Downtime Massage & Skincare

07/01/09

Pluses and minuses

by RalphMorris at Citysearch

First of all, I think that many of the prior reviews were submitted by staff members themselves. Gregory is quite knowlegeable about skin care, and he puts forth a good enough effort with his treatments. The prices charged are quite high, given the setting. Downtime shares space with a women's spa, which kind of defeats the purpose of having a male only spa. This is supposed to be a temporary arrangement, but it would be nice if prices were temporarily lowered to allow for the inconvenience. The treatment room was cramped. Also, the treatment fell several minutes short of what I had ordered and paid for. I then discovered that the purpose of me being there was to be offered VERY expensive skin products to the tune of about $140 per ounce. No thank you, and once again I'd be suspicious of the other reviews on here.

• Pros: Knowledgeable staff
• Cons: Yucky setting

03/29/09

Give yourself the gift of Downtime

by peterd69 at Citysearch

My 90 minute massage by Gregory was the cure for what ailed me last night - my stiff and sore muscles were soothed back to their relaxed best with the best oils I have ever felt and smelled. All of this while I listened to the most beautiful music in one of their candlelit treatment rooms. I was transported to another place - Gregory treated me, as he always does, like his sole mission was to sooth my cares away and for that I am truly grateful. Thank you for my 90 minute vacation only 2-blocks from my doorstep!

03/09/09

his spa was very dirty. The therapist were not that great. Very expensive.the boy at the front desk was selling himself practically. Not my type of spa .

by CSMobileUser3 at Citysearch

I think you need to hire a Better staff. Very bad atmosphere

09/04/08

The Best Hair Removal

by bret17 at Citysearch

Having gone here monthly for over two years I am able to highly praise this spa's services with enthusiastic conviction.

After trying other places with mixed results for waxing, discovering Greg Cartwright and this phenomenal establishment has been a monumental life improvement.

He and the expert personnel are masters of the sugaring process which is always done skillfully, meticulously and with always dazzling results.

The tranquil atmosphere is complemented by the amiability of the always concerned thoughtful staff who knowledgeably advise on care and the most effective products.

From a gay man's perspective Downtime is a graciously professional and supportive environment with a tremendous level of achievement.

• Pros: Easily accessible. Calm and private atmosphere.

08/08/08

best mens spa... great variety of packages and therapist

by gp68 at Citysearch

This is the finest massage and skincare in new york city. It is easily located and there are many services offered for todays man. I have had body grooming to massages and everytime it is first-rate. The products they use are top quality and are always discussed with the client. I often travel for work and pleasure, and whn i do, i try to pamper myself with different types of spa treatments. I can honestly say, that many of the 5-star resorts/spas can learn alot from Downtime Massage and Skincare.

I wanted to take this time, to mention a therapist, Timothy Cisario. He made me feel comfortable upon my first visit here a few months ago. He is talented and there is no attitude here. First- rate work and you know this is someone who enjoys what he does and it always shows.

I don't often write reviews, but i wanted to take this time, and applaud Downtime for always making it a enjoyable experience. i don't have to look further for facials, hair removal or massages. This is offers the best of all worlds.

• Pros: service prices talent

08/03/08

Great massage with Marcus Berardino

by Martyacooper at Citysearch

It was through a web search that I stumbled upon Downtime Massage but it was luck that brought me to Marcus. I have a lot of experience with massage over the course of a professional dance career and Marcus is a top-level therapist. He is extremely attentive to your needs and checks in during the massage to make sure your needs are being met. There were times his touch is just firm enough and times when it is extremely gentle. When his touch is gentle you will wonder if anyone has ever or will ever be that gentle with you again.

08/03/08

just a great time

by JimmyPyrite at Citysearch

This place is very easy to get to; its right off the train. I thought I would try out different therapists so I had a facial by Christopher, a massage by Marcus and a mud wrap by Shawn. All around great. I have gotten massages before and I would rate Marcus right up there with the best of them. When I left I felt awesome! The other appointments were firsts. Having never had a facial before my skin felt refreshed and I left with a positive energetic feeling. Shawn's mud wrap was great. Normally I like to just relax and enjoy the work on my body but by the time the session ended not only did my body feel awesome but I realized I had a great conversation with Shawn throughout the entire process.

I have never been a normal/regular spa goer but I think I'm hooked haha. I would definitely recommend Downtime Massage & Skincare. The experiences I've had there as a whole have been very welcoming and awfully professional (which I've had trouble finding at other places in the city).

I want to try their Sugaring treatment too...but I'm a bit nervous about it......wish me luck guys!

• Pros: very easy to get to and a great place in the city

08/03/08

Massage by Marcus

by tedinfo at Citysearch

The location of Downtime is central, intimate, clean, tastefullly put together, airy, and personal. There is a spotless bathroom for showering too, with plenty of clean towels. Plus, the place smells good when you go in there, what with all the lotions and creams and scents that they sell if you're interested in buying. My massage was with Marcus, whom I had asked for and who is extremely friendly and puts you at your ease. I had a deep tissue massage, which was just what I needed for tension in my back muscles from working out, and Marcus put a lot of pressure into it without hurting me. He often asked how I was doing throughout the massage, and if he was straining me anywhere. It seemed to go on forever and yet it was over too soon. I have never written a review like this before, although I have often read them and then, having gone on the reviewer's words and used the service, wondered whether the reviewer was writing about the same place. Not so with Downtime. You won't be disappointed. I have had massages by trained and not-so-trained masseurs before, but this one was by far the best. For the price, the location, the treatment, the aptitude of the masseur, it cannot be beat.

07/30/08

Amazing Spa Service --- Highly Recommend Christopher Drummond!

by TS1005 at Citysearch

After a weekend in the sun and a stressful week at work, the first place I turned to was Downtime. Having been a customer for some time, every experience I have, from the moment I walk in the door to the moment I leave, is a pleasure.

This particular time, I scheduled myself for an hour long body exfoliation and mud wrap from Christopher Drummond. The level of professionalism and experience was evident from the moment I walked in the door. My treatment was extremely relaxing and even came with a facial. I left feeling renewed and my skin was softer than it ever has been. Chris performed an amazing service and will definitely see me again in the near future. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone.

Thanks Chris, and thanks Downtime! See you soon!

07/29/08

Best Massage and Skin Care in NYC

by frnk36 at Citysearch

This is one of the true treasures of New York. There aren't many places in the city where you can get top service without an attitude. In fact, the entire staff is friendly, approachable and helpful. I have had countless massages from Greg, the owner. He is intuitive, articulate and bright. His hands are magical. Over the years I have had problems with my legs and shoulders. His deep tissue massage invariably finds the problem and fixes it. As good as the massage feels I am impressed by how long the "goodness" lasts. I feel great for over a week post massage.

More recently I have delved into the skincare part of his business. To be honest, I am very skeptical of "skin care" spas and only tried the treatments with Greg because of the trust that has developed over the years. I am sorry I didn't try sooner. As always he is considerate and gentle, but as a surprise, his products and techniques work. (They are also not painful which is a huge plus for me.) I have had issues with breakouts over the years and his back facial has been magic. I have also tried other treatments with equal success. That includes hair removal, something I never thought I would try. Again, Greg is extremely professional, very careful, and kind. What amazes me is the positive feedback I have gotten on the hair removal. Well worth it.

Recently, Greg suggested I try a Thai massage with Marcus. It opened a whole new world of possibilities for me. Marcus is extremely patient and gentle, yet puts enough force into the stretching to make a real difference. We started with a 1/2 hour massage that I extended to an hour. Marcus is highly skilled and I felt great. I am convinced the massage and/or treatments with the others are also excellent.

To sum up,Downtime Massage is the greatest spa/massage center that I have been to. The staff is warm and friendly, the facility is clean and convenient, and I truly feel better for weeks after a visit. I give it my highest recommendation.

• Pros: Staff, Variety of Treatments, Quality of Treatments, Cleanliness, Calming Ambience
• Cons: Weekday parking in a lot nearby can be expensive