Fifth Ave Thai Spa — Local services in New York

I really wanted to like this place as this place is a five minute walk from my place. I purchased a Groupon and made an appointment. It was difficult to make an appointment over the phone with the person's limited English on the other end of the line but we managed...or so I thought. The day of the appointment, I got a call asking where I was. It was 10:40 and my appointment was supposed to be at 11:00. They had mistakenly booked me for 10:30. It's fine, the guy said I could come at 11:00.

I show up and the spa ambiance was lovely. I requested a Swedish massage and I asked for light pressure because I just wanted to chill out and relax. They give you a form to fill out asking about your health, injuries, etc. I wrote that I had an injury on my right hand, expecting them to read it and either ask about the injury or not work on my right hand.

My therapist's name was Ariel or something like that - very petite girl. She showed me to the room and told me to undress, etc. The room didn't felt nourishing or comforting at all. It had a spotlight right over the massage table and it was just weird. I got ready and the therapist started to work on me. If her pressure was light, I don't know what medium would be! It was pretty painful overall and it wasn't the pressure I asked for but I felt tight so I figured she was doing what was needed. What really ticked me off was she clearly hadn't read the sheet of paper I filled out. She treated my right hand just like my left hand or any other part of the body. No awareness or caution whatsoever. It wasn't too hard and my hand could handle it so I just let it be but it was disappointing that she didn't care about her client.

There were some points in the massage where she was only working with one hand. It felt like she was checking her phone with the other hand because the one hand kneading my neck and such was not going in a regular motion. Like she would massage for a few seconds and she would just stop abruptly for a few seconds like something interesting was on her phone or something. This happened at least three times.

I get that the lights don't need to be as dim when I'm on my belly but once the person turns around the therapist should know that they should dim the lights, even if they put a towel over your face. She didn't do that so over my towel I could see a glaring light. Normally I would say something but it was nearly the end of the massage and I wasn't happy anyway so why bother.

The last thing was that I got there shortly before 11 and with the time I drank the tea, filled out my paperwork, and got undressed and got settled, I'm positive she only started the massage at 11 at the earliest (which is doubtful). I looked at the time right after my massage and it was 11:54. My massage was supposed to be for 60 minutes.

When I was paying the tax, I again asked how much the regular price of the massage was so I could tip appropriately. I had a 20 dollar in my hand and some other girl just tried to take it right out of my hand! I asked her how much I should be tipping on and she couldn't understand me at all. I get this is an Asian massage place but come on. At least have someone who speaks English in the front. Then she had the gall to try to sell a certificate for 70 bucks or something for the next massage....

$6 to Leave a Tip?! I really wanted to like this spa. It has great reviews, a convenient location… what could go wrong? Well, apparently everything at the front desk. When I walked in, the receptionist just stared at me like I was interrupting her very important work of doing absolutely nothing. No “hi,” no “welcome,” not even a nod. Not the warmest start, but okay, I came for relaxation, not charm school.

Thankfully, my massage therapist was a dream. I was ready to float out the door until I reached the front desk again. I told the receptionist I didn’t have cash for a tip and asked if I could Venmo. Nope. Then came the kicker: you can use a credit card but there’s a $6 flat fee. Not 6%. Six actual, American dollars. For a $20 tip, that’s a 30% surcharge! For comparison, most businesses charge a modest 2–4% fee. This felt less like a tip and more like a penalty.

Another woman checking out at the same time didn’t have cash either and got the same spiel. She sighed, shrugged, and paid the fee, too…misery loves company, I guess. To top it off, once I paid, the receptionist didn’t even say thank you. She just grimaced. Bottom line: Fantastic massage, but the front desk vibe and tip gouging left a sour taste. I came in to relieve tension, not pick up more....

It’s a hidden gem! A narrow entrance in the middle of Manhattan open in a tranquil escape from the bustling city life. My partner and I recently went back after our first massage last October.

One was a pregnancy massage; simply divine. The therapist's gentle touch didn’t give any discomfort in the moment, but the day after I was a bit sore…! Still I felt relaxed and rejuvenated. The ambiance of the room further enhances the experience, with soothing music.

In the other hand the signature Thai massage wasn't quite as impressive, it was still a decent massage. It might not have been the best fit for our personal preferences, but it was clear that the therapist was skilled and knowledgeable.

One thing I would caution against is pre-paying for their massage packages. We got lured into pre-purchasing a buy 5 get 6 package almost a year ago and only recently redeemed the first of the massages. Given the unpredictable nature of life, it's best to book appointments as needed rather than committing in advance. Unless you have the cash and anticipate you will really use it soon.

One last note, prices are high, but not too incredibly high… Overall, we do recommend it as a decent option for a relaxing...