Portofino Sun Center

Best spray tan I’ve had in a WHILE. Clean, modern facility and professional staff. The color of my tan is super natural, and the technician, Gladys, was as sweet as she was meticulous.
Check out the 2 for $ 99 spray tan deal for first timers.

As some previous reviewers have noted, some of the ladies from J Sisters moved to Portofino. I used to work in NYC and saw Emily religiously for waxing. Now I’m working in NJ and I still drive in once every six weeks for a Brazilian and upper leg wax with Emily. She’s the absolute best waxer I’ve ever used. She’s quick, efficient and has amazing attention to detail. There is never a long wait. The facilities are clean and private. She gives her clients direct access to her and she will always try and be flexible with working around my crazy schedule. I will follow her wherever she goes!!! Great hire for Portofino.

GrrrrrL. everyone here is damn right: Portofino really IS a hidden gem. Lulu is simply the BEST for a Brazilian wax — and I’ve had tons of good and bad experiences, as a long-​time Brazilian wax-​seeker.
I followed Lulu here from J Sisters, and the price for the same amazing service and (company, because she’s the sweetest) — is less. The space is calm, intimate, and totally pristine. Its super easy to book an appointment; they take care of you well here. Highly recommended —

REVIEW IS FOR TANNING: Absolutely, without a doubt, hands down, 5 stars or even higher. Cleanliness is spot on (spotless!) and service is friendly, informative, and upbeat — without being smothering or the slightest bit insincere. I have been to every kind of tanning salon around and used to manage one. Portofino Sun Center trumps Beach Bum and Mystic Tan BY FAR. The beds are modern, and the one I used today worked incredibly well. I think I was only the second person in it for the day and the bulbs were already firey. I have a pretty moderate tan after having gone to the beach all summer long this year, and the level two bed that I used today was out-​of-​this-​world effective. I even had to turn down the facial bulbs to the lowest level because it was intense. Often a problem, or even nonexistent, at most other salons (that the beds are weak and we’re really only getting half our money’s worth). Prices are slightly on the higher end, but only if you buy individual sessions and don’t purchase a package. I love that they advertise their prices online (what’s with salons that used to not give prices over the phone or that would tell potential customers they had to come in to receive a quote or price list in-​person?!), and the package of roughly 5 – 6 sessions that I bought today (depending on the bed/​strength level that I choose for that particular session) doesn’t expire for a year. A YEAR! Usually when you buy sessions they have a super unrealistically short shelf-life…one of the worst things about chain salons. Or any salon, period. AND… I can share sessions with other people, and use sessions at any of PSC’s locations.
Customer for life.

I am not a tanner. I go to Portofino Sun Center for facials and eyebrow grooming with Fatima Wadhy.
Fatima’s facials are the best in the city! She uses the most gentle products and processes.
I have very sensitive rosacea skin, and dermatologists do not recommend facials to me, but I leave her room completely relaxed and with no redness on my smoothened skin!
Everyone else I went to left my skin looking bright red. It was a miracle when I found her 4 years ago.
Fatima is also excellent with grooming (threading + plucking) my eyebrows. Because of the price, I treat myself to eyebrow grooming only about a couple of times per year. I love the natural shape she creates!
Fatima is a true artist! Plus, she’s very friendly and smart too :)

Reunited and it feels so gooooooood! The famous J Sisters are now at this location — Lulu and the gang. I’ve been going to Lulu for a Brazilian Wax since my Junior Year in high school over at J Sisters. Since her departure from her previous location, it was without a doubt that I would follow her to this location. She’s quick and efficient. I HIGHLY recommend her, especially if it’s your first time getting a Brazilian Wax, she makes the process so quick! Book and ask for Lulu!

I found this place after following Lulu from J Sisters. I only go to Lulu for wax especially Brazilian bikini. Once I ventured to try a new place but my experience was so awful that I decided to never go elsewhere. It is easy to get appointments, Lulu is fast and does a thorough job. I have never had a bad experience. They seem to have more services than just tanning. I plan to try their mani-​pedi next time. BTW my previous go-​to person at J Sisters left, but I never followed her because I went to J Sisters for the place and reputation. Now it seems like the place is not the same, so I was comfortable following Lulu to her new place and I get the same service.

TRULY a hidden GEM.
Nestled in on the side street of 56^th St just off of 6^th Ave. Not until you get inside do you realize WOW. And the wows just keep coming.
The space and the staff are simply FANTASTIC.
* Incredibly designed layout with a gorgeous interior; beautifully modern yet exuding serene charm.
* The staff professional, helpful & sweet (all together uncommon these days).
Even more… This is not just for getting your healthy (controlled) dose of Vitamin D, this is a ONE stop spa boutique!
I rarely take the time to write reviews, but this I could not resist sharing.
So happy and grateful for this discovery!

Lulu and Fatima are the best! When they made their move from J Sisters I followed. Lulu has been my go to for waxing for years. Brazilian, leg waxing, etc., I highly recommend her. If you need your lashes tinted or eyebrows done, Fatima is the one. You can’t go wrong with these ladies! As for the location, Portofino is clean and the staff is very nice. There is a parking garage directly across the street if you need it.

This place is amazing, and the staff are pleasant. if you need a waxer, Emily and the rest of the girls are AMAzing, the place is far cleaner and more accomodating. take it from someone who used to go to J sisters… the rooms are more personal and it’s more of a one on one not concrete made rooms that look tacky. and do not get me started on the prices. it is affordable better than J sisters. I can say that Portofino won me as a client. i will be using more of their services in the future!

I’ve been going to Emilly for the last 8 months and love her Brazilian wax! When I found out she was moving from J-​Sisters to Portofino, I followed her immediately, and couldn’t be happier. Portofino is very clean and everyone who works there is super friendly and polite. Prices are cheaper than at J Sisters, so that’s an added plus!
If you want a Brazilian Wax, go to Emilly! You won’t regret it!

When I learned JP from J Sisters moved over here, I followed her in a second. I’ve been her loyal client for 8 years, and I refuse to go to anyone else for my Brazilian. Portofino is great — and less expensive than J Sisters! Win-​win for me! I highly recommend JP anywhere she is, but it’s an added bonus that this place is clean and quiet, with pleasant staff as well. Two thumbs up all around!

Finally found a nice tanning place in the city. Great beds and not disgusting. Pricey though.

There is something to be said about experience. And that is what JP offers. I’ve been her client for over 7 years and I will recommend her services always.

Going to Emilly for 10+ yrs. Followed her from JSisters, to her new salon-​Portofino. She is the daughter of Janea Padilha (JSisters) who created/​brought Brazilian bikini wax to NYC. Janea wrote a book about it. I went to the book launch party– fab mojitos & music.
I can not say enough good things about Emilly.
First, she runs an extremely clean/​sanitized business. This is important if you are having your genital area waxed. If the waxer is not professional and leaves/​reuses the stick in the hot wax it is a breeding ground for germs etc.
Second, this is the quickest and least painful Brazilian bikini wax you will ever have. No one does it better than Emilly.
Third, Emilly — besides being professional– is a lovely & kind person. You’ll love her! There’s a reason why all the celebrities go to her.
I highly recommend. This is a high-​end service provider but I promise, you will be satisfied — it’s worth it!

Portofino sun spa is beautiful and well kept… very tranquil and clean. Congrats to JP, Emilly, Lulu & Fatima for joining with such a great place! So glad my girls didn’t leave the neighborhood! anyone looking for a top notch wax, look no further JP is the BEST!!!

Looking for a PHENOMENAL Brazilian Wax? Look no further! Some of the girls from J Sisters decided to break away and go some place new. I have been seeing JP for a solid 4 – 5 years, so when I found out she would no longer be working at J Sisters I followed her. Still the same fantastic wax job with a slightly cheaper price tag. I will never let anyone else touch my lady parts!

Everyone is so nice, so informative and patient. The place is very clean and a lot of state of the art machines etc. i highly recommend going.

I really like this place — ticking all the boxes with really friendly staff, clean facilities, and very very reasonable pricing. I use the Norvell spray tan machine (rather than the UV machines) which is $ 99 for 5 tans (MUCH cheaper than equivalent Mystic Tan offers I have seen, and the tan is much darker and better quality) — extremely reasonable.
They are obviously still in the relatively early stages of refurbing the salon, but I can tell that the décor is well chosen and stylish and will look fab when it’s done.
I usually go in the mornings, and have had trouble getting an appointment on the same day for the evening (it seems everyone else in Manhattan has also discovered this little gem!) so I would recommend booking in advance if you’re looking to go at peak times.
Overall, would definitely recommend visiting, I am most certainly now a very regular customer.

I’ve tanned all over Manhattan, and consistently found that Portofino, and especially this branch on 57^th Street, is the absolute best. They’re not exactly inexpensive, but the place is always SPOTLESS, they have an abundance of machines of every type, and a really helpful staff. The guy who helped me today was very knowledgeable about the various types of beds and the different types of lotions, explained it all in terms I could understand, and never pressured me to purchase anything I didn’t want. That’s very different from alot of Manhattan tanning places.
The place gets busy, (which is a little surprising since it is on the fourth floor) but it’s a very nice atmosphere, and they have so many beds, the wait isn’t usually very long… and you can make reservations if you need to.
If you’re looking for great machines, excellent customer service, and a welcoming, very clean space, you should check this place out.