Eshe Day Spa and Salon

I had gotten a groupon massage/​facial gift from my boyfriend and after looking at the reviews before hand, I must say that I was very skeptical. Adree did my facial and massage, she was professional and she worked on all the areas I had listed that need special Attention. The atmosphere was very relaxing and I did not feel rushed. All in all, the service I received was excellent and I will be returning.

I was really hoping this would be a better experience. I came here based on there advertised specials during spa week.
Lets start with what i liked: When I walked in the space was very inviting, staff was nice and it smelled nice and spicy like an apple pie. Great for a Fall day. I was tended to promptly and ushered into a small waiting room that was very inviting and warm. I also liked the fact that I could purchase nail polish and Aveda products. At the end of the treatment, I purchased bath salts and a very nice OPI polish. I liked the foot soak I received before the service. It was different and never experienced that before at a spa before a full body massage. I was confused at first, and had to reconfirm with the technician that she knew what service I had made an appoinment for.
What I didn’t like: I was ushered to a bathroom that is shared with the rest of the salon located in the back of the space. Didn’t give me a private feeling. When you walk out of the bathroom after you’ve changed, you can easily bump into other customers or staff there. Didn’t like that. The robe I was given was nice, but I recommend you bring your own spa shoes or flip flops. The ones that I was given were kind of wet and clamy and I’m sure worn by someone before me. They were not disposable. The treatment room I was in could use some sprucing up. Lighting and music were good, but the carpets were soiled and the shelving where the towels, oils and equipment were stored looked as if they were going to fall apart.
The biggest disappointment was the service. The technician was extremely pleasant, however I felt like I was getting a rub down instead of a massage. The areas I asked her to focus on, which I expressed verbally and in writing, she did not once focus on those areas.

A big part of the day spa experience for me is being treated like a VIP from the first call — and then being catered to, pampered & just having things flow from one luxurious experience to the next. That’s not what I experienced. Not even close. There was lots of waiting and staff ignoring customers while they chatted and guzzled coffee drinks. One of the services I’d booked and been confirmed for never even happened. There wasn’t a clear explanation. Just a lot of delaying, till I needed to leave. Disappointing.

When you first walk in, you think this could be a great experience. Cute waiting room! But then once you start the services, you really want it to get better because you really want it to be great. But it doesn’t.
Came here with my girlfriends and each of us had an EH… definitely not the best but not the greatest either. It just wasn’t what we expected.

I really wanted this place to be great. It’s right around the corner from my office, so I thought it would be really convenient if this could become my go to place.
The space is nice, and they have a very soothing waiting room for you to wait in. They have water and hot cider, soothing music, nice lighting. I thought this was a good sign…
But then my stylist came in to get me. I guess I always assume that a haircut will come with a hair wash, or that they’ll at least get my hair wet. But no, she just starts snipping at my hair, no wash or anything. She cuts so little off that it’s not even noticeable, and she kind of seemed put off when I asked for her to keep going. The cut is boring and amateurish, pretty sure one of my friends could have done better.
If they are going to try to sell themselves as an upscale salon and spa, they’ll have to do better. At least wash my hair when I come in for a cut. It doesn’t seem like they have that many customers, so you’d think they’d try to hold on to the ones they have.

Well I needed a major massage and a body scrub to get the winter skin off. So I notice one day while getting my mail that they offer my slum of a building a discount. So I went online to book it. Next day I got a phone call confirming. So far so good.
The morning of my appt the called to confirm. I thought that was nice. I arrived a few mins early and was greeted by both girls that would be working on me. Seemed nice. I was escorted back to a waiting room where I filled out paper work and stuff. Next I was taken back to change, the shoes they gave me were a bit small but whatever. I didn’t wear them long.
Now it was time for my massage. I really enjoyed the foot soak before I got on the table. It was only for like a minute or two but it totally added to the experience. The girl who did my massage was pretty good, wasn’t the best and wasn’t the worst. The one thing that irritated me was the fact she left right in the middle of it! Didn’t say why and she apologized but I wasn’t really relaxed after that.
As for my body scrub, it was fabulous. I got compliments on how soft my skin looked and felt. It did what I wanted and now my skin is ready for summer… whenever that happens.
All in all I’m happy with the salon and I’m willing to try other services. I never had to wait long for anything. The only reason I’m giving it 3 stars is because the girl left in the middle of the massage and it’s really loud in the hallway. I could hear everything while getting my massage & scrub. People carrying on with conversations, unpacking and breaking down boxes… just a lot of noise.

I bought a Groupon, and like most other people, found out it moved only after they confirmed my appointment. Since it wasn’t that far, it was a non-​issue for me.
I tried to make an online appointment, but was a bit concerned when I didn’t hear from anyone for a day or two. Since the appointment was a week away, I was ok with it.
The Salon, at first glance seemed really nice. I was escorted to a small waiting room and waited for my technician. Since I was early, I was ok waiting for her.
Deidre was my technician. She was very pleasant and personable. She did a great job and I was happy with her work, but it did take over 2 hours for a mani pedi.
The only issue I had with the place is that they didn’t seem to have stock of the nail color I wanted and she was out of a couple other essential items that are used everyday in a salon. Maybe that was why it took so long for my appointment.
The place is set up a bit odd. Like someone else said, it’s like an office that was restructured to be a salon. Since I was the only one there, I was comfortable. My services were fine, but took longer than expected. I went way over on my meter and got a parking ticket. I didn’t expect to be there 2+ hours. My fault, but I really didn’t realize it had taken that long.

First note they are not located on Michigan Ave anymore but rather in the South Loop. They are now located in an office building converted into a Spa which they did a pretty good job of (I was told they just moved into this location a few weeks ago).
I booked my appointment online which was pretty easy: sent in the request and about 40 minutes later got a call confirming my time.
First impression in the actual Spa is good, greeted by a friendly man at reception. My appointment is 2:15pm but I arrive early at 1:55pm because I always arrive early for spa appointments. He puts me in a relaxing room with some water and a small selection of magazines. He comes in at 2:00pm and tells me that my technician is just wrapping up with a client and that she should be seeing me right on time. However I waited until 2:50pm to start my appointment– not sure why and real no update from the friendly man on why I was waiting almost an hour.
Next is the actual appointment– all I am getting is a BASIC manicure. I go back to the room which is a small office space converted into a mini nail salon. My technician (Deidre) is friendly enough but then a man arrives and within about 5 feet of me getting a manicure, he’s getting a pedicure. Not exactly relaxing and it was definitely distracting.
The manicure itself was fine except for the paint job– it seems that Deidre was hungry (she was shaking real bad) or wasn’t sure how to paint nails because it was by far the worst paint job I have ever had. At this point its 4pm and I have been there for 2 hours and I just want to go. I quickly let it dry and get the heck out of there. The manicure cost me $ 20.

A spa? In the Loop? Is this some sort of oxymoronic joke? Nope. It’s for real. And Eshe should demand your serious attention. I wanted a place for a couples massage that (1) wouldn’t bulldoze my puny bank account, (2) didn’t exist only in some far-​flung suburb, and most importantly, (3) was classy. A quick check of Eche’s website satisfied the first condition. A Michigan Avenue address satisfied the second. And by setting one foot onto the premises, I was able to satisfy the third.
But let’s get down to the gritty details. I’m a guy not accustomed to such things as «day spas» and «couples massages.» The staff here was more than understanding. At no point was it awkward or uncomfortable. In fact, once the massage started, I forgot all about the primary, secondary, and tertiary conditions listed above, it was that good.

Update from batchlorette party:
The treatment went well, the pedi was nicely done. All in all pretty good. My friend and I had the same treatments however, and we had some pretty vast differences in experience. I guess it’s all about who you get for your treatments. Even as we sat there getting the same pedi there were differences– different oils, masks, etc. I must have gotten lucky because I hearted my treatment. My friend was meh on her version.
Downgraded to three stars from one because if you’re looking for consistency, this may not be the place, but the treatments are nice if you get the right person.

I definitely don’t think this spa is worth the price. While everyone was very friendly, the conditions of the spa and the actual massage could have been much better. The spa seemed somewhat ‘thrown together’ and the rooms were terribly small, the shower was small and old looking, and the massage was just okay. I wouldn’t bother spending your money here.

Still excellent service, not sure why there are so many bad reviews.

Yikes. This place looks like Michael Scott decided to have Spa Day at the office and they threw together things that seem like a spa, but didn’t do a good enough job to disguise the fact this place is in an office building. I mean spring for a real ceiling, not the junky acoustical tiles that are standard in every office in the city. And the polish selection looked like it came from the shoebox of them I had in 7^th grade-​hand me down from my mom and aunts. Only half-​used OPI stuff, no Essie and not a decent variety.
I bought a Groupon and used it towards a spa day with my mom for Mother’s Day. I had the same trouble getting a hold of someone right around the time the Groupon came out. However, when I did get a hold of someone they were pleasant and accommodating. They of course up-​sold me on the package, so I spent much over the Groupon. When we arrived, we weren’t greeted and had to wait several minutes while someone else was checking out. They didn’t seem to have the order of our treatments figured out so we could do the pedicures together (even though I confirmed this three times over the phone) but they did finally work it out.
The only reasons this place gets any stars is the actual services. My mom said her facial was wonderful and my manicurist was meticulous and through. They took their time and didn’t rush us or chat us to death-​although they did try to push product on us. The view of Millennium Park is also pretty great while you’re getting a pedicure. However, I had my back to it during the manicure. Would’ve been nice to have that view since there is nothing else you can do during a manicure but stare into space.
We will not be back-​way too overpriced for the lack of ambiance and service.

The place was absolutely empty.
I called for an appointment the week before and they acted like they had no availability, making me wait 3 weeks for an appointment. No one even called me back. I had to keep calling and leaving messages.
When i got there, not even one other customer was there for the three hours that I spent there.
I got a haircut & the women acted as if it were her very first time cutting hair. I was extremely nervous. I just asked for a trim and it was as if I never got a cut at all.
I also got my nails done and they are so uneven. Just a basic manicure.
The overall appearance of the salon was nice but again, empty. Also, I feel as if all of the employees were just a little too unprofessional, to say the least. I will never go to Eshe again.

Yay For Groupon! you know there are bad reviews here but when companies do something with GROUPON and customers go to Unilocal for a review before they buy. I really believe that people get on their game! I went today for a body wrap and my Therapist was Excellent. The Receptionist was Excellent. Everyone extremely friendly. The spa Setting was really Nice and Very Relaxing. they offer you different things to drink before you are ready for your spa service. The waiting room SUPER CUTE! Their robes. there everything. Very Nice. I was really impressed. not sure what happened with the others but I would certainly go back for another service. … Everyone deserves a second chance aye?

I called Eshe the minute they opened yesterday to investigate availability before buying the groupon. The line was busy for the first 30 minutes of redialing. I finally got through only to end up in voicemail. I left a message explaining that I was a new client looking to make a few appointments and would appreciate if they’d call me back to discuss availability. Note: you can set up appts on their website but not for all services… odd. Hence, my phone call.
… 9 HOURS WENT BY. I received a call at 7:30pm from Eshe. When I told the receptionist I had booked elsewhere after not hearing from them, she explained they had been busy that day. So busy that no one on the staff could place a phone call for 9 hours? Um no. Either this spa is crazy-​busy i.e. not relaxing or they don’t respond to phone messages. Either way, you can’t charge prices like that and provide less than 5-​star customer service. Methinks not.

I just returned from this Spa and it was so bad that I was motivated to sign up for Unilocal and write my first review. This is the worst salon experience I have had anywhere in the world. This salon should not be in a first class city such as Chicago. I made an appointment for a body wrap. The technician was 25 minutes late beginning my treatment, when I inquired why she told me she had to get lunches served to her previous clients. I also waited while I heard her selling the previous clients products.
I have had a this treatment at other salon and it wasn’t anything like this. They use saran wrap around your body to lock in the product instead of cotton or spandex wrapping. The treatment room was very cold. I was shivering during the entire treatment, and finally quit 30 minutes into the hour procedure. I was told to leave my clothes on a table. The didn’t have hangers to hang your things during the treatment. I had to ask the technician for a robe to wear after to and from the shower. When she gave it to me, it didn’t have a belt. They don’t have a locker room. The shower was an old stall in the corner of a treatment room that took too long to get warm. The towels and wash cloths are old and mismatched.
The technician was kind and sweet, but she was clearly not a professional nor was she professionally trained to administer this procedure. To the salon’s credit, when I asked to speak to the Manager at the end she apologized and was gracious. We settled on a discounted price based on my suggestion; I paid $ 50 instead of $ 125. The price reduction was nice, but this was such an unpleasant experience that I really wish I had my $ 50 and the time back that I wasted on this.

If a salon is going to pretend to be upscale with high prices and quality products… they shouldn’t hire 19 year olds who have no idea what they are doing.
I’ve been back a few times and they have a new girl every time. The estitions get younger and more inexperienced every time. I was injured during my last $ 65 brazillian and will never return to this salon.
Also, the owner is NOT nice woman. She should not be running a business. I’ll leave it at that.

Honey, you need a massage!!! So get your butt over to Eshe Day Spa. They treat you like family. The owner made homemade chili and hot spiked rum one time I was there. For everyone. Just because!
They use only the best ingredients in their homemade products. During the holidays look for their special treatments such as Candy Apple Pedicures. How much fun is that!!!
I have adored every service I have ever had at Eshe. Lately though, I can’t get enough of Rashael’s massages. Just tell her where it hurts and if you are a bad*ss like me, maybe you can handle the pressure. You WORK IT OUT, girl!
In the front they sell wonderfully scented candles, specialty beauty products, aromatic teas, and cute tea accessories too! These folks are an asset to the community. They are involved in community-​enriching and donation programs for the underprivileged.
Now this is salon I can proudly refer my hotel guests to! You go, Eshe!

I held off writing a review until I’d tried this place SEVERAL times. After all of the other horror stories, I wanted to ensure my first impression was not a fluke. Well, I’ve been at least six times and each visit is equally as pleasant as the first. I’ve never had to wait for my services and the staff is incredibly friendly. Admittedly, if you are looking for a spa experience in which the staff tip toe around and talk in whispers, this is not the place. Is it relaxing? Yes! Which is why I now have a bi-​weekly appointment. Are they experienced? Yes! I have visited some of the nicest spas in the country and this place holds its on. I think it is a matter of expectation. If you see that a «day spa» is in the heart of the city… expect external noise. If you see that a «day spa» offers inexensive treatments… you should realize they are going to be a little less swank than say, Spa Terra or Silverado in Napa. In short, this is a quick little place to pop in and get pampered/​polished. If you want the full regalia… I’d suggest you save your $ and take a trip to Arizona, California… Florida…and have an entire spa experience. In the meantime, I intend to feed my desire for indulgence at this little jewel in the city!
Oh, and Darnesha is a fabulous stylist! My hair was a glamour «Don’t» and she really did a makeover!