In our search for a relaxing massage in Halifax, Elizabeth Fougere, a registered massage therapist (RMT), stood out. In our books, being an RMT gives her the training and qualifications to provide the right kind of massage.

From what we’ve experienced and seen from our surveys, she knows how to provide exactly the right treatment to address various conditions.

We also appreciate that she gives advice if you aren’t sure what kind of massage to get! It wasn’t shocking that she received high praise from many of her clients, given the quality of her massages. 

What else makes her place one of the hottest massage spots in Halifax? The safe and inclusive environment she provides for the queer community!

During our visit, we felt at ease due to Fougere’s professionalism and how clean the space was. She also checked in regularly, asking about the pressure level, making the session productive and relaxing.

We just think that it would be nice if she added an easy booking system to eliminate back-and-forth communication. Nonetheless, with her quick responses and flexible schedule, this aspect isn’t even a big deal.

Professional, knowledgeable, and creates a safe environment

“I’m so glad I’ve found Elizabeth. She is professional and focused, and creates a safe and comfortable environment for therapeutic massage. She is knowledgeable and was able to provide me with immediate relief for the areas that were causing pain for years. Her follow up is thorough and she gathers feedback information to ensure the outcome of the appointments have been successful. I will recommend her to everyone.”

Carolyn Whitney, Google Review

Environment was clean, inviting, and comfortable

“My first massage and subsequent treatments with Elizabeth have been very positive experiences. She is personable, professional and knowledgeable. The environment was clean, inviting, comfortable and very relaxing. Looking forward to regular treatments going forward. :)”

Nancy Newman, Google Review

One of the best spots for a massage in Halifax is Urban Retreat, a place with a qualified team! They have RMTs who can treat various conditions, like sports injuries and arthritis.

Sure enough, their team provides therapeutic massages. Based on our observations, the quality of service they provided was exactly what the clients wanted—calming with the right pressure levels.

Plus, we like that they offer many kinds of massages, making them an accessible spot. You can go for almost any kind of treatment, like deep tissue and Indian head massage.

They also have a large team, making them even more accessible. We had no trouble finding an appointment from morning to evening, except on weekends, since they’re closed.

And while their prices are slightly higher than other massage places in the area (starting at $99 for 30 minutes), we think it’s still worth every loonie because they know how to properly release the tension from your body!

Time and money well spent

“One of the best in the city. I have tried different places in HRM and by far Urban Retreat was one of a kind experience. Very welcoming and friendly front desk staff. Clean and no hygiene concerns. Amanda is something else! An expert by definition, quite, respectful and is definitely recommended. Time & money well spent and well deserved 5 stars rating.”

Eldien M, Google Review

Knew what needed to be done

“I had a massage with Nicole yesterday. She was very knowledgeable and knew what I needed done to provide some pain relief. It was very therapeutic and helped those trouble spots for me! That being said, it was still very relaxing too. A perfect mix.  Her head massage and use of hot stones were great additions too and would highly recommend. Looking forward to my next one!”

Katie Armstrong, Google Review

Interlude Spa has been in the luxury spa industry for almost 50 years. We love how long they’ve been around because it’s like they’ve polished their services over the years.

True enough, their team knows how to provide a good massage—a calming one that will rejuvenate your body. During our surveys, we were glad to learn that many clients had luxurious experiences due to the spa amenities provided.

As for their services, we like the variety. There are lots of options for various needs, like therapeutic massages and pre/postnatal massages.

Price-wise, they’re a budget-friendly option in Halifax. Their rates are pretty competitive, starting at $85 for a 30-minute massage.

However, it’s unfortunate that there isn’t a long list of insurance companies they offer direct billing to. They provide this to major companies, though.

Looking on the bright side, they’re pretty accessible. They have two studios in Halifax and Dartmouth, and both are conveniently located in the downtown areas!

Best massage I have ever gotten

“My partner and I went for a couples massage, mine being a prenatal massage. It was probably the best massage I have ever gotten. Thank you to Jesse and Gelly for that! The room and ambiance were highly relaxing. We will definitely be back for another massage.”

Alizée de Rochefort, Google Review

Room was nice and cosy

“I recently bought a gift certificate at Interlude Spa for couple massages. Receptionist kindly answered all my questions over the phone. My niece and I really enjoyed this place! Room was nice and cozy. Cora and Kathryn are very good professionals. They asked us all necessary questions before massages and it went very well. Relaxing!”

Alina Nechvolod, Google Review

The Highlander Med Spa & Salon is a place for self-care any day of the week. They offer lots of services for relaxation, like deep tissue and hot stone massage.

We love that apart from the usual massage treatments, they also offer a customised service called Signature Highlander Massage. What’s this? A targeted pressure point therapy that can help with muscle soreness.

The best part is it’s not expensive, starting at $90 for a 45-minute session. The rest of their services are within the reasonable range in the area as well, making them a budget-friendly option.

These guys are qualified to provide good-quality service, as they have RMTs on the team who have gone through the proper training. However, not all massages are performed by RMTs.

Since some are done by estheticians, direct billing isn’t possible for all of the treatments. But if you only need to relax, they’re still a solid choice because most clients felt rejuvenated after their massages!

Far beyond what I expected

“This place is magical with customer services and the services they offer. Went for a pedi and massage, couldn’t have had a better time, the amout of time they spent and professionalism is far beyond what I had expect. They offer beverages from coffee, tea to a complete bar for those relaxing moments. I had a massage from Hannah, with her several years of experience it definitely showed and took the sore muscles away in no time. The chairs for the manicure and pedicure are massages chairs and are simply amazing. Highly recommended”

Claude Boulanger, Google Review

One of the best sessions I’ve ever had

“Such a lovely spa, booked a massage for my birthday and Carla gave me one of the best sessions I’ve ever had. She’s so sweet and highly skilled, everyone here is super friendly❤️recommending it to all of my friends and family”

Amara Huntington, Google Review

One of our favourite things about Massage Experts is their availability. They’re open seven days a week, offering morning, afternoon, and evening appointments!

Plus, they have a large team of RMTs, making them qualified to treat various conditions through massages. It also means they can provide direct billing to insurance—convenient!

We also love the feel of the place, and the very welcoming staff added to the overall comfortable atmosphere. But the walls were quite thin, as we (and some clients) could hear other people talking.

That’s not a massive problem. Based on our observations, their RMTs still provided therapeutic massages that actually calmed and relaxed their clients.

This is a wallet-friendly place because their massages are affordable. For instance, a 60-minute therapeutic massage for first-time clients is only $89.99, and the rest of the services are reasonable, too!

On top of that, their free Club MEx program gives you a discounted rate for every massage! That makes things more affordable!

Always very kind and respectful

“I’ve been going there since February. I started going for deep tissue massage; due to a fall at work, and I kinda just stayed on after everything healed. My massage therapists were always very kind and respectful, and really helped to make me feel safe on the table (I have PTSD and being half naked on a table is never… The best experience, for someone like me). The receptionists are always kind and helpful and whenever I make a mistake with booking, help me right away. I primarily go for osteopath treatments now because of their recommendations, but also because I’ve noticed a huge difference in my life since starting that form of treatment. I trust Matt implisently, he makes the quiet feel safe again.”

Beth Campbell, Google Review

Entire experience was blissful

“I never leave reviews but I absolutely HAD to for this location. The entire experience was absolutely blissful. The amazing lady at the front was incredibly nice, sweet and friendly. She made myself and my mother feel very comfortable. The entire place is beautiful and very clean not to mention very peaceful. I had Hilary as my massage therapist and I could not recommend her more. She is a wonderful, caring person and an excellent massage therapist. My mother had Alyssa who was just as lovely as Hilary and I don’t doubt the rest of the staff to be equally as amazing. If i could give this experience more than 5 stars I genuinely would. Will most certainly be returning. Thank you for such a wonderful experience.”

Rosa Salloum, Google Review