Tao Spa

I feel badly giving this business such a low review, since the man who did my gel manicure was so nice. But really this was just all around a bad experience. I was staying in the French quarter and wanted a walkable place to get my nails done, since I hadn’t had time to go before my trip. I did try to go to a different salon that was better rated, but they didn’t have any availability, so Tao it was.
I called to see if there was a wait and the man who answered the phone told me he had to call me back. I literally just needed a yes or no answer and was a little annoyed by this. I went anyway, even though my instincts were telling me not to. The spa itself was pretty dead, there were about 2 people getting a massage. I was taken to the back and told to pick out a color. The selection for a gel manicure was pretty slim, but I found a color that I halfway liked. The manicurist was talkative and friendly, but he just did not do a good job. I had pieces of skin that were not cut properly, pieces of nail that were jagged and filed unevenly, and the polish was uneven as well. He kept using a qtip with nail polish remover to get off excess polish, but in doing so, he took off part of the polish that was on my nail so some of the nails were only ¾ painted! There were also lots of air bubbles and smudges in the nails. I asked him to redo a few of them and he did try to fix them, but they didn’t end up looking any better because he just tried to paint an extra layer over them. The UV light used to dry my nails was burning hot and I could barely keep my hand in it without it hurting after a few seconds. I kept telling him it was too hot, but he didn’t seem concerned. There was no massage or hot towel or anything with the manicure, which is not necessary, but is an added bonus in most manicures. I told him I was unhappy and he did charge me less (25 dollars instead of 30), but I still did not feel that the manicure was worth that much.
The polish lasted less than a week and then started peeling off. At my home salon, it never lasts less than 2 weeks. I am overall very disappointed with my experience here and would not recommend it to anyone.

In visiting New Orleans from Austin, Texas, I found that after walking what felt like 27,000 miles in the French Quarter, my feet were killing me. I was passing by this salon when asked by the lady standing outside asked if I’d like a pedicure. It’s like she read my mind. When I tell you this woman went to work on my feet, ooh wee!!! Dead skin flying everywhere! The best pedicure I’ve had in a very long time!!! I would certainly recommend.

I wandered in looking for a pedi and gel manicure. Travel here often and always want to get my nails done but hotel spas are always closed when I get off work. They were open till 8 and after getting past a language barrier hiccup I received a top notch gel manicure and excellent pedi too. I am picky about my pedicures and the tech did a good job on my tootsies. My only issue was that they didn’t sell flip flops meant for wearing outdoors. Maybe that’s a northeastern thing but I assumed they had them. They didn’t — assured me my toes would be fine and dry. Suffered one casualty that I had to get redone the next day. Would recommend — just bring your own flip flops

Eager to get me out because my baby was fussing so they rushed my mani pedi and put my shoes on before my toes were fully dried (I took their word for it since I was busy with my baby). There wasnt a proper place to dry the nails either (atleast they didn’t show it to me) finger and toe polishes are now both messed up. If they thought we were such a disturbance they should have asked me to leave not taken money for a rushed job. Waste of money.

Price is decent. Got a thirty minute massage for $ 36 table massage. First one I got fully clothed. Lady started out rough but then tried to upsell an hour saying it was better. I said no because I had to be somewhere then someone is working on my feet so she tried to sell that for $ 12. No to that as well. So the lady is crushing me until I tell her to go softer then it was too soft and felt like she was only using one hand.
Wasn’t pleased and it did nothing since I was sore from a workout.
I paid with a credit card and if you do, you’re taxed as opposed to paying cash. I still tipped but won’t be back.

This place was highly rated by other Unilocalers so I figured I’d give it a shot. A 40 minute foot reflexology massage was 50 bucks which I think was fairly priced. My wife and I were the only ones in the place so the service was great. If you want a massage that is better for you in the long run but not that enjoyable while it’s happening, come here. They definitely get in there and break down the scar tissue in your feet so the long term benefits outweigh the 40 minutes of mild pain while you are sitting there.

They advertise closing at 10pm but that’s only for massage. Nails close at 8pm. WTF?! Unwilling to take me at 830 even tho I offered to pay more. Damn!!! I wish I had walked right over here, I desperately need

Had a gel manicure and a 15 minute massage. Both were sub standard. My nails are so rough that they snag on things. I have had to file them a lot to smooth out the edges and corners and a couple have broken on the corners. The polish is coming off the edges of several nails. 2 days… they look awful.
The massage was painful. Not sure why I didn’t just say «ouch» but I thought my sore neck might be better for it. It is actually much worse. Would not ever venture back into this salon

I came with my brother and a friend so that the three of us could get the 40 minute foot massage. All three of us greatly enjoyed the treatment which was both relaxing and enjoyable. My masseuse applied a great deal of pressure and kept the noise to a minimum which can sometimes be hard to find. They filled the entire 40 minutes with actual massage and ended with hot towels on our feet. I would highly recommend this, especially if you are staying at the Ritz or the Roosevelt — both just a stones throw away from TS.

Walked over from the ritz and got a pedicure for myself and my girlfriend. Treated me a
Like a boss, what more can you ask for?
I will definitely return — the service was great and the price was affordable.

GREAT pedicure, Ok manicure. Our nail expert was a great/​hilarious conversationalist, if also somewhat overworked. There were only two nail salon employees doing their very best to service the many patrons, which ultimately meant we got a bit of a longer experience than we anticipated, and the manicure at the end may have suffered a bit. The many idle massage therapists also in the salon made the chaos in the back nail salon that much more ironic, but I realize it may be a separate franchise.
In any case, it was a great deal at $ 40 for both and the experience overall would definitely bring me back.

The best pedicure and gel manicure a girl can ask for! Staff was super friendly, pleasant, and threw in a very nice foot and leg massage at the end of the pedicure. This would be my go-​to place if I were a local!
I’m not sure though — my gel manicure polish started to turn slightly black, but not my nails. Not sure if it was something I did or not. I imagine that’s not normal! Not sure.

Went here for a full body massage. It was the worse we’ve ever gotten and we’ve been to many of these types of places in NYC.
They put us in the rooms in the back but the whole time we can hear the staff talking in Chinese very loudly in the front. There was no sense that it was a «spa», it was as though the staff thought they were in a café hanging out with their friends yapping away, laughing and being boisterous. The space did not absorb the noise one bit and actually amplified sounds at the front.
My masseuse’s technique was not good. I can take strong massages so it wasn’t that it was painful it just was blah, not enjoyable nor did it relieve the knots in my shoulders. And I usually love massages and am not that picky.
The price was actually more than what we normally pay for an hour massage at Tui Na massage places in NYC.
The only plus was that the place looked clean but I definitely will not be coming back if I’m in N.O.

Never again! Fair warning: Do these people even have a license or taken a class in massage? No privacy in the dressing rooms either people can see you changing from the street and you are being videotaped while undressing according to the signs in the room! As a dancer and an athlete I’ve been getting professional massages and small biz chair massages all across the country for over 25 yrs. I can honestly say this was the worst massage of my life.
I’ve been here three times because my first massage was «nice» and the place is beautiful and clean. My second massage was awful but I thought I would try it again because my regular lady at another salon has moved away and this time was the worst massage I’ve ever gotten! It was so bad I just have to write a review.
Pros: Nice, big, clean space and modern facilities.
Cons: Excessive street noise from Canal (car alarms included while the doors remain open), no music, massage lady did not leave room for me to disrobe topless (!), sign says you are being videotaped, first room has decorative wood cut out window facing street (totally unacceptable), no hair clips for long hair, you only get elbows through a piece of paper and no oil unless you request it, they don’t understand english words like «injury» or «slow», cold water towel used as wipe down instead of nice hot steaming one to relax muscles. Now who does that???
The massage was terrible from start to finish, instead of warming up some muscles they go right into elbow stabs all up and down your body never actually working a muscle group so you never get a chance to breathe deep and relax and let the endorphins kick in. It’s like a constant surprise where you are going to get jabbed next. I finally asked for oil, then got a somewhat soothing massage but the deep tissue ended there and what I got instead was a person who just did not care at all what they were doing just going haphazardly all over with no attention to the reactions of my muscles all while chatting with other workers outside the room. I’d call them therapists but I’d be very surprised if these people even have a license or ever a lesson in their lives on massage. Makes me really appreciate any of the so-​so massages I’ve had in the past. I love deep tissue no one has ever made me so jumpy before! She was going to leave my arms completely undone, this is the second time (!) when I asked I got like three stabs down my arm and a hand massage on the left arm. Then sort of like the person who mentioned earlier they forgot to do an entire arm, this lady gave a light, could care less, massage down my right arm and half a hand massage.
Then the really rude thing she did to me was to take my bra off the hook and shove it under my nose! $ 36 for 30 minutes. Seriously not worth my time even if it was free.

Solid massage, noise level from street is excessive. Prices seemed appropriate given the location.

I tweaked my neck on the plane during my flight to New Orleans… the first thing I did when I got to my hotel was to search nearby massage. Tao didn’t disappoint. I had a 30min chair massage and the masseuse honed in on the trouble shoulder and went to work. She was not gentle which is exactly what I wanted. I have a feeling I’ll be back everyday during my conference. I brought the $ 5 off coupon from their website and they looked confused by it but accepted it.

Very nice people. They know what they’re doing. Price a bit on the high but hey — you’re on vacation and when all else fails you can always resort to a blissful treat for yourself. It’s well worth it.

A big NO NO!
I paid for a massage for one hour. It was a remedial massage. I remember the therapist massaging my left arm, but then he forgot about the right one. ???
He had a cellphone with him and answered a call in the middle of giving me a massage and massaged me with the other hand. Then, he apparently had something else to do, so he took off and left a new person to finish.
It was definitely not worth the $ 75 they charged me for it.

Totally legitimate Chinese massage!
And I found it on Unilocal!
Whether you are a tourist and just want a foot massage or like me have complicated medical issues you can get help here! Tui Na is what they practice here and it can help you lose weight as well.
I thanked the person that was FTR because other wise my vacation would have been ruined.
Before I talk about my personal experience I will share what a Chinese massage is.
I do not review the bad ones I have only the good ones but I have had many Chinese massages.
The type of massage this is is Tui Na. It is a medical massage that helps over 140 ailments.
This is about the different types of Chinese massage.
Most Americans are only familiar with reflexology or pressure point massage. They are trained in that here as well. You can get plain old reflexology if that is all you want to get.
If you ask the massage therapists for just a foot massage to help with swollen feet from the plane or walking all day in Nola since it is a walking city they can do that as that is most of their business.
This is from their web site — — — — — Our therapies help:
— Reduce pain
— Reduce stress
— Relax mind
— Relax muscles
— Reduce toxins
— Increase energy
— Improve circulation
— Improve metabolism
— Increase energy
— Promote general well being
That list they claim they accomplish is for real!
In NYC when you go for a Chinese massage they basically rip your clothes off of you and go at you.
Here in Nola at Tao they allow you to keep your clothes on if you want to (though the massage is less effective if you do they allow it because they know tourists are not used to taking their clothes off in front of strangers.)
If you want it really intense like I do just say strong if less, say not too strong.
I was in such a pain and such a mess I asked my hubby if we could go home to NYC early, he reminded me it was not an option since work was being done in our money pit apartment.
So we looked for this on Unilocal and headed over.
My muscles were locked up due to walking in the cold I could barely move. What I have is a nerve disorder and one minute I am like a contortionist the next I can’t move. Because my health is so fragile right now I was not going to just walk into a random massage place. I could be injured badly.
But they did such a great job! I was back to normal again after the massage!
What we did is when we went in we wanted to see what language they spoke. They speak Mandarin. My hubby only speaks Cantonese and English. What I usually do is use Google translate to explain what I want.
My health needs are so complicated that there is no direct Chinese translation for what I have.
So what we did was we called my Chinese massage place in New York that also speaks Mandarin and had them explain what my issue is and how to help me! That is great service!
I do not give out 5 stars on one visit. But they deserve 5 stars for my massage.
My massage made it possible for me to stay in Nola. I can’t tell you how bad off I was until I got the massage!
But this is as good as you can get in China.
But I did get the manager or owner once I called NYC to have my Mandarin massage therapist explain what I needed! So I am sure I had the best one I do not know about the other therapist. if the language barrier is an issue for you just use Google translate because the massage you get is awesome!

After walking for a while in NOLA, my boyfriend and I decided to get a foot reflexology «massage». Boy were we in for a treat!
Neither of us had ever had a reflexology massage and were thinking it would be relaxing and calm. Uh… def. not but the point isn’t for it to be relaxing. Foot reflexology applies pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.
I was in some serious pain and even felt the masseuse had a bad day and was taking it out on my feet. Although foot reflexology isn’t comfortable, your feet feel EXCELLENT afterward. As if you are walking on air!
I would give this place a shot if you are in NOLA and need a wake up call for your feet. Not only do they provide foot reflexology, but they also provide all over body massages. They have different prices and time allotments: I did 30 min. on my feet for $ 36 whereas you can have a fully body massage for 20 min. at the sweet cost of $ 24.