Bliss Spa

Very pleased… first time here after relocating. Scheduled a microdermabrasion with Hisako and couldn’t be happier with experience from start to finish. Clean and inviting, friendly and welcoming spa, staff, totally relaxing and indulgent. You won’t be disappointed and I am hard to please. I highly recommend Bliss Spa and Hisako who took her time, explained treatment and products while working her magic. I rebooked at checkout.

Just had the best first experience at this spa. Booked my first ever microdermabrasion and Christina helped me modify the experience to be more customized to my skin. Everyone I interacted with at the spa was super friendly and professional. I cannot wait to go back.
I parked in the Intercontinental deck which was $ 20 but did see street parking when I was leaving. I’ll remember that next time!

This review is for both Bliss Spa as a whole and for waxing services with Kate specifically. I found it very hard to find quality waxing services in D.C. Although this is a bit higher than I would like to pay for waxing, the quality of service is much better than any other place I’ve been to in DC (and I’ve been to a few). Kate is so personable and does an excellent job with waxing — an all around great experience every time. I had to book with a different person a few times and never had a problem except for one time my skin reacted very poorly (I think the wax was too hot). Bliss refunded me 100% of the service, took my complaint very seriously, and I never had another problem. Excellent service.

This is a review for just a manicure-​pedicure.
Pros: Extremely luxurious spa and friendly staff that really makes you feel taken care of. The snacks and drinks in the waiting area are a definite plus, and it’s a treat to hang out at The W Hotel for a couple hours. Hot cream with the manicure was lovely and relaxing.
Cons: Expensive, you’re definitely paying for the spa experience. My nail polish chipped after less than 24 hours, and I am not particularly hard on my nails.
Bottom line: You’re paying for the experience, not the quality or longevity of your manicure. I’ll come here again for a treat, but it won’t be my regular place.

All I can say is Charly!!! She is a must see for all your waxing needs. She keeps me feeling like a lady. (If you know what I mean) she is gentle and detailed… Hands from heaven! Only person there I will see!

Bliss spa is overall wonderful. The staff is polite and the services are great. They are also very accommodating with scheduling. My go-​to-​girls are Liz and Imani for facials and waxing… they are the best! Trace and Stacy are good for massages as well.
Now, the ONLY reasons I did not give this place 5 stars is that parking is crazy, so get there early unless you’re taking the metro. Also, you have to walk through the W hotel to get to the spa, and sometimes the atmosphere in the lobby can be a little pretentious. Finally, this spa ain’t cheap, but you do get the «bliss» quality and experience.

Imani is a brazilian genius. That’s pretty much all you need to know. She’s quick and makes the process as painless as possible. I tried 2 – 3 other places in DC before Bliss, and I haven’t waivered since!

A great hotel spa. Small and tucked away in the lower level. But the services were top notch. Trace gave one of best massages I’ve ever had! And my «man-​ly cure» manicure was high quality too.

So I am giving them such little stars because 1) it has only been a day and my nail polish is already chipped and 2) they were rushing us out as soon as we got there.
I scheduled a mani, pedi and full body massage for my sister and for me I got a mani and massage. We were less than 5 mins late and they tried telling me I could only get a nail polish change because they are booked back to back. The point of going to a spa is to enjoy yourself and feel relaxed not like you are being rushed to the finish line. I didn’t appreciate this at all.
Our massage therapists were fantastic and is the only reason why I am giving any stars. My sister also says her nail technician was great as well. But I was really disappointed in my manicure. The nail polish is already chipping. It’s only been 1 day-​not acceptable at all.

I just had the best experience at this location and I have to talk about it. I booked an appointment last night for 8pm but because of a website issue my request didn’t get to the location. I was ready to turn around and head back home since they were all booked up. But the AMAZINGLY GENEROUS STAFF stayed late to fit me in at 9pm (when they should be closing) since they knew I was heading out of town the next day. Talk about professionalism and courtesy. These women were wonderful and I can not more highly recommend this location and this company. Thank you thank you thank you!!!

This is a review solely based on a manicure I had done at Bliss DC.
Let me start by saying how much I loved the setting of the spa. The entire space was very well lit, clean, and smelled great. My appointment was on a Sunday afternoon and the spa was relatively quiet. The staff were very gracious and polite. I was taken into the nail salon immediately after checking in. Lemon water and snacks were there for grabs and at some point, they offered champagne and mimosas to the customers as well, which I thought was a nice touch (I was not feeling like one so I did not try the beverages).
I also really liked how clean the spa was. I have had it with dingy, florescent lit, germ infested nail salons and that was the main reason I chose to go to an established spa for a manicure. But sadly, I was not impressed, and quite frankly not satisfied with the service I received either.
I was looking for a polish with a neutral color and almost all of them were more than ¾ empty. I thought, maybe they have these bottles for display and they do not actually use them, because there was barely anything left in each bottle (and us ladies know how nail polish gets all thick and spotty when it gets to the bottom of the bottle). I reluctantly chose a nude color and sat in the chair.
The technician was very friendly. But her work was sub-​par. The products that were used were great and I happen to really like Bliss’s products. But the nail polish just ruined the whole thing. I asked the technician to correct the nails that looked all lined because of the spotty polish and her response was an extra coat on two of my nails. So, I ended up with 2 nails, a darker shade than the others and the rest with defined layers of polish and blank spots. Confrontation is not my thing, especially when I was looking for a relaxing afternoon.
I thought I take pictures and post them here and I have reached out to Bliss for this as well. Hope this was a one-​off incident and maybe, for future, I know not to make an appointment with this particular technician. There were customers there that sounded like had been going to this spa for years. If the polish job and the cuticle trimming had gone better, I think this manicure would have been worth the $ 25.

Such a lovely salon. I decided to start coming here for waxing as, not only is it close to work, but the prices are not that much higher than other «normal» salons. Christina was great and made it as painless as she possibly could, and was really fun to talk to (a welcome distraction!)
The citrus water and treats were a nice touch as were all the delicious smelling bliss products, super soft robes and towels, and access to steam showers.
Yes, this place is a wee bit more expensive than other places but the $ 15 or $ 20 difference is 100% worth the lovely experience. Treat yo self!

I came back here for a second try and was very happy with the exceptional service. I got the fully loaded facial because you get most money out of it!

Ahhhhhh…
A Bliss spa day is what all other spa days aspire to be. The spa is bright and beautiful with modern décor, and you can almost hear it beckon for you to come in and relax. Once you step behind that glass wall, prepare to get pampered!
The lounge is a great place to have a few quiet moments, refresh yourself, read a book or magazine and just leave the rest of the world behind for a while. Inside the lounge, there’s a wonderful counter full of refreshments: ice cold water infused with orange, a variety of organic herbal teas (the wild berry hibiscus was my absolute favorite, while my friend raved about the mango tea), as well as some light nibbles: cheese, Spanish olives, crackers and brownie bites.
The Quiet Zone is an adorable, yet snug, room where guests change into the official uniform of spa divas everywhere: the white robe. It’s fine for 2 or 3 people, but any more than that, and it can get crowded (which can be especially awkward, given the lack of clothing). Plus, every 10 minutes or so, someone was in there emptying the towel bin and restocking the towels, which added to the gridlock. The robe is not the traditional plush terry cloth, but rather soft cotton. The high-​tech lockers allow visitors to set their own lock code to ensure that their valuables remain safe.
The steam room is large, but there is only enough seating space for one. If you try to enter while someone is in there, thinking it’s large enough to share, you will be in for an uncomfortable and awkward surprise. I liked the element of privacy though… The steam room was absolutely heavenly and I could have stayed there all day! The shower inside the steam room has both an overhead «rainshower» nozzle, as well as a hand-​held one. I had a hard time controlling the temperature of the water, though: there was so much steam that I could barely see the handle, so I couldn’t tell which direction to turn it for hot water.
Don’t worry about packing any toiletries: The Quiet Zone has pretty much all of the body care stuff you’d need: shampoo/​conditioner, shower gel, mouthwash, spray deodorant, tampons, lotion, disposable combs… they’ve got you covered.
I had a full body massage with Noke. She was absolutely fabulous and committed to making sure that my friend and I got the most from our visit. She asked if I was celebrating anything special. I told her that I was celebrating getting my dream job, but that we were also here celebrating my friend, who is getting ready to undergo chemo. She arranged for champagne to be brought to us after our massages and I really appreciate that she remembered my recommendation to avoid the scalp massage for my friend, who wears a wig because of her illness.
Before we started, I told her that I sometimes experience pain in my neck and shoulders. She paid a considerable amount of time and attention to those trouble spots, patiently working the knots out of my aching muscles. Her little fingers were showing those knots who’s boss and by the end of it all, I felt amazing! I also liked that even though I had to leave the massage room, I didn’t have to leave the spa right away. Instead, I hung out in the lounge and relished in my post-​massage buzz.
The one thing I would change about the spa is the music. I would have enjoyed classical music, music for meditation or some other kind of traditional spa music. Even though it was of the easy listening genre, all of the songs played during my visit had words. It was kind of like listening to the radio, minus the commercials. A few times during my massage, I found myself distracted by the music (although I did find a new favorite song while receiving my treatment!). Overall it wasn’t a big deal, but it kept me from being as relaxed as I could have been.
That said, I really enjoyed my spa day at Bliss. The staff were friendly and hospitable and they truly made us feel like honored guests. Even though I live about 45 miles away from the spa, I definitely plan in becoming a regular visitor.

Five stars to Christina, who is fantastic. Went in for a brazilian, walked out with a smile. The whole process was (relatively) painless and fast. I think I’m going to stick to hard wax from now on, because it was so much gentler on my skin. Plus, Christina is a ninja at waxing: I barely felt it, and she didn’t have to keep going over the same area over and over again. And thanks for the free sample of the skin calming cream!
Expensive? Yes. Worth it? Fuck yeah.
Location: 15^th and F, in Hotel Washington. Walk through the hotel lobby, and take the stairs/​elevators to the lower level.

I’m a big fan of the Bliss Spas in NY so I was particularly thrilled to find out they have a location in my new home of DC. I’ve been a customer for many months now and the front staff is always super kind and accommodating with scheduling. The app and website are also really easy to use and convenient.
Now. I know Bliss is known for their painless waxing but if we are being real no wax is completely painless. I would give them a six on a scale where a non-​bliss wax is a ten, which is still pretty good.
I’ve been seen by nearly every esthetician here and they are all wonderful but Christina is particularly amazing. She has a calm and relaxing demeanor that keeps me distracted through the pain– plus she is super fast. She always remembers what scrubs and other beauty supplies I am running out of and has them waiting for me at the register when I walk out– excellent sales tactic!
The overall feel of the spa is nice, calm and most importantly clean. Sure, it’s a little weird at first to be getting your body parts waxed a mere hundred yards from the office of the President of the United States but once you get over that its pretty relaxing.

This review is for a waxing session with Kate.
5 stars for my experience with Kate. I usually go to a sugaring studio in Vienna, VA, but since it’s so darn far, my laziness got the best of me. I loved the ability to book online (or through the app) — so easy!
The location: in the W hotel, one level down from the street. You can just take the staircase in the back corner of the lobby. I was instantly greeted by the front desk staff.
Checking in was a breeze, and the they showed me the relaxation room. Well stocked with brownies, water, tea, and other snacks. Brownies were on point, and the cold infused water was exactly what I needed on this warm day. There’s loads of magazines from choose from, too!
Kate was awesome. No double dipping here, which is obviously is expected from Bliss… painless waxing session, and she was engaging the whole time. No awkward silences here.
I think the one thing I really loved the most was how the air was infused different scents. The one in the waiting room was citrus, and I smelled eucalyptus in the hallway leading to the treatment rooms. Makes for a really relaxing atmosphere!
I just wish the prices weren’t so high! Oh well, you’re paying for the Bliss brand name, right?

I just wanted to update my review from last summer, since I’ve been coming back every month or so now. I actually went back for my birthday last September for another pedicure, and once again, it exceeded expectations. I even got a free glass of champagne, which people always talk about — but you have to ask for it! By coincidence, I had the same guy who did my pedicure the last time, and he was still just as great as the first one! I’ve been going every four weeks for Brazilians with Hisako. I WISH I was going back every four weeks for pedicures… but duty calls. I didn’t mean to keep going back. It was meant to be «for vacation» only thing, but Hisako is just SO good. First of all, they use a different kind of wax, which makes it hurt A LOT less. While that’s helpful, Hisako has great ways to get your mind off the pain. First, she gives lollipops, next, she tells you how to breathe — no matter what you’re doing, even if you’re mid-​sentence… which leads me to the best thing that she does — genuine conversation. Honestly, spending 30 minutes with Hisako every four weeks is like a therapy session for me, and the talking definitely takes my mind off any residual pain. She always does a fantastic job, and I always leave satisfied. It doesn’t come cheap at $ 75 plus a tip, but it’s definitely worth it, if it’s something that you can work into your budget.
So, that aside, since I’ve been back so many times, I’ve sampled all of their lounge snacks. Everything is delicious! The brownies are always fresh, even though I’m not really sure how long they’ve been sitting there. I mean, they aren’t anything spectacular — I feel like I could make them from the box, but honestly, if I didn’t have to make them myself, and I can have one or two bites, that’s great. I mean, who has had bad box brownies? Also their crackers, cheese, and olives are great too. Again, nothing spectacular, but the fact that I didn’t have to buy and cut up the cheese myself makes it taste even better!
Thanks again, Bliss — see you in 4 weeks!

No wait, fast service. I am so impressed by the quality of their brazilian wax service! I haaaate getting waxed for obvious reasons, but this was borderline pleasant. Borderline. Anyway, yes it costs about twice as much as other places, but worth it. I had a terrible experience in dc last time and i vowed to never get another brazilian, but with a half marathon looming over me, i wanted to be aerodynamic and every little bit helps!
I am sold as far as their wax goes. I have used other bliss products, most notably their face wash. The tingly feeling is refreshing without the little plastic balls inside that pollute the ocean!
My go to technician is Kate. She’s a sweetheart!

I kept my expectations low because honestly I have only had 1 – 2 massages in my lifetime that actually did anything for me. Now pregnant, it was especially important for me to have a decent massage with my body aches all over, but one that was safe.
I called to schedule two massages timed together for me and a girlfriend, and they easily fulfilled this request. We were staying at the W so we also wanted the convenience of accessing a spa within a hotel (accessible by W elevator to lower level). It costs 170 $ for a prenatal massage («great expectations»), which is pricier than other spas. When we arrived, we were immediately shown back to the locker room and provided new flip flops to size (yay, no squeaking around in oversized slippers!). There was one shower stall, one toilet, and a two sided vanity. Things missing were a changing room and makeup remover but they did have lotion, face lotion, hairspray, mouthwash, combs and a blowdryer.
After eating some delicious chilled brownie squares and your usual cheese/​crackers, our therapists came in with huge smiles for our services. Nuk is a sweet lady who did my prenatal, who started me off with a foot paraffin. She was SO good at gentle adjustments. This was not just a mild rubdown, but she actually massaged with pressure… Thank goodness! She also focused on requested areas and knew what she was doing. I asked for upper back focus and she made some awesome adjustments while lifting and stretching my arms. She also offered a safer way to turn to my other side and also tips for my husband to target on my feet since she noticed I had a tight upper. After massaging on both sides, she then had me sit up to work on my neck and head. I was so, so relaxed.
She also gave me a small cup of oil for my belly to prevent stretch marks.
I’m so glad that I found a masseuse that knows prenatal bodies. If it wasn’t so expensive, I would get one every week… But this was an amazing splurge to complement my pregnancy journey.
I never had an issue with shower traffic… but there is only one stall, so if you come as a pair beware. Had my friend wanted to take a shower one of us would have to wait and pass the time. The shampoo/​conditioner supplied was actually really nice on my hair and there was steam/​lavender steam buttons in the shower stall.
The facility overall is not your most luxurious, it’s on the hipper minimalistic side. But, for those who are preggers, get ready for prenatal bliss!