Top Best 10 Nail Salons in San Diego, San Diego (part 3)

Ildiko Gonzales My first time there. 2 ladies worked on my nails. I got dip powder with a tip and a beautiful violet blue color. I was very impressed with their service. Will visit it again if my nails stay gorgeous for a long time.

Jessica Leplomet HEALTH HAZARD. My friend and I just left this salon and we are upset! My friend had acrylic nails and asked for a fill. The technician did not understand that she had powder on top of her acrylics , so the technician soaked them in acetone for an hour and they came off! My friend did not want the nails to come off! She repeatedly asked for a fill with powder and the tech did not understand. So, when her nails came off, my friend was upset and asked for a gel manicure instead. The technician was rude, yelled at her, and had the audacity to charge her $10 for acrylic nail removal! We tried to tell her why we were upset and that she should not charge us the $10, but she kept telling, yelling actually, us “you wanted powder but then you changed to gel”. They also need to update the numbers on their nail polishes. Had a hard time matching regular colors with gel and they got frustrated with us and made us change colors several times. Never coming back here again! Last thing, when my friend came home , the nail polish on her toes rubbed right off!!

Guy Y I am an elderly gentleman and only started getting pedicures. I tried Uptown Nail Salon on November 5,2024 for the first and last time. The technician was not very good. Trimming my big toe, she cut into the flesh and I bled for 15 minutes in the salon. The toe was painful all night. To her credit she was very concerned and attentive to the toe after the accident. The massage chair did not work properly and there was no sign that the technician had clean tools. Unfortunately, the place is dangerous and I have only ½ foot clipped (badly).

Che C All the ladies here are absolutely amazing. They are so kind and generous. I love how sweet they are. They are so good to me and my kiddo. This has become our new and only nail salon that we will frequent in San Diego. Our nails always look so beautiful after and they take good care of us if our nail paint chips. Everyone here is so kind and welcoming.

Jaine Allodi Probably the best dip manicure I’ve ever had!! Chloe is amazing & meticulous. They were able to fit me in same day I called, the salon is very clean and the check in/check out process is really easy. I can’t wait to come back, thank you Chloe!

Jeri Edwards This nail salon is fabulous. I’ve been coming here for years and always leave relaxed, polished & satisfied. Kim does an excellent job on designs, Lori & Mindy do outstanding pedicures, however all the technicians are professional and do a great job. I am always confident I’ll leave happy after every visit.

Elena Duke I like this place a lot - mostly because my aesthetician was so nice and funny. We were cracking up while she was doing my toes. I got the upgraded pedi and the massage and scrub was really nice. Definitely recommend this spot

Mary Lee Hernandez It was such an enjoyable appointment. Kim did my acrylic nails, and I love the way they look and feel.

Jeri Edwards This nail salon is fabulous. I’ve been coming here for years and always leave relaxed, polished & satisfied. Kim does an excellent job on designs, Lori & Mindy do outstanding pedicures, however all the technicians are professional and do a great job. I am always confident I’ll leave happy after every visit.

C C I came for a pedicure and cuticle trim/clean up and was talked into doing a manicure instead as the price would be similar. That was no big deal at all. An employee sat next to me as I’m reading a book during my pedicure, placed a pillow on my lap and begin grabbing my hands away from my book without saying a word or giving me a chance to put it away. Again, no big deal just kind of inconsiderate. The “manicure” was the problem. I attached pictures of the final product after returning to my car. There was still polish on my cuticles, dirt under my nails and she did not file or shape my nails before standing up and saying “thank you” after less than 10 minutes. At which time I asked if she was going to file them and showed her the oval shape I would like. I also asked if she can make them look cleaner and pointed out the polish and dirt. She again said “thank you” and stood up after brushing them with acetone and filing maybe 5 of my nails. I then asked politely if I can just do it myself since I usually do anyway so she gave me the file and I shaped them up myself. I paid in full and left a tip, even after hearing them talk about me in their native language as the only word I understood was “oval” and then was rushed out by what I assumed was the manager. I was very passive and kind throughout this experience and it was just oddly unpleasant. I wish I spoke up at the time so I write this to encourage others to speak up and be assertive. Standing up for yourself with kindness does not mean being passive. Do not leave an establishment until you are satisfied with the service provided. Or just avoid this spot. Either works.

Hannah Clitheroe I’ve been to multiple salons here in San Diego and got annoyed at my nails either chipping or not looking how I wanted. Seaport Nails is the ONLY salon that makes my nails look how I want them too and they last 4+ weeks without chips! The salon is gorgeous inside, clean, and the workers are all amazing and nice! The pricing is really good too, $55 for dip nails is much better than $60+ at most salons I’ve been too!

Miller Tami (fs2n) “I had my nails and toes done by Kelly and Tiffany, and it was an amazing experience! They were both so professional, attentive, and detail-oriented. My hands and feet look absolutely stunning! The quality of their work is top-notch, and I couldn’t be happier. Highly recommend!”

Tuana Nihan Aydın Tracy did a terrific job, i am very amazed that she did exactly what i showed her. I was just visiting the area and wanted to give it a try but i am very glad that i give it a try, it was a little bit pricy but i love my nails! Thanks again!

Eva Lagunero Its always a pleasure going to get my pedicure. All of the staff are very friendly and pay close attention to detail. Spa services are very affordable and Im usually in and out in an hour. I highly recommend Seaport Nail Spa.

Jennifer Engel The pedicures are amazing here- I splurge on the deluxe with 2 optional treatments- ( I got the paraffin wax and callous removal- $51 seemed like a bargain. Pretty salon that is clean and comfortable. Tami is fabulous. you can find this in the shopping area that fronts Harbor Drive at Seaport Village-behind the Cheesecake Factory - you can use the Seaport parking to pay $5 for up to 2 hours on Fridays and Saturdays- the same courtyard has a great Poke place and wine bar too. Gem. I always wait for the pedicure chair by the window! (2nd picture is the view from that chair)

Ajanae Matthews I’ve had an outstanding experience here! Lisa and Vicky are the two who’ve done my manicures and pedicures, and I absolutely love both them and their work. The salon is clean, spacious, and even has an ATM on-site, which is super convenient for tips. My mom’s been a regular for a while, and I’m so glad I decided to come with her. My nails turned out perfect—exactly how I wanted in terms of shape—and even after two weeks, they still looked great. Honestly, I could have gone another week and a half before needing a touch-up. Next time, I’ll probably wait three weeks between appointments. I paid $120 for a gel manicure and deluxe gel pedicure, and it was totally worth it!❤️

Natalie Mercado Dip nails are my go to. Every other time I go I have a great expierence. I put dip on my natural nails which are fairly long. I had to start requesting they apply the base clear layer to help strengthen my natural nail. I didn’t have to request before. And nail tech was hesitant to apply the base for me after I explained when they don’t apply my nails break and chip within days. I’m hoping my next visit I have better results because I really loved this place and their creativity when I’m stumped on what to do next.

Megan Sanchez Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Such attention to detail. The people here are so friendly, nice, and helpful. I have a physical disability and they helped me to my chair getting in & out. The pedicure & manicure was the best I’ve ever had here.

Carol Becerra I went last week to get my nails done full set. They came out cute and everything but the same day I had to come back because one of the bows fell off, the lady fixed it whatever later that day both bows fell off and the paint on the nails staring chipping. I paid $92 just for the bows to come off the same day and the paint start chipping. NEVER AGAIN

Sara Burkard Concholar Overall, this is a nice salon, and I know many women who come here. However, I think Im done. *Things do seem clean, their prices are competitive, and everything appears well-organized – especially during the day. I’ve visited a few times without major issues, though each time there were minor things I didn’t love – just not enough to write a review about until now. Unfortunately, my most recent visit made me feel uncomfortable and question whether it’s worth coming back. I understood a little of what the staff were saying, assuming I didn’t understand. I couldn’t follow the entire conversation, but I caught enough to know they were talking about me, other clients, and even the owner. When I first arrived, I asked for advice on a nail color to match a bridesmaid dress. Since I’m not particularly into general beauty, I was hoping for some guidance. As soon as I asked, the woman made a comment to her coworkers that I couldn’t fully understand, and they all laughed. It immediately made me feel uncomfortable. During my manicure, the nail tech mentioned something about adjusting the cost to the tech who appeared to be the manager and told her to just let her know what price she should tell me. I ended up being charged an extra $5 because my nails were supposedly “long” and needed to be cut. When I asked about the extra charge, she said it was because of the length of my nails, which were natural and not long at all – she barely trimmed them. Isn’t trimming part of a manicure? Earlier, I heard them saying amongst themselves that they sometimes make up their own prices, which I initially brushed off. However, when I was charged an extra $5, it felt like they might be doing this to many others. Now, about two weeks later, my gel polish is peeling. Not sure if thats a standard time for gel? This was my first time getting gel, and I was careful to preserve it, especially since I was so happy with how they looked. Interestingly, my toenails, with regular polish, still look fine and aren’t chipping. My husband also got a simple mani-pedi with no polish. They strongly recommended a callus removal add-on, which he agreed to, but he received the same treatment I did, without any extra service. Now that I think about it, it seems to reinforce the impression that they make up their own prices and add-ons. I understand that some clients may not tip well, but this approach of assuming we wouldn’t tip well and adjusting the bill instead doesn’t seem fair. At the end of his manicure they left his nails quite long and seemed to only have shaped them. It wasn’t a big deal, but we had to repeatedly emphasize that he wanted them as short as possible. Overall, it’s a nice salon, but it seems like the night staff have their own approach. They should be more cautious with their comments, assuming others don’t understand. I feel for the owner and hope they maintain the salon’s standards even when they’re not around.

Karissa Garcia I like to stop in here when I am visiting town and have always had a great experience. Last night I went in and got a gelx manicure I was not really happy with so I came back first thing in the morning and Vivian was happy to redo my nails and make sure I left satisfied! Would definitely recommend coming here for a friendly, good quality and affordable nail experience. Love my recent nails, thank you again!

Nikita Patlolla The worst gel manicure I have ever received. The sloppiest and most careless application. Entire manicure completed in less than 20 minutes. Cut my cuticles, Would not recommend to anyone

Tania Onofre I’ve been there twice. First time I went there was with my friend and my daughter. We both got gel same thing but different design. The lady did mine gel nails she didn’t know what she was doing with the magnetic design With my friend, they took their time with her and her nails were fabulous and I was the one who paid for her nails. I like to give nail places a second chance. went again on Saturday 5/11/24 same gel different design. Now this time Rush through my Nails some The nails are not paint all the way you can still see through my nails and I don’t know what kind of cheap nails they used because my thumb nail is breaking. One of my nails are crooked And I don’t appreciate that they use me as a guinea pig The nail tech even said to me I taking $10 off because I’m just doing this for fun. I paid $70 for my nails. I was not there to be somebody’s guinea For you to try new ideas. I didn’t have time to look up my nails cause I had my daughter with me and they serviced my daughter. They did a good job with her. But my experience was not that great and I don’t think I’m coming . Especially when I tip I tip $20. They are nice but they rushed my nails again and used me As a guinea pig again.

Jaid F. Came here with a big group and the nail artists were so sweet and patient with all of us. Everyone felt pampered and accommodated! The nails turned out fantastic, pictured included!

Maiya Smith I’ve been going here for over a year now and have absolutely zero complaints. Everything is very sanitary and they really take their time when doing nails which makes them last SO LONG! I typically get a dip manicure and it will last me 4-6 weeks! They are so friendly here and always offer complimentary wine, water, or tea! Go here!

Jessica Artz BEST PEDI EVER! Emily really took care of me! In fact all the women in this establishment are a joy. They even served me a glass of wine that Ive never experienced in a nail salon. Walking out of here feeling like a million bucks, Thank You Emily! Definitely recommend them!

Aarika Lorenscheit I saw Demi for about 6 years at Terris and never left a review because she is Terris best kept secret! Now that I have moved away, I wanted to give Demi the spotlight she deserves. Demi is so speedy, efficient, consistent, and very detailed. The cherry on top is that no matter what application I got, the nails did not lift or chip. The only reason I would go about every three weeks was due to outgrowth. Lastly, the salon is also renovated so well and has any color/ brand you could possibly want.

Alice Henderson I specifically started going to this salon because they were the only place I found that did Bio Gel manicures near me. Since then, I have been getting my nails done with Sarah. She does an absolutely amazing job every single time. The Bio Gel keeps my natural nails growing long and the way she does it, they never peel up. She is quick, yet I can tell she is very meticulous, and cares to make them perfect. The shape is always amazing and the polish is always done perfectly. Highly recommend!

Robin Clarke I got my nails done here for my wedding and couldnt be happier! Terri hooked me up with her best technician and they looked gorgeous. I got Gel-X done 10 days before my wedding, went hiking and did a lot of activities, and they held up! No cracking or chips. I definitely recommend going here.

Megan Lombardo I love Terri’s Nails! I started coming here while visiting San Diego and even structured my trips around appointments because every nail tech does an incredible job. Their attention to detail is unmatched, and I never have to request a specific person—they’re all amazing. I get Gel-X, and not only is the price fantastic, but the quality is outstanding. My nails used to last just over a week elsewhere, but at Terri’s, they stay flawless for 3+ weeks until I get them removed. As someone with an active lifestyle, I put my nails through a lot, yet they remain beautiful and durable. Plus, the staff is always so sweet and attentive. It’s truly one of my favorite forms of self-care!

Kim Tran My first visit here was during October and I loved the Halloween decor! Popped back in a few weeks later and now the shop is a winter wonderland, so cute. Both times my service was immaculate. I’m particular about cuticle work and they didn’t leave any behind! I arrived shortly after opening and didn’t have to wait long. The shop is well maintained and parking is easy! Highly recommend.

Lauren Trickey I just moved here from the East Coast. Back home I had my regular nail spot I went to frequently - I love getting intricate nail art. I was so worried I wouldnt find a place I loved as much as my spot back home, but I am so glad I found The Little Nail Shop of San Diego. I have been here twice now, and have been very happy with the service they provide. My first appointment I got was a specific design for nail art for my halloween costume, and they delivered! It looked so good. Just like I envisioned. The second appointment I just got a solid color, and it looks beautiful. Both appointments were on my natural nails, and I feel like honestly they are the healthiest and longest Ive had them in a long time. I also got pedicures too, and loved them. :) I think this is my new regular spot.

Brittney Mistretta I’ve been a Little Nail shop customer for almost 3 years. Will not go anywhere else!! Everyone is so great at what they do. Quick, perfect mani/pedis and if you want extravagant designs, they can do that too. Online booking is also a plus! Love this place!

melissa jacobo I got my nails done for my aunts wedding and I knew what I wanted but had never done anything like it. The place was busy but was still organized and clean and the staff were friendly and attentive. My nail tech, Tammy, was sweet and walked me through the process of getting hard gel and I think they came out beautifully. I think I found my new nail spot!

Maris м I came here for the first time, I was looking for a regular manicurist nearby. Before that I read the reviews, there were a lot of positive ones, so I decided to come in. Manicure was done by a man, removal of the old coating was quick, then he immediately started the coating, until I stopped him and asked him to cut the cuticle, he cut from the top, after he saw that I was looking at the nails, he started to push back the cuticle and cut normally. He applied the coating with splotches and drips, trying to fix with more coats of varnish, but it didnt work. Tried to use two colors, but that didnt help either. I asked him to fix it, but it felt like he didnt understand what to do or how to do it. We ended up changing the color to a different color, but the same story happened again. I didnt say anything, I just wanted to leave. At the cash register, I paid without leaving a tip, as I believe that for such work to leave a tip is not worth it. My nails look worse than the ones I came in with originally. Severely over-sawn, drops of nail polish and different shapes. Its a shame for the time spent. Not recommended. The last picture is the nails I came in with

Ilsa C I am from out of town and was hoping to find a good nail salon to fix my builder gel manicure that had gotten pretty rough. I came into Downtown Nail Salon and was given the fastest and best gel fill I’ve ever gotten. Anh was so sweet and did an amazing job, I cannot recommend her enough! As I type this I came back in the next day to get a pedicure I was so happy with my manicure!

Alicia Juarez Jenny and all her coworkers are super sweet. Great customer service. My husband and two sons were waiting for me and brought them water for them. I was not the only one taken care off also my family. Love my nails. I will definitely come back. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Patricia Reed I am very appreciative of this shop. It took me awhile to find a place in the city that actually did good quality nails. They are fast with the services and still manage to give me acrylic nails that last. I can actually go a solid month with no lifting or breakage. I recommend calling and making an appointment as something they get very busy.

Jasmine Lee Be careful who you go to for nail art. I made an appointment with Jenny (per suggestion from a friend), didnt get her to do my nails for some reason, got them done by some other random person. Once he started I knew it wasnt going to be done like I wanted and its my fault for not stopping at the beginning. I was trying to trust the process. The nails are lumpy, the color and gel go onto my finger, they are super chunky, its just not good. My fingers actually look fatter. Honestly, you can just tell that the art of doing nails doesnt matter here(the person that did my nails at least). I have had my nails done by people who really like doing nails and that was not the case here. So again...if you want NAIL ART, dont come here unless you KNOW the person. If you just want a pedicure with your nails painted...sure, why not. Pop in.

El Moondragon Yesterday I came in to get a manicure and I can say I will never come back. When asked what kind of manicure I wanted I said “just a regular with gel”. When the tech was cutting my cuticles she ripped a big piece of skin off. Her apology to me was “Oh sorry. You have a lot of skin.” And moved on like nothing happened. After I picked my color out she began to pain my nails and then randomly said “This is regular polish. You asked for regular. If it chips tomorrow, you asked for regular.” When I told her that a I wanted gel, she continued to paint my nails and respond “No you asked for regular.” Now my nails are chipping and my finger is infected. -10 out of 10. Would not recommend to my worst enemy.

Alessandra Recht I’ve been coming here for years and get an acrylic overlay manicure from Ming and Yen for my pedicures. They never disappoint! My design requests are not simple and Ming always makes my nails look fabulous!

Patrick McElroy This is something I wouldn’t just go out and do on my own and I have very limited experience with pedicures or manicures, however it’s something my girlfriend enjoys taking me to. I’ve been here twice now and both times the service has been top notch. The techs are kind and polite. 6 star customer service on a 5 star scale. The atmosphere is pleasant and the salon is very clean. I will continue coming here once a quarter.

Jules Shumate I am completely in love with these nails and the price I paid for them wasn’t even close to the prices I pay back at home in Cincinnati. All the things I loved: -tons of booking/times online, easy to book -they TEXT me (not automated) to confirm details of the appt. almost immediately. Very personalized. -the services: gel removal, manicure AND gel nails with chrome cost a total of $60 -the above only took 60 minutes tops. -for the massage part, they bust out a timer for so they are equitable about time! -there were four of the workers standing around these nails by the end telling me and the nail tech how beautiful they were (and they weren’t wrong) One thing to note: the location is not the same as the google maps location. They have a nail salon at 255 G Street, San Diego, CA 92101 so they may text to send you there. It was just a wonderful experience and anyone traveling into downtown San Diego should go here.

megan rowlands I really wanted to enjoy taking my daughter to get a manicure and pedicure at Bayside nails. However, we waited over 20 minutes past our appointment time to get started on the pedicures. There was no communication about when our manicures would start and after 45 minutes I let the manager know we no longer have time for a manicure. She offered to just have our nails painted so I’d be done in time. I agreed to have our nails painted and she tried to charge me for a full manicure treatment for myself and my daughter ($50). When I explained I would not pay those charges because I did not get that service she pushed back a few times. They do not validate parking which was $15 for 1.5 hours. I will not be going back because it was rushed and not the experience I expected. Additionally, my cuticle was injured.

morgan salazar The best nail salon! Have been going here religiously for 2.5 years. No other salon has allowed my nails to last 3-4 weeks every single time. Family owned and they truly care. Khoi is the best!

ellary cohen Caitlin (or Kaitlin sorry) was absolutely amazing with my nails! The shape was perfect and she took her time making sure everything was 100% perfect. She took the time to really give me a wonderful massage too! Her mom, Lee, and Seven both worked on my toes. My pedicure was also given with such care & incredible massages. Highly recommend 10/10- so relaxing and amazing quality! Came here before a wedding I’m in and super proud to show my nails & toes off!

J. Andrew Speas I wanted to enjoy my experience here so bad. It had been some time since I got a full mani-pedi and I needed to treat myself. Bayside nail and spa was suggested by a friend who had a wonderful experience, but they do not usually get gel manicures or pedicures, but they take care of themselves so I trusted them. When my manicure was finished which happened simultaneously as my pedicure, the Manicurist had nicked my finger without saying anything in the moment. It was not until she sprayed alcohol across my fingers that she decided to tell me as I shuttered. There seemed to be a need to rush and I had already obliged them by coming in a half hour earlier than my original appointment time, so I was not pleased with the nature of being rushed through my services. The Pedicurist was equally as rough and nicked me a number of places on my feet, and spoke nothing of it. Because the last few minutes of it was dry it wasn’t until I got in the shower later that day and water hit my toes that I realized I had little cuts all over. Now it’s been less than three days and my gel polish is chipping on both my hands and feet. I got it done because of a wedding I’m attending this week so I am not pleased. Additionally, there was a massage section as one usually occurs with these and I have never wanted someone to just stop touching me so bad. I thought I was very knotted up because I am a performer/dancer by trade so sometimes things can be tender but no, they were not gentle. I am being gracious with a two star rating because for the most part the staff was kind. However the services were not cheap and by no stretch of the word worth the nearly $120 I paid for a Deluxe Manicure Pedicure. Finally, the system to pay did not work with my tap services so I had to pay via Venmo. At that point I paid without argument and left. I would not suggest their services to a single soul.