Rock Star Treatment at The Raven

Spa wizard Barry Walker (who also owns El Leon Spa) has tucked his latest endeavor away on Rowena Ave. in Silver Lake. We visited The Raven on a particularly hot spring day, hoping to relax and unwind from an exhausting week. As we walked through the entryway - a Thai oasis with bamboo and wicker lounges, paper umbrellas and potted shade trees - we already started to feel a little more Zen.

The kind receptionist greeted us with a glass of cucumber water, and we quickly downed three glasses (seriously, it was hot). But we knew hydration would be necessary for our 2 1/2-hour Rock Star treatment, which combines all The Raven's star treatments - reflexology, Thai massage, hand-and-foot exfoliation and a facial. Our tiny masseuse, Thip, led us to a changing room, where we slipped into a cotton t-shirt and linen pants. She began with a relaxing arm and leg exfoliation treatment and Reiki massage, and then led us to a curtained-off bed for an hour-long Thai massage. We can honestly say this was the most thorough massage we've ever received. Tiny Thip used her super-strength hands, feet, legs and forearms to work out all our muscle lumps and stretch the bejesus out of our limbs. It was like a deep-tissue massage and yoga class in one.

After the intense bodywork was over, Thip gave us a facial using detoxifying yogurt followed by a honey/banana mask, and massaged our head, shoulders and neck with jojoba oil, leaving our skin smooth as silk. When our session ended, Thip still wasn't satisfied with a stubborn knot in our neck, so she spent an extra 15 minutes determined to stretch it back into shape.

The Rock Star is the Raven's most extravagant treatment, but considering the above-and-beyond service, and the fact that you're getting four treatments in one, it's a worthwhile indulgence if ever there was one.

Review originally published 7/17/2008.