Townhouse Spa nail service

Townhouse Spa
39 W. 56th St., btw 5th & 6th Aves.

My birthday was coming up, and I was looking for a new place for pampering. Having recently started getting regular manicures I wanted a bit more than the nailpolish sweatshop. A search for "best of...'s" led me to Townhouse Spa, a recently opened lux pad that was just a block from my office. A nice surprise, and not that much more in cost than the other express manicure places.

I called around 12:30pm and asked if I needed an appointment. Made one anyway for 1pm, for a simultaneous mani/pedi. Got there early and found a sliver of a storefront that was not so obvious given it was hidden under a scaffolding and looking like a typical nail shop - glass storefront, products arranged within the view. I walked the walk through the products to the reception desk where a minimum of four ladies were situated, talking and looking busy and when one of them greeted me another searched for my name and confirmed my appointment. They ushered me back through a hip, masculine looking lounge and bar through to a back room of pedicure thrones and other nail spa things. I begged to use the restroom, and found a most delightful bathroom - spacious, beautiful tiny glass tiles on the floor and walls. They dished out for one of those Japanese toilets - the ubermodern ones that wash and dry you and welcome you with warmed seat.

The decor of the spa catered towards men, so the colors were dark and woody, the lounge containing red leather circular booths, and everything heavy and manly, but comforting for a girl. Even the nail room was masculine in decor, but had the same sense of comfort and cleanliness.

The room was not too busy, maybe four other patrons being serviced. Both the manicurist and pedicurist were young ladies with well honed, professional manner - fast and efficient and thorough. They chatted mostly to themselves in a foreign language (Vietnamese, maybe?) but quietly, and made occasional small talk with me. I was very relaxed and zoned out, enjoying the experience. I was led to the drying machines which, for once, had instructions on what the fan and lights were for. My pedicurist disappeared after that, and I was left sort of lost after the machines turned off and my toe nails were still not dry. Feeling kinda dumb and not sure what to do, I got up and shuffled to the lounge and sat in one of the booths. Many women walked by, all asking if I was okay and if I needed anything until I said I was just waiting for the polish to dry. One offered me tea, and I refused (still being annoyed at the undone polish and neglect) but then I relented. The herbal tea was hot, served in nice white china, and I started to relax again. After 15 minutes I headed out to the lobby to pay. Got a receipt that included the services as well as the names of who did them (nice touch).

And the end result, hours after leaving the spa?? A beautiful, flawless, glossy, evenly coated set of nails. It's been about two weeks now since the mani/pedi - no chips in the polish at all, and they still hold that fresh polish gleam. The manicure does need an update because nail growth, but the pedi could probably last another week. For $22 and $45, this is a great value for what you get. I plan on returning here often for my regular nail indulgences.