A small Del Mar room where nobody rushes your set
№ 01Nail studio in Del Mar
Shaping, cuticle care, and polish done at an unhurried pace, from a studio regulars have kept coming back to for years.
Opening times
- Mon–Sat 9 AM – 7 PM
- Sun Closed
- Same owner, Thu, for years
- A calm, uncrowded room
- Massage worked into spa pedicures
- Regulars who've returned for over 20 years
The real thing
Photos from Cali Nails’ Google Business Profile
№ 03 · Services
What we do
Full sets
01Full shaping, cuticle care, and polish or gel finish, done at the pace a good set actually needs.
Manicures & pedicures
02Classic hand and foot care — shaping, cuticle work, and polish — for anyone who wants clean, simple upkeep.
Gel & shellac
03Longer-wearing color applied in thin, even layers so it grows out clean instead of lifting at the edges.
Acrylics & fills
04New sets and fills shaped to a length you can live with, built up in layers instead of rushed on thick.
Spa pedicures
05A slower pedicure with foot and calf massage worked in — a Google reviewer called it the best massage she's had during a pedicure.
Nail art & design
06Simple lines, accents, or a full design added onto any set, done with the same attention as the base coat.
Not sure what to ask for? Call — we’ll talk it through.
Call to bookOne tech, full attention
Your appointment is worked by one person from start to finish, not passed between chairs.
Shaped before it's polished
Cuticle care and shaping happen before any color goes on, every visit.
Kept small on purpose
The room stays uncrowded rather than overbooked, so appointments aren't rushed.
A cute little salon that stays small on purpose
Cali Nails sits in a low-key storefront in Del Mar, the kind of room with stone paver tile underfoot and no crowd stacked in the waiting chairs. Thu has run it for years, and the shop still works the way a good one should: one tech, one set of hands, full attention on your nails until they're done. A Google reviewer put it plainly — no packed waiting room, no harsh smell in the air. Come in for a polish change or a full set and you'll notice the same thing regulars do: nobody's rushing you out the door.
“I’ve been going to Cali Nails for over 20 years. They do they best pedicures in San Diego! The owner, Thu, is the sweetest lady you’ll ever meet!”
“These ladies are outstanding! I just had the best massage ever from Hanan during my pedicure! I will never go anywhere else. Highly recommend making an appointment.”
“This is a delightful salon. Tho is as nice as she can be and does an outstanding job. She is a perfectionist. My nails are perfect every time.”
Del Mar, with regulars from Solana Beach and Carmel Valley
Find us in Del Mar, CA. Ask about a time.
good to know
- Do you take walk-ins or should I book ahead?
- Booking an appointment is the most reliable way to get seen without waiting, especially for a full set or a spa pedicure. Call ahead and we'll find a time that works.
- What's the difference between a regular and a spa pedicure?
- The spa pedicure takes the same shaping and polish work and adds a soak and massage through the foot and calf. If you want the extra time to unwind, that's the one to ask for.
- How do I keep a gel set from lifting?
- It starts with how it's applied — thin, even coats cured properly between layers. Coming back for a fill before the regrowth gets too obvious also keeps the edges from catching and peeling.
- Opening times
- Mon–Sat 9–7