Shangri-La Day Spa

Great manicure and a good selection of OPI and Essie polishes. The service is quick and affordable at $ 15 (if using a credit card, tips in cash only). The tools are clean and the shop is very quiet which is prefect for a quick pick-​me-​up. While drying your nails, they give you a quick one minute back massage. I’ll definitely come back in a few weeks.

My daughters and I had made three appointments for three mani-​pedis, for which we arrived precisely on time. The young lady who made our appointments on the telephone was polite and charming. At the appointed hour, not only were there not three manicurists present in the salon, but the two individuals who were present had just begun gel manicures on two clients. One was a male, and he appeared to gruffly order the young female to drop what she was doing and begin a pedicure on one of us. Unfortunately she did so in a frenetic fashion, rushing and using the wrong tools — a rough file on the front face of my daughter’s nail, scraping off precious nail tissue. We other two began to discuss how we probably wouldn’t make it to our next appointment on time, prompting the male to begin speaking loudly and angrily. The young manicurist quickly finished the manicure, put a portable sandal on my daughter, and we ran out somewhat fearful and $ 29 poorer. We would never return, but we would like to express our concern for the staff here.

I won’t be coming back here. The last time I visited, I called ahead to see what a good time might be to come in. I was told 2: 30 pm, so I arrived at that time. They took down my name and number when I called, so I felt pretty confident that my time was secure. Upon arrival, I was told to sit in a chair and then ignored for about twenty minutes. After I inquired about how much longer the wait would be – even though I came at the time I was asked — I was essentially ignored, with my hands still soaking in water.
Forty five minutes later — someone finally was able to see me. No apology whatsoever, which bothered me more than the wait. This place is very convenient to my house, but unfortunately, I won’t be going back. Enchanted Nails on 18^th St NW is a better place to take your business.

They are soo nice! Great customer service. Man people on Unilocal are harsh…

Great pedicure. Longer than expected foot massage and even a short back/​neck massage while I sat and waited for toes to dry. Will definitely come back.

You can get a decent manicure and pedicure here but the staff is not friendly at all.

I adore the staff and services. I have been going to the spa for several years. Everyone is kind and respectful. The entire team of men and women are FANTASTIC. Ivan does in fact have magical hands. The pedicures, manicures, and facial waxing last a long time. The massages are great too. The environment is peaceful and clean. Customer service is one of their best qualities. I love them!

**BEWARE: This salon may actually damage your life and career **
BOTTOM LINE: Shangri-​La reported me to the POLICE for THEFT 2 when they wouldn’t take Amex or Check and my Visa declined. Prior to being reported to the police, I told them I would return to pay and gave my DC license as collateral, but the manager (who I’ve never spoken to) reported me to the police without informing me. They did not withdraw their complaint after I made payment (without knowing I had a complaint against me.) Luckily I spoke to the police and updated the case file so I could avoid charges and a warrant for my arrest.
MORE DETAILS if you care enough to read it:
My experience with this salon has been the most outrageous customer service experience of my life. Their actions literally could have affected my career for years to come and cost me thousands of dollars, all of a result of their clearly inept management and customer service skills.
One recent Saturday I checked in advance to make sure they accepted credit cards, because I did not have cash on me. I went in and received a $ 29 dollar pedicure. When I tried to pay with an Amex, they would not accept it. Unfortunately, my visa debit card was not working when I offered that. Next, I offered some visa gift cards, which they couldn’t process. I lastly offered a personal check, which they refused. They said if I left my driver’s license with them, I could come back and pay (and did not specify a deadline for when I had to pay by). That day, my debit card was not working and the banks were closed, so after I left I could not get cash. I went back that day to talk to them about it again, but they were closed early. I went back again at 7:30 on Tuesday to pay, but they were closed two hours before their listed business hours.
I returned again on Saturday morning to pay. I paid for the pedicure and a generous tip for the trouble. I then asked for my driver’s license back and the technician mumbled «Oh, your ID is in that building over there…» and gave me a piece of paper in response. This piece of paper indicated that they had filed a criminal complaint against me for theft, and that they turned in my driver’s license to the police department as evidence.
After explaining to the officer on duty the situation, and the fact that I had paid off the pedicure without any knowledge that they had filed a criminal complaint against me, the officer updated the police report and assured me that the police department would not investigate the charges further.
Now, it was sheer luck that I was able to resolve this situation before I had actual criminal charges lodged against me. For petty crimes of this nature, generally the police don’t «investigate» the case– the prosecutor would just bring charges based on the police report. So, had the case been processed during the week that I did not know the complaint was filed against me, I would have had a warrant for my arrest issued and formal charges on my record, not to mention the time and expense of showing up to contest the charges. Additionally, the salon clearly had no intention of withdrawing their complaint against me, even though they accepted my payment and gratuity WITHOUT MENTIONING the theft charges.
This is NOT how a business should treat their customers. They had my address listed on my driver’s license, they could have sent me a written demand for payment before filing a complaint, or used logic to realize that an individual trying to steal from a business likely would not provide a government-​issued ID to the victim. In addition, they could have simply accepted a personal check, or at least held a check for triple the amount I owed as collateral, which I would have happily done. Filing a criminal complaint should be the LAST RESORT, and clearly they have no business acumen, as filing these charges against me for $ 29 has lost a lifetime of my business (in addition to my friends) which clearly would exceed that amount.

Great great great place!
I went there for the massage, manicure and pedicure. Everything was great, I totally love this place.
Rose was very friendly and nice to me, and the music played in the background was relaxing. Definitely going back when I am in DC.

I Love Shangri-​La SPA！I have been coming here for all kinds of services for years and my favorite place. I started coming to Cindy for facials years ago and she was the only person who actually cleared up my skin. She does the best extractions during a facial. She’s also great at doing my eyebrows and bikini.

This place is great, if you want to be treated poorly, rushed, and disappointed with the final result. I’ve shamelessly returned various times as I hadn’t found another salon in my neighborhood, but I recommend going elsewhere. They don’t honor appointments; I’ve made an appointment before and waited for 45 minutes. They rush through you and thus the result is poor.
I was in the salon when the owner and lead nail technician started a screaming match with a customer over her nail beds. I was appalled and have now decided to find a more respectable place to get my nails done.

Got a solid gel pedicure which came with a great massage. Prices are high, but that is typical for DC. There was a bit of a wait but other than that it was great.

Shangri-​La is solid, and Ivan has magical hands. I thought that the mani, pedi was A-​OK, the foot/​leg massage was phenomenal, and the service was relatively quick. The bonus was the neck and shoulder massage at the end while my toes were drying. This massage was so good that I opted for a 15 minute chair massage as well. As other reviewers note, there is calming music in the background. The ambiance is okay — not great, but not terrible either. I will return for a massage!
Also, I found everyone to be very friendly, and had no problems paying and tipping by credit card.

When you’re giving yourself a birthday gift why not a reflexology massage? I really enjoyed my massage and pedicure. The service was fast and I could feel the tension in my feet dissappear. I can’t wait to go back. They also gave me a massage while my feet dried and I was able to get my eyebrows waxed which I think was $ 7 or $ 10.

You guys please scroll down and read the reviews that aren’t suggested by Unilocal.I wrote a review years ago abt this place, but because I was a new Unilocaler it was deleted. The owner of this so called day spa is incredibly rude. He has NO problem verbally abusing his customers.
Please think twice before going in that place ZERO stars

Sooo this review is easy. I’m not sure if this guy is the manager or not but was pretty rude when I didn’t have cash to tip but wanted to leave it on the card instead. Then proceeded to tell me how much I’m «supposed» to tip. His stanky attitude means I won’t be coming back here…

Walked in on my lunch break, got right in for a manicure! $ 13 because I paid in cash ($ 15 if you pay with a card and yes, cash tips only!). Manicure was great, she did 3 coats for me because the polish was a little light. Awesome selection of Essie and OPI colors. As my nails were drying, Rose gave me a neck and shoulder rub.
There are a few nail salons along U, and this is BY FAR the best. I’ve had enough lunchtime manicures to know!

HOLY MOLY — Go here. just go here. Best foot massage EVER. AND they gave me a neck massage when I was drying station.
I ended up staying for a 30 min reflexology session.
I don’t think I will ever go anywhere else ever again.

I am not a fan of this place. I see there are some good reviews here but they clearly did not have the guy who did my pedicure. He did such a rush job. I got a pedicure on Saturday and by Wednesday the nail polish was already chipping. Less than a week later I had to go to another salon for a nail polish change.
I will not be going back.

I want Shangr-​La to get a little more recognition on Unilocal.If you are looking for a more-​than-​decent pedicure or manicure, this is the place. It is not *cheap* since we are still in DC, so expect to pay $ 30 for the pedicure. Below are some reasons I give it 5 stars:
I like this place because
— the owner is VERY NICE and will always greet you.
— the staff pay attention to your needs and modify whatever you need.
— it is almost always low to only moderately busy for you to walk-​in and wait.
— large, cushy massage chairs are new-​ish
— best feature: a 5 minute firm leg and foot massage with your pedicure (no extra charge)
— relaxing ambiance (not like really catty/​chatty workers), new age music, and it is discouraged to talk on your cell phone. Just ENJOY the time you have to get pampered! read, nap, or have a talk with the man or woman working on your hands or feet :)
The newest pedicure stylist is Jimmy, a young Chinese man. He is meticulous and very attentive. I recommend him.
I actually have never received a manicure here, because I hardly ever feel I need one. But many of the women I see getting manicures leave very happy.
P. S. you do get a $ 3 – 4 discount if you pay with cash.