The Best Nail Art And Mani-Pedis In New York City

New Yorkers don’t just know art — we wear it. All over the city, beauty buffs sporting the next big trends, as well as the more simply-ornamented, can be seen nailing the accessory game. From salons specializing in wearable art to neighborhood spots providing down-to-earth indulgences, here are the best nail art and mani-pedi salons in New York City.

Vivi Nails

Trust the talented techs at Vivi Nails to nail your dream design every time. Here, high-quality gel manicures and pedicures are the simplest items on the menu, which features design-heavy nail art sure to astonish. With branches throughout New York City, Vivi Nails has got your back, no matter your borough.

Nail De Vue

Beauty Salon, Spa, Health Spa

Before your next special occasion, get picture-perfect from your hands to your toes at Nail De Vue. From bejeweled styles to popular hand-painted marble designs, this Queens salon knows the devil is all in the detail.

Tip: you can’t rush perfection; prepare to settle in for a longer-than-average session at Nail De Vue.

Queen of NY Nails

Queen of NY Nails is a one-woman operation. Boasting over 5,640 Instagram followers and a packed diary (the Queen is available by appointments only), licensed nail tech Denise is the beauty-loving local’s go-to source for custom designs. Well worth the wait, the Queen’s undivided and individualized attention will show for weeks afterwards.

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Glamour Nails

Beauty Salon

Is basic actually better? At its locations throughout Staten Island, Glamour Nails makes the case for simple styles. Offering unique designs like 3D nail art, it’s the chain’s classic manis and pedis that shine, boasting a level of quality not often encountered with such straightforward styles.

Akiko Nails

Rave reviews from the likes of Time Out NY and MTV Nail Art News have landed Akiko Nails on the radars of style-savvy locals. A stylish interior, complete with neon signage and exposed brick, lend this Lower East Side salon cool cred. Japanese-inspired designs are a specialty here, where hand-drawn anime and Sailor Moon-themed images, as well as reproductions of fine Japanese art, adorn the hands of fashion-forward patrons.

Sapphire Nails and Spa

Beauty Salon, Spa

The bright, open interior at Sapphire Nails and Spa befits a business so close to Manhattan’s Central Park. Pamper yourself after enjoying park activities with a manicure or pedicure featuring posh polishes from Essie, OPI, and more. Looking for even more luxury? Sapphire also offers spa staples, such as facials, massages, and hair-removal treatments.

Pretty Polished

Beauty Salon

For affordable extravagance, look no further than Pretty Polished, a classic Chinatown salon boasting manicures and pedicures for under $25. Equipped with top-shelf shellacs from Essie and OPI, this budget-friendly find delivers the quality you love without a price point you hate. With prices like Pretty’s, every day could be a day to treat yourself.

Oh, My Nails

Offering mani-pedis that are easy on the eyes and your nails, the East Village’s Oh, My Nails is a top-pick for conscious consumers. Using a ‘new generation gel’ called Calgel, the spot promises no damage, no smell, and no lengthy, nail-harming removal process. At Oh, My Nails, get ahead of the next big beauty trend with a nail job that looks good and is good for you.

Sakura Nail Spa

Spa, Health Spa

Natural beauty aficionados will appreciate the experience at Sakura Nail Spa. Honoring Japanese tradition, all-natural ingredients are highlighted here, in services such as red bean scrubs and rice bran masks. For simple mani-pedi seekers, the Upper East Side spa provides one of Japan’s most popular (and nice-to-your-nails) nail gel systems.

Jin Soon Nail and Spa

Spa

Luckily for locals, this polish manufacturer (whose products have been featured in Elle, InStyle, and more) also operates a salon in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. At Jin Soon Nail and Spa, limited edition nail art menus vie for your attention against unique spa treatments, such as cooling cucumber and mint massages, and warm milk and honey soaks. Pleased with your product? The salon’s eponymous polishes are available for purchase, allowing you to bring a little luxury back home.

Paintbox

Beauty Salon

Trust a former beauty editor to reinvent the tried-and-true manicure experience. At Paintbox, color consultants are on hand to recommend your personal perfect polish. With seasonal nail art collections featuring designs with names like ‘Hot Damn’ and ‘Like A Boss,’ you’re likely to love your individualized pick, whatever it may be.

Tip: don’t forget to visit the in-studio photo booth, where you can document your freshly-done designs.

Susie's Nail Salon

Beauty Salon

Upper West Side residents struggle to land a seat at Susie’s Nail Salon. It’s a neighborhood business offering no frills, just fashionable designs. Trust the salon’s crowds of locals and book an appointment for expertly-done mani-pedis at budget-friendly fares.

Tenoverten

There’s a reason Tenoverten is backed by such beauty authorities as Into the Gloss and VOGUE. Here, carefully-crafted polishes (vegan, cruelty-free, and made in the USA) come with names honoring the New York City neighborhoods that inspire them. Offering custom, hour-long pedicures, mani-pedis for pint-sized patrons, and natural hair removal treatments, repping your city has never been better than at Tenoverten.

The Gel Bar

Gel nail fanatics need look no further than The Gel Bar, a salon specializing in all gel nails, including calgel, UV, and design. Experimental nail art — such as styles featuring gradation and thoughtfully-placed negative space — is a must-try at this Midtown gem.

Abey Nail & Spa II

Massage Parlour, Spa

Tribeca-based beauty buffs will love Abey Nail & Spa II, an affordable nail salon boasting an unbeatable rewards program for loyal locals. With a mani-pedi-massage package that won’t break the bank, the spot could easily become your go-to destination for experiences that only feel indulgent.

Valley Nails

Valley Nails is a fashion world favorite at the front of the beauty industry’s campaign for consciousness. Offering only toxin-free and 7-free nail and gel polishes, this eco-friendly, ethical salon supports beauty from the outside in. Custom nail art designs, complimentary repairs, and over 160 sizes of nail extensions have earned Valley a peak position on review roundups from VOGUE, Elle, and Refinery 29.

About the author

Julia Goicochea

Splitting her time between Miami and New York, Julia is a writer currently based in Brooklyn. She enjoys foreign films, 70s cookbooks, and bad detective novels.