7 Best Nail Salons at the Shore

From Cape May to Atlantic City, these are the top spots for manis and pedis.

Manicure

Manis by the sea. | Shutterstock.

Nothing ravages perfectly polished nails quite like saltwater and gritty sand. This is why, even on a sunny day, you’ll find women lined up at mani stations and sitting in pedi chairs at the Shore. Whether you need a quickie, no-frills mani or a totally pampering pedi, we’ve got you covered — from Cape May to AC. Have a favorite spot we missed? Leave it in the comments!

Summer Breeze, Avalon
It’s the best quickie mani you’ll get in Avalon, with top-notch polishes (think Essie, OPI, Zoya, Vinylux) and meticulous nail techs. In a time crunch? Ask for the $22 express pedi.
3256 Dune Drive, Avalon, 609-368-8818‎.

Sea Spa at Congress Hall, Cape May
The nail treatments here are pricier than most run-of-the-mill salons ($55 for a pedi, $25 for a mani), but worth it. While they don’t do gel manis, they do offer ultra-pampering services like an hour-long pedi that includes a paraffin foot mask and warm stone foot and leg massage ($75).
200 Congress Place, Cape May, 609-884-6543.

Harrah’s Red Door Spa, Atlantic City
They’ll offer you a drink, give you a warm, scented neck pillow, and set to exfoliating, hydrating, massaging and polishing your legs/hands/nails. A tip: Schedule an early appointment; getting a treatment here means you have access to the facility for the rest of the day (hot tub, sauna, steam room, pool, relaxation rooms). Manicures range from $28 to $55.
777 Harrah’s Boulevard, Atlantic City, 609-441-5333.

Spa Avalon, Avalon
This day spa packs in a few more frills than your average walk-in salon. You’ll need to make an appointment (unless you’re going solo), leave the kids at home, and expect to pay around $45 for a pedi (though there is an ‘express’ $30 option) and $30 for a mani (it’s a half-hour; spring for the $35 mani, which tacks on a paraffin treatment). A note: They’re closed on Sunday.
2488 Dune Drive, Avalon, 609-368-3400.

Ocean Nails Spa, Ocean City
It’s got fantastic Yelp reviews, and for good reason: The manis and pedis are luxurious (the leg massage you get with the pedi is heavenly), the salon is clean, the nail polish selection is vast, and nail techs are super-friendly — and really, really good at nail art.
613 East 8th Street, Ocean City, 609-938-1932.

Tranquilla Nail Spa, Red Bank
The treatments here are mostly all-natural and organic (vegan options are also available). It’s a tad more expensive than other salons — a basic mani is $18; a vegan mani is $30 — but eco-conscious pamperers will appreciate the all-natural polishes (Zoya, SPARitual, gel-like LCN). It by appointment only — the salon is smallish, so it gets booked up quickly — and they do offer treatments for kids: $12 gets you a “Lil Princess Mani,” for kids under 10 years old.
30 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, 732-758-8002.

Tiffani Nail & Beauty Spa, Somers Point
This is semi-secret gem, tucked in a shopping center away from the throngs of tourists. You’ll find mostly locals here, even come summer, which means you’ll have less of a wait. (Read: More time on the beach.) Your best bet is to make an appointment.
Ocean Heights Plaza, 5 Bethel Road, Somers Point, 609-927-2916.