Serene Thai Massage — Local services in Los Angeles

I have been coming more than ten times over half a year. It's getting better and better after trying different masseuses. I had a chance to experience different techniques with Nancy, Tony (who no longer works there), Sophia, Linda, and another lady that I did not catch the name of, but she was also excellent. So here is the ranking from top to least: Linda, Sophia, unknown name, and Nancy.

Linda is the best provider in the Los Angeles area; in my opinion, she knows the body area so well and uses good pressure, and I prefer a firm massage and excellent skills to remove your knots and pain areas by touching it. She can do deep tissues or Thai massage (walk in the back) Since I have tried over 50 places in the U.S. and Thailand, she's my favorite. Her schedule is Sun-Wed or something, but please double-check with the receptionist.

Book an appointment: call them in advance if you have a specific person you want to book with, and it's easy to set up the time. Walk-in is also available, and 8/10 will have someone available for you. I never do walk-ins because I want certain people to massage me with good techniques. Nice and cleanliness: 8/10. The place has average decor, and the room is standard, nothing special, but I care about different factors. Relaxing and noise concerns: This place is designed with an open room and space on top so you can hear people come in and out. You can listen to some clients talk, but they wind down fast. However, the staff doesn't pay attention, and they cost the noise the most for a long time which bothers the quiet time. I think the management needs to improve this because I can hear the laughing, talking, and chatting for over 10 mins in the kitchen area. Prices: cheaper than other places, like $5, but deliver a great job and good service. Parking: sometimes, it is hard to find downstairs in the front, but there are also available in the back of the building. Also, street and meter parking might be challenging during peak hours.

There is a coffee shop (same floor) and my favorite Korean Fast food downstairs ($10-15). I recommend trying it out when you're in the area because I always grab it after leaving the session at Serene...

I get massages often so I am a frequent flier. I love to try new places because every location has its pros and cons. The best full spa can always be found at the nicest hotels. A step down from that is the standalone locations for spa and massage and then a step below that is just a massage business in usually a retail center. So I knew what to expect coming into this massage. Overall it was pretty good but could have been better in each category. Mainly giving 4 stars because my masseuse worked hard (she never mentioned her name) but I paid for a 2 hour deep tissue massage and she did a 2 hour Thai massage instead. I like Thai massages too but she used her feet about 85% of the massage so I really missed the hand techniques and stretching that I usually experience. Will break down my visit into the pros and cons so you can decide.

PRO: the pricing is very fair, almost a dollar a minute so it would be hard to find many cheaper options out there. From what I saw it was clean inside and in my room and I like how it’s attached to a free parking lot as I was able to find a space right out front. Also my masseuse worked very hard and even though she didn’t speak English, or had a diverse skill set, she still put in the effort.

CON: as mentioned I paid for a deep tissue and got a Thai massage using almost exclusively her feet and walking on me. I like that to start but after an hour+ of that you are just screaming for it to mix up a bit. The walls in each room do not go to the ceiling so it’s easy to hear other people and the employees as sounds travel easily. Also, I’m 6’3” and they have one of the smallest massage tables I have ever been on, my feet hung off the end the entire massage.

Overall a nice experience but wish I would have received the services I requested and paid for. Still searching for my perfect mix so I don’t plan to be back here again, but would recommend to anyone to give it a try at least once, but with reserved...

A pretty good massage for a very good price! I called to make an appointment with Linda, who was highly recommended in other reviews. Unfortunately, she was on vacation for a few weeks, so I made a generic appointment with whomever they had.

I asked for a 60 minute deep tissue massage, $60 cash, and was paired with the masseuse Annie. The deep tissue massage went a lot like a Thai massage, with Annie stepping on my back and stretching me like in a Thai massage. Some parts of the massage were dry, and others used lotion. At one point, she jumped on different parts of my spine to crack it. I’ve never had a masseuse do that to me before, so it kind of freaked me out mentally whilst also being physically satisfying. She did a lot of step work on my legs, which was nice. She didn’t do that much work on my shoulders and back though, which was a bummer.

The rooms are not fully enclosed, so there’s some noise that filters overhead. The rooms also have signs that suggest how much to tip: $15-20 for 60 minutes, $25-30 for 90 minutes. Very reasonable suggestions given how affordable the massages are.

Overall, a...