Malai Thai Massage - Berkeley

I have been coming here for 4 years and after my last appointment I have sadly decided to never return. I have been massaged by all the therapists over the years, but for the last year I have only booked with Apo, because he understands my needs the best. I booked an appointment over the phone, where the receptionist confirmed Apo was available. When I arrived, a new girl asked if I was sure I wanted a male therapist. I said I was, so she went back, had a brief conversation with Apo, and came back and told me Apo had an injury and wasn’t doing any massages, so she would be my masseuse instead. They’ve done this switcheroo with me before, but it’s always been with a masseuse I knew, so we made it work. I was VERY hesitant to book with this new girl, but I had driven 20 minutes in the rain

I chose this place because it came highly recommended and has great reviews, but my experience was completely different. I booked a 90 min massage. When the massage began, I immediately had to ask them to switch out the face pillow because it smelled moldy. Not a good start, but I brushed it off since sometimes hygiene issues can be overlooked if the massage itself is good. Unfortunately, the first hour was rough. The masseuse seemed inexperienced. Her pressure, rhythm, and technique were all inconsistent. At one point, she was stepping on me way too hard (she did adjust when I spoke up, but it still felt off). Then, about an hour in, it was like a totally different person showed up. She suddenly brought out lotion and her technique improved drastically. I even asked if someone else had

I rarely write reviews, but I feel obligated to warn others before wasting their time and money here. This was, without question, one of the most unprofessional and unpleasant experiences I've ever had at a massage establishment. From the moment I walked in, the place felt disorganized and unhygienic--something you would never expect (or accept) from a business in this industry. The staff showed little professionalism, the environment was noisy, and the "massage" itself was rushed, careless, and completely ineffective. Rather than leaving relaxed or refreshed, I walked out feeling more tense, frustrated, and frankly cheated. The lack of skill was astonishing--there was no technique, no attentiveness, and no sense of customer care. It felt like they were simply going through the motions, co

I want to strongly caution anyone, especially women, before considering this place. I booked a session expecting a standard massage but instead had an experience that left me deeply uncomfortable. The female therapist I was assigned did not respect my boundaries despite my clear requests. What should have been a safe and restorative appointment quickly turned into one where I felt uneasy and pressured. No client should ever have to second-guess whether their personal space will be respected. A massage therapist’s role is to foster trust and create an environment of comfort, but that was completely absent here. I left feeling shaken, not relaxed. Ladies, please do not go here. There are plenty of reputable, professional practices where your safety and comfort will actually be a priority.

I came here after a long, difficult day hoping for some relief with a massage, and instead I left more stressed than when I walked in. When I called to schedule, the manager confirmed they would accept my coupon. After my massage, they suddenly refused to honor it. When I calmly tried to explain, the manager completely lost it—yelling, cussing at me, and even telling me they didn’t want my business anymore. This is absolutely unacceptable and unprofessional. I’ve been a loyal customer, but clearly they don’t value returning clients or basic respect. I left feeling shocked, disrespected, and hurt. If you’re looking for a relaxing, trustworthy place to go, this is NOT it.