History
Founded in 2014 in Toronto by couple Sara Kardan & Jeff Armstrong, Majesty’s Pleasure began as Her Majesty’s Pleasure. Kardan, an architect and hospitality designer from Iran, envisioned a salon that felt more like a cocktail lounge than a traditional spa—melding elevated interiors, refreshed hospitality, and beauty rituals in one space(majestyspleasure.com, Instagram, The Business of Fashion).
The original location at King Street West quickly earned accolades for its Instagram-worthy design and social salon atmosphere. In 2024, the founders expanded into New York City’s Flatiron District as Majesty’s Pleasure (dropping “Her”) to introduce their luxury beauty club concept to a new market(The Business of Fashion).
From the beginning, the brand focused on hospitality-minded service—with a bar serving champagne and cocktails beside manicure stations, curated interior design, and a ‘social beauty club’ ethos where self-care meets socializing(The Business of Fashion).
Products & Services
Majesty’s Pleasure offers a comprehensive menu that includes:
- High‑end manicures & pedicures: Gel, shellac, classic, spa polish services done in lavish surroundings.
- Nail extensions & nail art: Including Gel‑X enhancement, custom art, chrome/lunar effects, and precision sculpting.
- Membership club “Leisure Club”: Unlimited manicures/pedicures per month alongside priority booking and member exclusives(The Business of Fashion, majestyspleasure.com).
- In‑salon cocktail bar: Clients enjoy champagne, mocktails, and snacks during their treatments.
- Wellness extras: Express facials, massages, brow and lash services (in NYC expansion), and access to the signature “Leisure Lounge.”
- Retail offerings: Branded products such as Nudeskin hydra-lip balms, cuticle oil, and curated joy-themed merchandise(Facebook, The Business of Fashion, majestyspleasure.com).
The service design encourages longer stays; from an elegant entrance through a refreshment bar, to manicure stations and private pods, culminating in group zones for social beauty events.
Quality Standards
Design & Ambience
The salons are designed like upscale lounges—Carrara marble bars, scallop-shaped cocktail lounge areas, glowing walls of polish, and lush seating––crafted by Sara Kardan, architect and co-founder(The Business of Fashion).
Hygiene & Professionalism
Majesty’s Pleasure employs spa-grade sanitation: single-use implements, sterilizing stations, discreet tool storage, and concierge-style service model more akin to hospitality than a classic nail bar(The Business of Fashion).
Hospitality-Driven Service
From coat-check to nail bar seating to beverage service, the salon operates like a private lounge—hostess greeting, drinks served, music curation, minimized wait times, and a celebratory atmosphere for groups and events.
Membership & Experience Consistency
The Leisure Club membership model ensures recurring guests, predictable revenue, and internal standards to ensure consistent quality for repeat clients with perks and customization opportunities(majestyspleasure.com).
Customer Reviews (Real Examples)
Google / Tripadvisor / Wanderlog
- Josee L., Sept 2024 (Google/Tripadvisor):“Fast, efficient, and elegant service… My shellac pedicure is still perfect… service was friendly, patient and lovely!”(Wanderlog)
- Kate G., June 2024 (Google):“I absolutely love the color and the after care look.”(Wanderlog)
- Mello, June 2024 (Google):“My appointment feels like a monthly therapy session… best quality work… kindness… I swear an hour and a half isn’t long enough.”(Wanderlog)
Yelp (Toronto Location)
- Reviewer:“Great service and attention to detail… more expensive than other salons but worth it.”(Yelp)
- Reddit / r/askTO users comment:“Yorkville location was better than King West… cocktails lovely and service great.”(Reddit)
“King West location awful… pretentious staff… recommend products over services.”(Reddit)
Tripadvisor
- One guest said experience felt cramped, rushed, and not as relaxing as expected(Tripadvisor).
Customer Reviews Recap
| Platform | Sentiment | Representative Quotes |
|---|---|---|
| Very Positive | “Fast, efficient… shellac pedicure still perfect.” “Feels like monthly therapy session.” | |
| Tripadvisor | Mixed | “Cramped, rushed—not relaxing.” |
| Yelp | Positive with caveats | “Excellent service… expensive but worth it.” |
| Mixed | “Yorkville better than King West.” “King West was pretentious and disappointing.” |
Reasons Why Salons Should Choose Majesty’s Pleasure as a Model
- Integrated Hospitality Design: Combining refreshments, retail, lounge seating, and beauty services creates a multi-sensorial experience that keeps clients longer and raises experience value.
- Membership-Driven Revenue Model: The Leisure Club encourages loyalty, predictable income, and enhances client relationships while promoting upgrades and add-ons.
- Award-Winning Interiors & Atmosphere: Recognitions like Best Interior Design (Hospitality Design Magazine) and Best of Toronto (Toronto Life) provide strong branding credibility(majestyspleasure.com, majestyspleasure.com).
- Hospitality-Grade Service Standards: Concierge-style greeting, sanitized implements, coat check, and drink service elevate client experience above standard salon models.
- Event & Group Programming: Success for bridal parties, work events, celebrations; upselling opportunities and word-of-mouth branding are built into the salon’s social mission.
- Cross-Border Expansion Blueprint: From Toronto into NYC, Majesty’s Pleasure demonstrates scalability of concept, aesthetic, and membership model in luxury markets.
Summary
Majesty’s Pleasure stands at the intersection of luxury hospitality and beauty service. Founded in 2014 by Sara Kardan and Jeff Armstrong, the brand created a new “social beauty club” model: cocktail lounge meets manicure bar. Featuring bespoke interiors, bar service, membership subscriptions, and group gatherings, it moves beyond traditional salon metrics.
Customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive regarding nail integrity, service quality, and atmosphere—yet mixed feedback arises for the King West location, with some pointing to rushed service and expensive pricing. Still, the Yorkville location and member experiences (particularly via Leisure Club) continue to draw loyal clientele.
For salons seeking to elevate their model, Majesty’s Pleasure offers a guide in blending hospitality, retail, membership programs, and elevated design—all while maintaining nail artistry and clean standards.
Majesty’s Pleasure is more than a salon—it’s a destination where beauty, comfort, and social engagement combine into a luxurious self-care ritual.
