Nuovo Spa

Been to Nuovo Spa recently. The spa is located at the 9F of Torre Venezia located along Timog in Quezon City. The place is ok, quiet and not so small. Interior design reminds me of Bangkok or Cambodia with wood carvings and Buddha-like figures in corners. The place has separate areas for male and female. They only have two shower rooms and one comfort room in the female area. They also have a dry sauna, which, to my frustration is not working. The attendant said that the sauna in the female section takes time to heat up. At first I said it was ok since I would still need to shower. I thought maybe after my shower the sauna would be ready. But it did not. I tried sitting there for 5 minutes and no heat at all. It's like sitting on a bench in a park with a wrapped body towel. So, I just got out of it and proceeded to my massage room. I really don't like massage beds with curtains. When I first inquired at Nuovo if they have individual rooms or beds with curtains, I clearly recalled that the lady attendant answered me they have rooms. Only to find out that, yes, they have rooms but with 5-6 beds inside with curtains as divider. Good thing there were only few of us that day. Massage is ok. I only opted for Swedish. The oil used is similar to virgin coconut oil with tamed scent. Nuovo Spa is quite expensive. An hour of massage costs Php600 to a thousand. There's nothing special about the spa except that it's quite clean (maybe because it had just opened when I got there) and quiet. I like their towels which, I think, is quite expensive because it's thick, fluffy and soft (or maybe I got a new one that day). Nuovo Spa opens daily at around 10am - 2am.

A Review of Spas I Visited in Quezon City

I love trying newly opened spa or do spa hopping. Sometimes I ended not satisfied; other times quite good. For those planning to go for a spa in Timog, Tomas Morato or West Avenue areas in Quezon City, here are a few good and not-so-good ones that I've tried:



1. Iris Spa (Timog). The good thing about this spa is that it is new, only less than a year. Facilities are not yet overused. They have two saunas but no jacuzzi. They have few rooms. They have separated rooms for males and females (unless you're a couple). They also have foot jacuzzi (basically a small foot tub with warm water) and foot massage facilities. I love their spa scent. Interior design is quite elegant, not cheaply designed.

Downside of Iris Spa is that the bathroom where the two saunas, the comfort room, shower and lockers are is quite small. If there are three of you in the bathroom (which was what I experienced last time), it became crowded and uncomfortable. They only have two shower areas and only one is usually working. The shower is covered with a sliding glass door which I find uncomfortable since guests waiting outside can see me naked inside.

Last February, they offered P350 promo massage rate for guests. Regular massage price starts at P500. Whenever I go here, I usually choose the VIP room (good for one person) which you will find difficult to use on weekends and if you go there unreserved or after office hours. Iris Spa is located along Sct. Tobias at the ground floor of Cocoon Botique Hotel which is front of Music21.

2. Zen Asia (Timog). I'll never go back to this spa again. Massage here is quite cheap (less than P300). Don't expect jacuzzi, sauna or steam bath would come with the price. If you do not mind being massaged in a series of beds on the floor with only curtains that separate you from other guests, then you'll be ok with this one. But not for people like me who looks for some privacy and massage rooms not floors. On my first and last time that I was there, my area was next to a guy. And we were separated by a curtain. I found it difficult to change to my spa dress. Once changed, I tried figuring out how to tie my curtain since it had been swaying back and forth and I could already see people outside (and probably they could also see me inside). When my masseuse came, she did not mind the situation. Only after I told her to tie the curtain properly so I could have my privacy did she go out and came back with a hair clip! So cheaply done!

I really did not find anything nice about Zen Asia in Timog. Massage is ok but staff seemed tired and unwelcoming and not much fancy decorations to delight the guests. This is a good place for people who came to spa for merely massage and do not mind about  things I noticed. 

3. Intermedi-Spa (West Avenue). Inspired by Japanese interior design, this is one of the good spas I'd been into. It has no jacuzzi, sauna nor steam bath. It only has a shower which I seldom used since I live nearby. What I love about this is that every guest is given his/her own room and not dorm-type massage areas separated by cheap curtains. The spa can only accommodate 7 guests in an hour. It is also spacious. Best of all, the price is just P300. Massage is good too. Downside is that it is currently being renovated for two months now.

4. Nuat Thai (West Avenue). Not good. I went here only once. It was too crowded and the bed was too small, I feel like lying in a coffin. Maybe other Nuat Thais are ok but this one is definitely not worth your money. And I felt the place is untidy. Lights were dimmed so I could not fully see how white wass my towel and my bed. Good thing I only availed of a 30-minute back massage. However, after that 30 minutes, I got sick with flu for two weeks! My assumption was that I got the virus from Nuat Thai because the next day, when I woke up, I had a sore throat that lead to clogged nose and eventually coughing. My fever was on and off for two weeks that I had to consult a doctor at Healthway-SM North for remedies. I also had my blood tested for possible dengue. Good thing it was not. 

5. Dermcare Luxe and Wellness Spa (SM North). The moment I saw my massage room I couldn't help but say "Wow, it is so cute" to my attendant. It is like a doll house with everything in it --- a bath tub for shower and a steam bath (they don't have sauna). You don't need to go out and you can literally get naked in there. The attendant will leave you for 45 minutes so you can shower and use the steam bath. She will ask you to lock the door and give you a buzzer that you may press if you're ready to be massaged. Two can fit in a room but I opted not to be with another guest so they gave me a room for myself. Price for body massage starts at P500 while foot massage is 300. They also have other services like hot oil and hair spa which is around P300 too.

Downside here is that, like most spas I mentioned, it is quite small. I think it can only accommodate 4 guests for massage at a time. It has two floors, the first floor is where the reception and rooms for massage are, second floor is for facial. Also, since my massage room was below the facial room, I could hear moving chairs and feet above me. It was quite annoying if not for the instrumental music being played inside my room. Another thing is that my masseuse is also my facial attendant! Speaking of multi-tasking. She is good at facial but not on massage. Overall, I will still visit this spa pampering. 


I think most spas, with exemption of few, are not a place to visit on holidays, salary days, after office hours or weekends. Learning from my experiences, I usually visit a spa on weekdays during office hours (I do work. My time is not strictly tied to eight hours; could be more, could be less). OR usually days near to salary day (on the 13th or 27th) when people do not have enough money for luxuries. These days are days when spas have less guests. The lesser the guests, the more the attendant will look after you, are not tired, and you can use the facilities much longer.