A pair of aquariums is not what you generally expect in a nail spa. But there they are, front and centre at Tami’s in Montréal, QC. Slip off your shoes, slide onto a bench and plunge your legs knee-deep into a 223 l (50-gal) tank of fresh water. Here, your tootsies are welcomed by a swarm of hundreds of hungry Garra rufa, tiny toothless fish that set about nibbling away your dead skin, exfoliating those pesky rough heels and toes.

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, it tickles as they slide between your toes. It tingles like bubbles as they move across your skin. It’s weird. But it works.

The critters are called “doctor fish” because they’re used to treat skin conditions like psoriasis in many countries. They’re also an increasingly popular spa trend from Jakarta to New York City—and now Montréal. Vietnamese-born Tami Chu brought the freshwater fish back from South Korea, where even full-body treatments are common.

After 15 minutes in the water that’s continuously purified with a built-in UV system, the fish have had their fill. Your summer-smooth feet feel massaged, surprisingly invigorated and ready for the latest of Tami’s hundreds of nail polish colours that line the walls. The current rage: deep purple.

Tami Beauté des Ongles
60 Duluth East
Montréal, QC
514-842-8588