were casually walking around and talking to each other in their native tongue. They were also doing each others make-​up. I felt like it was more of a get-​together for the coworkers than a business.
3. I’ve received many massages to date and all masseuses have asked where I needed the massages the most, usually my back. The masseuse at Zen did not ask. Not only did past masseuses ask where I wanted massages, they also asked where I wanted them to avoid. Again this was not asked, as a result I was massaged into more pain.
4. I was anything, but relaxed. I walked out of the massage in pain. On multiple occasions I said I was in pain and asked for the masseuse to go lighter, all she responded back was «Pain?» and slightly laughed under her breath. At the end of the night when my boyfriend rubbed my back, I felt a soreness that was not there when I entered Zen Massage.
I was even more disappointed when I heard my boyfriend’s experience.
Instead of getting an actual massage, he said his masseuse simply rubbed lotion/​massage on his body. She did not use any pressure point techniques or perform an actual massage. Again his masseuse did not ask where he would like her to concentrate, therefore his massage actually went to waste.
I have never been this unsatisfied with an establishment like I am with Zen Massage. Based on my experience this past weekend I can say I will definitely not be returning. I would recommend spending a little bit more and receive an actual massage at another establishment. Buyer beware.

WHOA! WOW! YES! Zen Massage Place is a winner!!!
My girlfriend and I went to this small but intimate massage parlor during our anniversary trip to Santa Barbara. We actually ended our day here and all I can say is Thank you Jesus! It was an amazing experience from the moment we Walked in (I’ll get to the on 5-​star review later) to our fond farewells.
The moment we walked in the staff was generous in helping us figure out what would be the best treatment. I normally get Swedish for 45-​min to an hour but I was encouraged in the cutest «i Don’t want to offend this big black man» way to go deep tissue (I’m a 6’4″ 300lb dude), she was right, I needed YaYa to get in there and set my muscles right. Of course they had all these treatments I wanted to try including hot stones and back walking. Check this out I got all three in 60 minutes for $ 49 (we tipped them generously)!!! When I was done I couldn’t believe how awesome I felt. I NEVER would have thought I’d be into hot stones, Let me tell you now, GET INTO THE HOT STONES PEOPLE! They oil them up and know exactly what to do, the warmth culminating with the pressure and talent of the masseuse, left me speechless, ok maybe a grunt of gratitude but that’s about it! Then unexpectedly, she got up and started walking on my back, and the things this little woman did with her feet I didn’t even know were possible, thank God she had a pole in the ceiling to hold on! I was grateful after hearing my lady and I vacillate between treatments they gave me 40-​min of deep plus 10-​min of stones plus 10-​min of walking equaled PERFECTION!
The place is clean, the shower facility was a perfect ending and allowed my lady an I to change for a dinner we were headed to in LA. Now I didn’t give them 5 –stars because they had music on a Pandora playlist that was not on a premium subscription. So being in the middle of the massage and hearing an annoying commercial in the middle of your treatment, took me out of my dream like state a couple of times. SO PLEASE, get a playlist or upgrade to the Pandora One subscription,
I cannot wait to come back and make the 2-​hour drive for this exquisite experience.

Wow. Just… wow. Great pricing. Amazing staff that is friendly and professional if you know what I mean. I have had many Swedish massages before but this one was top notch. They also have hit stone and reflexology too. Made the trip from L.A. worth it.

Ahhhhh-​mazing foot spa! Reflexology «Wood» massage was awesome & affordable! Ultra clean & modern inside! Would definitely recommend this place!

Very convenient location if you’re in the area, a pretty nice remodeled studio, lobby is comfortable and calming. Online booking available, but I could definitely see a possible hurdle if you really had something specific you wanted to communicate.
I just got a 1 hour full body massage, and while there wasn’t much at all in the way of talking /​focusing on any specific problem areas I had, the massage was overall just right. Not too firm or uncomfortable, but the trigger points and major muscles all got a warm up and their share of the massage, scalp and feet included. The person that greeted me is the one who provided my massage and she was friendly and professional. The only thing I would change is maybe to be a little warmer.
Overall good value for the price, and I would recommend Zen Massage Place if you just need to get some blood flowing in those tired muscles.

Good massage, different techniques than What I’m accustomed to. Good price, easy online booking. Not a lot of communication about what I was signing up for once I got there.

Great place. Really enjoyed deep tissue massage. BTW, they just lowered the price. Definitely will go back.

The wife and I walked in and what a surprise, clean and professional at very reasonable rates. Going back for a vichy shower and scrub.

I recently received a Full Body Korean Massage by Angie and it was Out of this World! Since I carry the majority of my stress on my back and shoulders, she spent a considerable amount of time and energy working that area. Her techniques and strength are very impressive because I left there feeling sooo relaxed and rejuvenated.
The environment is EXTREMELY hygienic and organized! In addition, the constant flow of soft music being played throughout the establishment creates a very calming and soothing ambiance.
And, lastly, the management is Very Professional, Courteous and Friendly. I look forward to my next visit at Zen Massage Place!

Not a huge fan. Made an appointment for a simple foot massage online, which was easy and also super cheap. When I got there, the entire building was vacant. There was one woman who greeted at the front who didn’t speak any English whatsoever so the language barrier was difficult, almost resulting in a completely different service than what I had signed up for. I also don’t think she knew about my appointment, which was awkward when I walked in saying why I was there and who I was. The massage was decent, but fairly awkward too because it was so dead silent in the building and it was completely lit up from the sunlight outside. Decent massage but awkward environment/​surroundings. The price is great and the building is super clean and remodeled but the atmosphere just didn’t do it for me, so much so that I only half-​enjoyed myself there. I don’t think I’ll be going back, no hard feelings! Just could receive better elsewhere.

This spa is authentic and offers a variety of massage styles. There are a lot of choices for longer or shorter massages, a really nice Vichy shower, and foot massages. It is extremely clean and everything is newly built. With all of that, the prices were hard to beat.