As someone who fully admits to having an expensive hobby (yes, I’m a proud spa snob), I can confidently say the new spa at the Salamander exceeded all my expectations and then some.
From the moment I booked, the experience was seamless. I scheduled 60-minute wellness massages for myself and my best friend, and wow… Francesca was phenomenal. Her warmth, kindness, and attention to detail made the massage feel like a full-body reset for my nervous system. It wasn’t just a massage, it was an experience. Between the back scrub, the intentional care, and her calming energy, I truly felt seen and cared for. She checked in on pressure and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. I walked in stressed and left floating.
The spa itself is stunning. The new facility is gorgeous, clean, calming, and beautifully designed and plenty of luxurious amenities. The relaxation room was immaculate, the pool is a dream, and yes, they handed us champagne. The front desk staff were so accommodating and even confirmed our dinner reservations at Dogon afterward (also amazing, review coming soon).
All in all, from start to finish, the customer service and spa experience were top-tier. If you're like me and take your self-care seriously, run, don’t walk. This is luxury done right.
Leslie Isler
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June 24, 2025
Absolute perfection. With the recent renovations to the Spa at the beginning of 2025 and the expanded two level facility, my spa day was complete with a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and separate lounges men and women. Valet parking with a spa reservation is $18. Salamander Hotel DC is also black and women owned.
Chandra Clark
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June 16, 2025
The ambiance, staff, and spa are extraordinary. The steam room, vitality pool, and sauna whisked me away. The Himalayan salt massage was one of the best that I've ever had. I am already planning my return. Kudos to the team at the spa, restaurant, and front desk for going above and beyond.
Courtney Miller
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June 05, 2025
Degrading, dismissive, and unhelpful receptionist. I was interested in staying at the hotel for its spa, so I called to inquire about it—specifically about what the website calls the spa’s “water therapy experiences.” She explained that the women’s side has a sauna, a steam room, and a “warm vitality pool.” I asked: “So is there not a hot tub or whirlpool feature?” “There’s a warm vitality pool.” “Well, I don’t know what a warm vitality pool is.” “It has warm water, not hot water, and some jets like a hot tub.” Cool . . .
Next question: “So is there not a cold plunge.” “No.” “Okay, many people want to do hot/cold contrast in a spa, so are there showers near the sauna where I can do a cold rinse?” “There are showers, but they’re a few steps away.” Weird, I thought to myself. If they’re actually a few steps away, why would she mention that?
So I asked: “Like, how far? Are they in another area or something?” “Just a few steps, like less than a minute walk.” A minute walk is, like, 100 steps, lady.
She followed up: “We do have an ice fountain.” I pause to contemplate what this means. And then ask in an incredulous (yet slightly amused) tone: “Is that, like, something where you stand underneath it and ice rains down on you?” “No, there are ice cubes, and you can pick some up and put them in a towel. And you rub them on your body to cool yourself down.” Me: “That’s not what a fountain is.”
Finally, we turned to massage. I’m a former massage therapist, and my mom ran a day spa for years. I know what I like. So I asked her if the therapist who was available was skilled in the modalities I like. (I named them.) She gave me BS non-responsive answers like “all of our therapists are exceptionally trained and skilled in everything” (literally cannot be true) and “all of our therapists follow the protocol for each of our massages.” The massage I was asking about is the customized one where you tell your therapist what you want—how in f’s sake is there a “protocol” for that?! Customization is literally the opposite of protocol.
She was painfully inept, embarrassingly transparent in her lack of knowledge or lack of care, and grossly rude. A spa of this supposed caliber needs service that aligns with it. Then again, I haven’t been inside, so maybe it does.
Frank Borris
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April 25, 2025
This review is a little overdue, but I can clearly remember how pleased I was with the services at Salamander DC. My wife and I were celebrating her 60th birthday so we started with an early massage. My masseuse was Shaneise and Upon meeting her I was immediately put at ease. I could sense she was focused on me having a fully immersive and satisfying experience. After confirming a few areas of focus, intensity and my choice of oil. She got to work a was amazing!!! I like a heavy massage and she really knew how to use her body weight without staining and kept a great pace. Eventually, I started a conversation and I found out a little more about why she is passionate about her craft. After my massage, I enjoyed the steam room, took a cool dip and some time to relax in the lounge before having my head shaved in the men’s grooming shop. This too was an exceptional level of service. After rejoining my wife, I was not surprised to hear her experience was equally enjoyable to mine. We are looking forward to going back soon.
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As someone who fully admits to having an expensive hobby (yes, I’m a proud spa snob), I can confidently say the new spa at the Salamander exceeded all my expectations and then some. From the moment I booked, the experience was seamless. I scheduled 60-minute wellness massages for myself and my best friend, and wow… Francesca was phenomenal. Her warmth, kindness, and attention to detail made the massage feel like a full-body reset for my nervous system. It wasn’t just a massage, it was an experience. Between the back scrub, the intentional care, and her calming energy, I truly felt seen and cared for. She checked in on pressure and made sure I was comfortable the entire time. I walked in stressed and left floating. The spa itself is stunning. The new facility is gorgeous, clean, calming, and beautifully designed and plenty of luxurious amenities. The relaxation room was immaculate, the pool is a dream, and yes, they handed us champagne. The front desk staff were so accommodating and even confirmed our dinner reservations at Dogon afterward (also amazing, review coming soon). All in all, from start to finish, the customer service and spa experience were top-tier. If you're like me and take your self-care seriously, run, don’t walk. This is luxury done right.
Absolute perfection. With the recent renovations to the Spa at the beginning of 2025 and the expanded two level facility, my spa day was complete with a sauna, steam room, hot tub, and separate lounges men and women. Valet parking with a spa reservation is $18. Salamander Hotel DC is also black and women owned.
The ambiance, staff, and spa are extraordinary. The steam room, vitality pool, and sauna whisked me away. The Himalayan salt massage was one of the best that I've ever had. I am already planning my return. Kudos to the team at the spa, restaurant, and front desk for going above and beyond.
Degrading, dismissive, and unhelpful receptionist. I was interested in staying at the hotel for its spa, so I called to inquire about it—specifically about what the website calls the spa’s “water therapy experiences.” She explained that the women’s side has a sauna, a steam room, and a “warm vitality pool.” I asked: “So is there not a hot tub or whirlpool feature?” “There’s a warm vitality pool.” “Well, I don’t know what a warm vitality pool is.” “It has warm water, not hot water, and some jets like a hot tub.” Cool . . . Next question: “So is there not a cold plunge.” “No.” “Okay, many people want to do hot/cold contrast in a spa, so are there showers near the sauna where I can do a cold rinse?” “There are showers, but they’re a few steps away.” Weird, I thought to myself. If they’re actually a few steps away, why would she mention that? So I asked: “Like, how far? Are they in another area or something?” “Just a few steps, like less than a minute walk.” A minute walk is, like, 100 steps, lady. She followed up: “We do have an ice fountain.” I pause to contemplate what this means. And then ask in an incredulous (yet slightly amused) tone: “Is that, like, something where you stand underneath it and ice rains down on you?” “No, there are ice cubes, and you can pick some up and put them in a towel. And you rub them on your body to cool yourself down.” Me: “That’s not what a fountain is.” Finally, we turned to massage. I’m a former massage therapist, and my mom ran a day spa for years. I know what I like. So I asked her if the therapist who was available was skilled in the modalities I like. (I named them.) She gave me BS non-responsive answers like “all of our therapists are exceptionally trained and skilled in everything” (literally cannot be true) and “all of our therapists follow the protocol for each of our massages.” The massage I was asking about is the customized one where you tell your therapist what you want—how in f’s sake is there a “protocol” for that?! Customization is literally the opposite of protocol. She was painfully inept, embarrassingly transparent in her lack of knowledge or lack of care, and grossly rude. A spa of this supposed caliber needs service that aligns with it. Then again, I haven’t been inside, so maybe it does.
This review is a little overdue, but I can clearly remember how pleased I was with the services at Salamander DC. My wife and I were celebrating her 60th birthday so we started with an early massage. My masseuse was Shaneise and Upon meeting her I was immediately put at ease. I could sense she was focused on me having a fully immersive and satisfying experience. After confirming a few areas of focus, intensity and my choice of oil. She got to work a was amazing!!! I like a heavy massage and she really knew how to use her body weight without staining and kept a great pace. Eventually, I started a conversation and I found out a little more about why she is passionate about her craft. After my massage, I enjoyed the steam room, took a cool dip and some time to relax in the lounge before having my head shaved in the men’s grooming shop. This too was an exceptional level of service. After rejoining my wife, I was not surprised to hear her experience was equally enjoyable to mine. We are looking forward to going back soon.