Elmwood Spa — Local services in Toronto

UPDATE: They never got back to me. I likely will not return back which is a shame because there is so much potential to be an amazing spot but very little initiative to try to meet a good standard. Sorry, not sorry.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

This one has been a review I've been contemplating to post for 2 months now... My friend and I are regulars and this spa holds some fond memories that I believe we wouldn't get elsewhere. The vibe in this facility is top notch. Staff is courteous and always willing to assist. Food tastes delicious in the upstairs restaurant. Message staff is PERFECT! We always do a lunch and pamper package and make a whole girls day out of it. Each visit does come with 1 or 2 disappointments that I always pay a blind eye to because the overall experience is still great. But this past February we came 1 week before Valentine's week to avoid the crowds which we were very smart to do. It was a relaxed environment. But there was just too many disappointments that added up and in the end I ended up spending over $350 and expressed some of my concerns and filled out a thorough review of the service... and some how they charged my friend the wrong items and ended up asking me to pay for the charges which sure... but I had some valid points that showed that my experience was not up to their standards... so having a customer pay a second time after expressing and physically showing the chips on my nails and expressing the disatisfaction in my visit... just put an even nastier taste in my mouth at the end of the experience. It was $20 after I just spent over $350... really? I didn't get my money's worth but lets gouge my wallet for another $20... just disappointed in the manager on site cause they took advantage of my niceness... Sure I could of been a terrible customer yelling at their staff to get a discount but I was trying to give the staff a chance to improve my experience and instead I was left even more upset when expressing my concerns. Of course I paid almost $100 to have beautiful finger and toe nails for valentine's which I ended up repainting myself cause half of them were chipped when I left and within 2 - 3 days the rest started to crack all over the nails... didn't even last a weekend!! SO upset. The worst part is I just loved this spot and now I am worried to even come back and drop another $300 - $400 in hopes I get a good experience again. If I pay that much I should feel confident each time I go in that I will have a wonderful experience. And I NEVER post negative reviews but this one really was one for the books cause I gave the staff an opportunity to improve it. Not even a follow-up email or call... LOOK at the feedback I submitted in my picture... I was clearly upset and this originally came from a good place in hopes they can improve their services. But no acknowledgement or thank you for the feedback... I don't even expect a response back from this review, that is how unconfident I am in their management staff.

P.S. if you are a vegetarian or vegan, DON'T get the Quinoa Risotto... it's a plate of semi-mushroom flavoured quinoa... so much quinoa that you feel sick to finish... even the staff discreetly don't recommend it... just don't. Yet management still thinks it is worth keeping on the menu for half a year even after leaving a suggestion that it isn't good in 2018. Maybe someone from corporate should step in and get their management staff on track. Just...

We booked the couples retreat with the massage, facial and water treatment. It included lunch at the terrace restaurant. We started with the water treatments. We were greeted at the door and provided with an itinerary that had details about locations and times, as well as service providers for our treatments. We were escorted to the change rooms and provided slippers and robes. The change room for women was phenomenal- hot tub, modern decor. Lots of change spaces, lockers, steam room and sauna. Drink area. The only thing they didn’t have was hair brushes or combs, otherwise pretty much everything you could imagine was provided. dispensers carried the Moroccan oil brand of shampoo and conditioner which is top tier stuff. The water treatments were meh. They had a nice lounge area to relax and wait, you are able to order snacks and drinks in the seating area. However the pool and hot tub reminded me of when you go to hotels or YMCA pools as far as decor and ambiance. I’ve been to Swedish treatment houses before and found their decorum was much more elegant compared to the elm wood which was disappointing. They also could do with more hot tubs as it gets quite cozy and would’ve been nice to enjoy the experience a bit more intimately. The massages were held in the couples therapy room which was nice enough. I had Tony who did an amazing job at getting the knots out of my problem areas, we had the Swedish massage treatments. My partner thoroughly enjoyed his massage as well. Afterwards we had lunch on the terrace and it was amazing. We did the three course meal which lets you pick your options. They provided homemade bread that was fresh baked. It was plenty of food and absolutely delicious. Also I highly recommend the elm wood mimosa ! So tasty and refreshing. You dine in your robes which is a really neat experience! Afterwards we sat at the bar tasting more mimosas as we waited for our facials. The facials were so nice. Quiet dim room with a lovely aesthetics professional who explained the skin care products and recommended routines. She had such a soothing voice, I actually fell asleep during. My skin felt so soothed and looked smooth after the treatment. Well worth it. They also give a relaxation massage to scalp and feet. Afterwards we showered, changed and headed out. We paid at the end, which was a nice touch. Didn’t have to have anything on us and it was a great way to experience a phone free day. I really enjoyed my experience here. Next time I would pick different treatment options and courses but if you’ve never been I highly recommend trying. Just note it is very pricey. Lunch is free on...

A Dreamy Babymoon Spa Experience at Elmwood Spa I recently celebrated my birthday at Elmwood Spa while 7 months pregnant, and I can honestly say it was an experience above and beyond my expectations. As someone who had never been to a spa before, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Elmwood Spa made everything seamless and special from the moment I walked in. Upon arrival, I was greeted with a warm hot towel for my hands and by incredibly welcoming staff. They provided me with a detailed itinerary, which was perfect for navigating my day and knowing exactly where to be for each service. My package included water therapies, and if you’re pregnant and haven’t had a chance to swim yet, I highly recommend taking advantage of this! The facilities were spotless and everything felt very clean and inviting. The highlight for me was the “Mommy to Be” body scrub and massage by Jetmir. He was professional, attentive, and made me feel completely at ease. The pregnancy pillow on the massage bed was a wonderful touch—I haven’t been able to lay on my stomach in months, so this was a real treat! After my massage, I only waited a few minutes before being offered a delicious decaf lavender tea with lemon, which was such a thoughtful touch. Throughout my visit, there was always someone available to guide me to my next service, making the whole experience stress-free. Next, I enjoyed a Peel and Glow facial by Umma. I’ve had facials before, but the complimentary foot massage was an unexpected delight! Finally, I had the Quandong hair and scalp treatment with Will, RMT. The hair mask smelled amazing, and the neck massage that followed was so relaxing. If you have a sensitive scalp, you might want to skip this service, but I found it very enjoyable. What really impressed me was how every staff member took my pregnancy into consideration, adjusting beds and positions to ensure my comfort at all times. All in all, my spa day lasted about four hours, and honestly, I didn’t want to leave! It was the perfect birthday gift and a much-needed treat before entering motherhood. I highly recommend Elmwood Spa, especially for moms-to-be. I’m already looking forward to returning to try their...