Angel Therapy Rooms

Had a really lovely massage here this evening. Sarah did a beautiful job and she as a therapist gets 5 stars. She was very mater of fact but soothing, and she put enough umpf into it that it felt like the massage was doing real work — I get so sad when there’s not even the tiniest edge of pain, that can’t possibly be doing any good! And she did ask, so it wasn’t like she just dug in — I suspect if you wanted a lighter touch she would have provided that.
So, why only 4 stars — mostly because they require a card number to secure a reservation, but seem a bit haphazard about it. I called early in the week to book and didn’t have my card with me. Ran out of time to call back and had two voicemails saying they were going to cancel my booking without it (and giving me a time limit). When I finally got those this morning, I called to try and rebook, and they clearly hadn’t cancelled the booking — I suppose late on a Friday is not the most rock ‘n’ roll time for visiting a spa — and the lady didn’t even want to take my card details. Seemed like a bit of extra stress in the process for no point or purpose.
That said, when I arrived the staff were great and everything was lovely. A card booking policy is all fine and good, but have one or don’t — and don’t create stress about it!

I love this place, Best manicure/​pedicures in town. It’s also beautiful, peaceful, and the beauticians make you feel utterly special and taken care of. Can’t wait to go back for a massage.
If you’re thinking about going to Fresh/​Aveda on Upper Street for beauty treatments, think again. Angel Beauty Rooms are much better and their products have a dramatically smaller amount of chemicals than the ingredients in Aveda’s line.

I had my first massage here or as I like to call it «man-​sage» last weekend. I am not a fan of massages, I generally find them pleasant but not something I’d pursue as some do. I generally find a good wet shave much nicer.
I was cajoled into coming here and indeed I had originally suggested it to the cajoler due to reviews and proximity. Slightly worryingly the questionnaire described what one would normally describe as ‘side effects’ as a ‘healing reaction’. It seems complimentary therapies are continuing to be good at rebranding.
The place is certainly very clean and zen full of furniture from Lom Bok (I have just moved and studied furniture stores). The staff do a good job of putting you at ease. There was quiet music, soft smells and lots of places to meditate.
The lady who looked after me was very good, very professional and and concentrated on my back where I get the most pain post swimming. The price wasn’t bad at £65 for 45 mins and had a nice relaxing tea at the eng just outside a small garden.
If my pain had gone or Id felt better this place would get five stars but Ive yet to find that place. I think I’ll continue with my shaves but certainly I’d go back if I was gifted a session.

I’ve had 3 massages at Angel Therapy Rooms — including my first ever — and each visit has been exceptional. The staff are professional and effective masseurs, the music ambient and the environment relaxing and friendly. Perfect for a gift or a treat!

Great vibe– quiet, relaxing, pampering spa atmosphere. Exposed brick, wood floors, natural light and surfaces. I got a massage which was relaxing and attuned to my specific needs. Will be back for more!

Initially, I was all set to give this place only two stars. I was told to arrive about 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork, which I did. Their first appointment is at noon, which was my appointment today, and when I arrived at about 11:45 the lights were mostly off. But they turned the lights on and gave me the paperwork to fill out.
I was then told my massage therapist hadn’t yet arrived. Hmmm, okay… she arrived at about 12:10 and took me in right away — but I did get rather turned off by the lack of professionalism in terms of either offering me another massage therapist, keeping me updated on her whereabouts, making sure I wasn’t in a rush to leave, etc.
Marianne, my massage therapist, finally arrived and took me in immediately and filled with apologies. Anyway, once I was taken in, things started getting better. You leave your shoes by the waiting room, which is a nice touch — it adds to the spa like feel of the place, and minimises noise of people walking around.
The rooms are lovely — well lit by candlelight, soft music playing, etc. I didn’t love the fact that my body was covered with a smallish towel instead of a sheet, but once I got into the massage I forgot about it.
I had booked a deep tissue massage and was a bit turned off by the light touch Marianne had at first, but she still somehow managed to get in there and loosen my muscles. At one point she pulled my shoulder blades out, which I’ve had done before and usually find myself gasping to not yell out, but with Marianne it just felt like a nice gentle stretch that left me feeling quite limber. I’m used to deep tissue massages being very strong and really working out my muscles, with me grunting from the pain (the good sort of pain, though!). That’s not how Marianne did it — somehow, I received a deep tissue massage and managed to doze off!
Afterwards she left me dozing in the room, and when I finally got up and got dressed, she met me in the waiting area with some tea and water, a stack of magazines, a blanket, and my choice of daybeds to curl up on and relax. I was told there was no rush for me to leave, and I truly felt that way.
I’ll be back.

1 hour with Ricardo today. Was a-​okay. Not brilliant, but okay. He seemed distracted

okay, i really can’t understand why there aren’t more review’s on this place… it is A M A Z I N G… The staff are professional, good humored and courteous. The treatments (okay i’ve only had waxing and massage) but they are great, the massage is truly a relaxing and invigorating experience. There is calming music if you need the hour to be peaceful, or alternatively you can talk to the masseuse, who seem to hold a fountain of knowledge in relation to almost all things holistic and beyond.
Yes it is a little pricy, but then, if i figure if there is one thing you should spend your money on, its your body — And 1 hour here is like a weekend away, i am not kidding (and yes i do go away for weekends!)… I usually have Marion massage me, her energy is super and she works out the knots as well as giving me sound advice on things i can do at home or at work, to help my body out… (apparently it is all about stretching!)
The Waxing i have had there, has also been a good experience, in the sense that, Tatiana, is gentle, thorough and will distract you with such great diverse conversation that time flies, which is always good when getting waxed!
anyway, i will stop rambling on, i just want to spread the word and say, treat yourself and you will discover a new wonder in Islington, which you will soon find a pops into your diary perhaps more often than you can justify, but then again…
oh and i forgot to mention, they let you lounge around afterwards and drink tea… another simple pleasure!

I don’t stretch enough after exercising, have one of the world’s most uncomfortable mattresses, and carry all of my tension in my neck and shoulders. Often this leads to terrible headaches, shooting pain when I lift things over my head, and a generally unhappy Erin. Unfortunately another of my problems is that I’m cheap, so I rarely spring for things as indulgent as a massage. When my birthday rolled around and the in-​laws wanted gift ideas, I pointed them directly to Angel Therapy Rooms.
The spa reopened on September 1 after a month closed for renovations. I don’t know how it looked before, but now it feels like a rich person’s interpretation of a cozy cottage. Angel Therapy Rooms is below street level and as you walk down the stairs you see a large stone basin filled with large floating roses of the deepest red. The rose theme is carried out elsewhere with big white ones in a vase standing on the reception desk next to a bowl of dried rose buds.
After checking in, I was walked to a cute but uncomfortable vintage country bench and completed the health forms while sipping a glass of water that was poured for me. To my left was a big whitewashed and distressed armoire holding flowery cotton robes as well as beauty products. I tried to get comfortable with a Vogue, but the woman at the front desk was chatting on the phone loudly with a friend and I couldn’t get my mind to zen mode.
Luckily I didn’t arrive too early and was soon taken back to one of the massage rooms. Before walking down the hallway I was asked to remove my shoes. I then saw much comfier seating and wished I had been allowed to wait for my masseur there instead of the bench.
The room was decorated with only two candle lanterns and felt spacious and inviting. I opted for a sports massage and, when I booked it, Angel Therapy Rooms was kind enough to make sure I knew I was asking for something more intense than a relaxing day at the spa. Ricardo was recommended because he was one of the strongest massage therapists. He focused on the areas that cause the most trouble for me — my neck, shoulders and lower back — and worked out a lot of tension without using strokes that hurt.
When the massage was finished, I was offered a cup of hot tea and shown to the comfortable seats I had seen previously. There aren’t any magazines in that section of the spa, however, and I’m not good at sitting quietly and peacefully, so I only made it through about a quarter of a cup before I felt the urge to get up and continue my day.
A one hour massage was £75. Next time someone wants to buy me a massage, I’ll be going back to Angel Therapy Rooms.

UPDATE…
I had the Hot Stones Massage with Catalina (? Carolina? Ca-​something-​a?) the morning after a heavy night before. She was very very good, to the point that I fell asleep… and she was professional enough that she actually let me sleep after the appointment was over, with the mood music on low, until I woke up 20 minutes later: slightly confused, totally relaxed, a hot stone in each hand, with a sensation of floating.
I’ve never had Hot Stone massage before, but I strongly recommend it. I have upped my rating of this place to ⁵⁄₅. I can’t get enough of their treatments! Yes they’re a bit pricey, but my goodness are they worth it!

If you are a hedonist and want to be pampered, this is the place. They make it a very zen experience – you walk barefoot, the setting is luxurious and tranquil and you are served herb tea after your treatment.
I went for a facial, and I must confess it was very relaxing and indulgent and my skin has a really nice glow. Cordelia had the most gentle touch and they do reflexology as a part of the facial (a bit bizarre but if you relieve stress from your feet it helps your entire body according to them).
This place is a great gift-​certificate type of place for your mum or your favorite gal (or guy for a massage).
Now, for the drawbacks of the facial (aka why not 5 stars?)
I like a facial where they look at your skin under a bright light and diagnose what is going on. I also expect a facial to include a steam of your face and then they extract the nasty little blackheads… so this is certainly not a place to go if you are looking for an esthetician treatment. Basically 95£ to have someone put lots of creams, scrubs and essential oils on your face in a delicate way to classical music is not really going to cut it for me… and the biggest drawback is that you are supposed to be relaxing and they have a clock that goes tick-​tock! Big oversight on their part…
So the search continues for the greatest blackhead-​removing esthetician of all time… I’ll let you know when I find him/​her.