Bergen Spa — Local services in New York

Used my ClassPass credits on the last day before canceling and decided to finally check out Bergen spa. Walked in and greeted the front desk with a friendly "Hello, how are you? I have a [time] appointment", even holding my phone out to show the confirmation. The woman at the desk didn’t greet me back, or look up—just asked, "Name?"

Strike 1: Why not greet me first? Strike 2: Why not greet me back?

When she realized my booking was through ClassPass, she rolled her eyes and called someone over, speaking in their language while saying "ClassPass" to the masseuse. Strike 3—is there a ClassPass-level massage I’m not aware of?

The masseuse, thankfully, was much nicer. She greeted me, walked me back, and the massage itself was a 7.5/10. I prefer dimmer lighting (it was a bit bright), and the room was a little cold, but that's just personal preference, overall, she gave me a decent massage. I’m sensitive, so massages can be painful, but she didn’t add any extra pain. I left feeling better.

After getting dressed, I went to the front desk to check out. Once again, barely acknowledged—but at least the masseuse offered me water. While checking out, I said, "I forgot to grab cash—can I use my card to tip?" The front desk woman said no but pointed out their ATM. I don’t use ATMs unless they’re from my bank (I refuse to pay fees to access my own money), so I told her just that and said I’d go down the block to the bank and be right back. Cue another eye roll from her. I rolled mine right back.

As I was leaving and on the phone with a friend, I heard someone rushing up toward me—it was the front desk lady yelling down the block, once again telling me they have an ATM. I literally had already acknowledged that. I repeated, "Yes, you already said that. I’m going to the bank and coming back."

Walked down the block to the bank, grabbed cash, and returned. A couple walked in at the same time, so I let them go ahead to see how the front desk lady would act. She greeted them right away. I waited until they finished, and then—surprise, surprise—she still didn’t greet me. Instead, she just asked, "Is this the tip?"

I said "of course, it is". I smiled and handed it over. No "thank you," no acknowledgment—just took the money and moved on. As I walked out the door I made sure to add "for the masseuse, not you".

I tried this place because a friend loves it—I even bought them a gift card and a candle set from here. But me? Never going back. Rude, dismissive, and just...

Let’s start with the good: I was running late for my appointment and Bergen spa was nice enough to accommodate shifting me to a later & convenient time.

For the bad: My massage was just okay. I was on a national tour for 3 years and would get massages bi-weekly since it’s a lot on the body, so I know the difference between a knowledgeable massage therapist who knows how to realign your body vs someone who gives you an oily rubbed down, and this was the latter. When the massage was done another worker stood in front of my room and stared at me through the curtains, then allowed herself into my room (without asking) to reiterate the massage was over. I asked her to please leave. After a massage I usually take 1 minute before getting up so I don’t get lightheaded, because a lot of fluids in your body has just been shifted. This worker was very intrusive. On top of that, it took a moment for me to check out because I had another client ahead of me and was ordering an Uber, and I noticed my massage therapist stood by the whole time and didn’t leave until after I paid. I felt racially profiled, because the other client was non-Black and her therapist didn’t stick around for her check out. I’ve also always had my therapists stick around for a moment after an appointment to ask “how was everything?” or “any questions?” (Which he didn’t do), but never stick around until after my bill was paid.

I will not be returning to Bergen Spa for a mediocre massage or to...

I went for a couples massage 90 minutes total with my partner today and as we approached the front desk I said hello and said my appointment time. We were told to have a seat. There was a sign in front that they’re not accepting credit cards at this time cash only. The total cost for the massage was $170 it was with hot stones. When the massage began my partner and I felt like the pressure was way too rough and intense it felt like being pressed into the table beneath us. They asked us about the pressure if it was okay and we said softer it’s too rough. My partner told the girl that massaged him 5 times and he said it was still too rough and didn’t make a difference. We didn’t like the first 30-40 minutes of the massage the towel was on top of us and they didn’t start touching our skin yet. The hot stones felt room temperature when she started using them and then half way through the massage she changed them and then they felt hot. Too much oil put on the body throughout the massage. I had to use the bathroom after the massage and my partner was going to go back in the room to wait for me where we got massaged and he noticed the girls who did our massages folded the same towels that were used on our bodies for the next clients that were coming in. I wouldn’t go back here. Bottom line unsanitary and massage...