Viva Day Spa + Med Spa | 35th Street

I've been going to Viva for massages, facials, and pedicures since around 2008. And it's very good. It used to be great. Every single staff member is great. They're good listeners, give good advice, and are very, very smart. I've never had a bad experience there. (I had a meh pedicure at the Domain location, but it wasn't bad, and it was very much an exception.) I've been to every location except the Round Rock. And Viva has changed over the years. One way is just mildly annoying. There used to be great music--very Austin-oriented. I was alerted to all sorts of great artists by going there. Now the music sounds like AI-generated music from some Spotify list for run-of-the-mill spas. The other way it's changed is more troubling for me. I happened to show up early for an appointment, and saw that the person I would be working with had at most fifteen minutes between sessions. (I think it was more like ten.) That's unconscionable. I'm really troubled by that. Giving a massage in hard work, and it seems to me that fifteen minutes--while they're changing sheets and so on--is not enough time. One of the things I liked about Viva was that they treated their staff well; I'm not sure they are.

I had a 90-minute massage at this location with Karina. She is fantastic. It was one of the best massages I’ve ever had. She’s thoughtful, intuitive, and incredibly effective at releasing all this chronic tension I’ve been carrying. She also created such a warm, welcoming experience that felt genuinely caring (right down to the hot tea afterward). Highly recommend!

My experience with the Spa La La massage package was truly heaven! I’ve never felt so pampered before or experienced my body feeling so amazing and cared for. The desk gal and massage therapist Cori both made me feel so welcomed and cared for that it turned my whole day around. I redeemed my birthday gift on my birthday, which until that point in the day had been full of dumpster fires. This escape into pampering and bliss turned me around, and my birthday into a wonderful day. Thank you!!!

I’ve had multiple massages with Tee and she consistently delivers one of the best experiences every time. She is incredibly skilled, attentive and really knows how to find and work on the areas that need the most attention. From the moment the session starts, I feel completely relaxed and in good hands. Tee has a great sense of pressure and technique and it’s clear she truly cares about helping people feel better. I always leave feeling refreshed, lighter and completely recharged. I’ll definitely keep coming back.

I saw Liz for a Viva Signature massage and it was fabulous! Her and the other staff were all kind and welcoming. She checked in on me a couple of times to make sure all was good. She dialed in on the perfect pressure to work out some tension while also preserving the relaxation aspect. Will definitely be coming back- thank y’all!