This location is closing soon. I was robbed in this location. The staff was not helpful. They wouldn’t even call the police when it was discovered my locker had been broken in to.
Erik D.
Oct 2019
I my father used to take me here when I was a kid. Different times. Now, the rudeness of the stocky female assistant manager is evident when she's asked a query. And then the men's room upkeep. For many years now I left then came back because it's close to my home. I can't wait until this place gets shut down and replaced by new management. It seems that they know they're being replaced and so they stopped caring. At Astor place one woman is at her desk viably foxing her nails instead of greeting new people. This place needs to get shutdown. Bathrooms are not kept well. The trainers act like they own the floors and they use the machines while on breaks. And don't wipe down now put away the weights after. Exclusively is dead here. If the new owners keep em, I'm not signing up. There's no such thing as exclusivity if they rehire the same staff. Poor customer service.
Ashley Shan
Sep 2019
Staff members are knowledgeable, friendly, and super helpful. The facilities are clean and classes are great. Highly recommend.
Audrey A.
Jan 2019
I love my gym because I have the best instructors in NYC- I really have to give the credit to Rosa Puerto for the spinning class. The music is great, she motivated you to work hard and to have the best workout ever! She is very professional, and always wants her class to feel good and get the best of the best of her class. Thank you
Sam Bowman
Jan 2019
I'll give it some credit for having a big sparsely-used pool for a reasonable price. It's in *much* worse condition than the five other NYHRC locations I've been to—all of those have been clean and professionally maintained (and in some cases actually stately/nice/impressive). The locker room was a mess (dirty shoes, food, and the like strewn around outside the lockers), the pool/shower area smelled mildewy, and there were visible stains and mildew all over the place. The pool deck was slimy in places.
Jonathan H.
Dec 2018
Not cheap but a great gym with a swimming pool, racquetball courts, basketball, sauna and steam room. Wide range of classes and personal trainers offered. Great equipment and nicely maintained. Men's locker room is generally clean and easy to use.
Banba Kumiko
Nov 2018
Strong class was the best!
Skyler F.
Nov 2018
Overpriced gym, poor customer service and old facility. Paid for training sessions only to find out that I would get a trainer who tried to sell me on his own private sessions during the time I was paying for training sessions at the gym. Gym refused to do anything about it when I told them. Cancelled my membership, I will find a new gym. I wouldn't go here again and would definitely train elsewhere if that is your intent.
Victoria O.
Oct 2018
It's funny to reread the review I wrote 5 years ago when I was a guest. I was overjoyed to find a jacuzzi and even more elated to meet legendary New York writer, Sidney Offit. But having spent four years at Equinox (3 Destination), you can't go back to a midline club. In the words of the 19th C German philosopher Friedrich Schiller in "Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man," your whole life seems "meager and impoverished" at any other gym. With only 8 clubs, it's not convenient. Commuting to the gym is psychic agony. Your whole routine/internal equilibrium is shot. For 283, I lived a life of luxury for the price of a single shrink session (Equinox is better than therapy), or 2/3 a private yoga lesson with top teacher. Reviews of 56th are not kind ( "a dump"). But you get what you pay for. This is affordable/low-cost. Pros: 1. Jacuzzi. Only strong jets in ANY gym jacuzzi in Manhattan. There was one at Equinox (and only one: W 67th). It was down for months, then did not work properly thereafter. Placement is not varied, so you cannot get upper back, neck, shoulders. But your lower body and forearms and hands: great! 2. Steam room is A+. Old school, hot, large. 23rd St is smaller and too bright. It's hard to relax in a room that blindingly white. 3. The showers are cramped (claustrophobic, even). And for a large woman, impossible. But the pressure is decent. By contrast, 23rd Street is new, large, and relatively fancy (they even have the same lockers with locks that 90% of Equinox clubs have, though older and cheaper wood). Nonexistent water pressure means I cannot wash/condition hair post-workoutl. Maybe 23rd Street has zoning regulations that 56th does not. But leaving a club with dirty sticky hair is unacceptable. 4. Friendliest employees. Lobby is nicer than rest of club. 5. Ethnic diversity: Premier clubs have plenty of ethnic diversity on the floor (trainers). Some in sales. Management? Almost never. 6. Laidback clientele. Totally different from the well-to-do crowd at Equinox (which I loved but many do not). Wholly other tax bracket/social class. 7. NICEST lifeguards in NY. (Also everyone down in the basement is 65-85, so maybe they're just happy to see a fit youngish girl, rather than someone who may need imminent rescue.) People here swim really slowly so swim late; circling is NOT an option. 8. Perfect pool water: temp and salt solution good. It's short. Equinox is 90 lengths or so for a mile; this is 103. Already 90 is a lot of turning around but this is more. . 9. Boat trips: you get cruises (2 when you sign up). The owners of NYHRC are very wealthy. In fact, Equinox 63rd pays them rent. That corporation owns the space, which I learned upon joining. This club isn't trying to bleed members dry. It's much more egalitarian. 10. Cheap: You can get a YEAR for 1250 if you pay upfront, 139/month for all 8 clubs if you commit to 12 months. Month-to-month: 159. If aesthetics don't matter to you, it's a more than functional club. And there are lots of classes--which I will never take. 11. BEST music. No house. 1980s-1990s. Fun. Cons: 1. 30 to 35 years out of date. Carpeting on stairs. Ceilings with holes, paint chipping, HIDEOUS royal blue in the weight room. Dark and sad. 2. No locks in the lockers. 2. No towels in showers, pool area, OR weight room! At Equinox, towels are everywhere. NYHRC provides towels but placed so that you don't use too many (presumably to cut laundry /water bills). 3. Pool aesthetics: 1970s, garish, plastic LSD situation---has dirt encrusted. So bad. The gross cream colored tile clashes with the horrid blue, plus the weirdo asphalt. It's like every renovation just proceeded atop the former one. It's a devastating shock after Equinox's Architectural Digest look. 4. Locker room: That floor has never, not even once, been clean. By the time you get up from shower, your feet are covered in dirt
Val E. GC
Jun 2018
Hands down the best gym I've been to! Personal trainers and staff are so friendly and helpful. PTs will give you tips on workouts if you ask them. Locker room is always clean and never smells. Eight floors of great equipment (although I spent most of my time in the weight room). Definitely recommend!
curtis lowrey
This location is closing soon. I was robbed in this location. The staff was not helpful. They wouldn’t even call the police when it was discovered my locker had been broken in to.
Erik D.
I my father used to take me here when I was a kid. Different times. Now, the rudeness of the stocky female assistant manager is evident when she's asked a query. And then the men's room upkeep. For many years now I left then came back because it's close to my home. I can't wait until this place gets shut down and replaced by new management. It seems that they know they're being replaced and so they stopped caring. At Astor place one woman is at her desk viably foxing her nails instead of greeting new people. This place needs to get shutdown. Bathrooms are not kept well. The trainers act like they own the floors and they use the machines while on breaks. And don't wipe down now put away the weights after. Exclusively is dead here. If the new owners keep em, I'm not signing up. There's no such thing as exclusivity if they rehire the same staff. Poor customer service.
Ashley Shan
Staff members are knowledgeable, friendly, and super helpful. The facilities are clean and classes are great. Highly recommend.
Audrey A.
I love my gym because I have the best instructors in NYC- I really have to give the credit to Rosa Puerto for the spinning class. The music is great, she motivated you to work hard and to have the best workout ever! She is very professional, and always wants her class to feel good and get the best of the best of her class. Thank you
Sam Bowman
I'll give it some credit for having a big sparsely-used pool for a reasonable price. It's in *much* worse condition than the five other NYHRC locations I've been to—all of those have been clean and professionally maintained (and in some cases actually stately/nice/impressive). The locker room was a mess (dirty shoes, food, and the like strewn around outside the lockers), the pool/shower area smelled mildewy, and there were visible stains and mildew all over the place. The pool deck was slimy in places.
Jonathan H.
Not cheap but a great gym with a swimming pool, racquetball courts, basketball, sauna and steam room. Wide range of classes and personal trainers offered. Great equipment and nicely maintained. Men's locker room is generally clean and easy to use.
Banba Kumiko
Strong class was the best!
Skyler F.
Overpriced gym, poor customer service and old facility. Paid for training sessions only to find out that I would get a trainer who tried to sell me on his own private sessions during the time I was paying for training sessions at the gym. Gym refused to do anything about it when I told them. Cancelled my membership, I will find a new gym. I wouldn't go here again and would definitely train elsewhere if that is your intent.
Victoria O.
It's funny to reread the review I wrote 5 years ago when I was a guest. I was overjoyed to find a jacuzzi and even more elated to meet legendary New York writer, Sidney Offit. But having spent four years at Equinox (3 Destination), you can't go back to a midline club. In the words of the 19th C German philosopher Friedrich Schiller in "Letters on the Aesthetic Education of Man," your whole life seems "meager and impoverished" at any other gym. With only 8 clubs, it's not convenient. Commuting to the gym is psychic agony. Your whole routine/internal equilibrium is shot. For 283, I lived a life of luxury for the price of a single shrink session (Equinox is better than therapy), or 2/3 a private yoga lesson with top teacher. Reviews of 56th are not kind ( "a dump"). But you get what you pay for. This is affordable/low-cost. Pros: 1. Jacuzzi. Only strong jets in ANY gym jacuzzi in Manhattan. There was one at Equinox (and only one: W 67th). It was down for months, then did not work properly thereafter. Placement is not varied, so you cannot get upper back, neck, shoulders. But your lower body and forearms and hands: great! 2. Steam room is A+. Old school, hot, large. 23rd St is smaller and too bright. It's hard to relax in a room that blindingly white. 3. The showers are cramped (claustrophobic, even). And for a large woman, impossible. But the pressure is decent. By contrast, 23rd Street is new, large, and relatively fancy (they even have the same lockers with locks that 90% of Equinox clubs have, though older and cheaper wood). Nonexistent water pressure means I cannot wash/condition hair post-workoutl. Maybe 23rd Street has zoning regulations that 56th does not. But leaving a club with dirty sticky hair is unacceptable. 4. Friendliest employees. Lobby is nicer than rest of club. 5. Ethnic diversity: Premier clubs have plenty of ethnic diversity on the floor (trainers). Some in sales. Management? Almost never. 6. Laidback clientele. Totally different from the well-to-do crowd at Equinox (which I loved but many do not). Wholly other tax bracket/social class. 7. NICEST lifeguards in NY. (Also everyone down in the basement is 65-85, so maybe they're just happy to see a fit youngish girl, rather than someone who may need imminent rescue.) People here swim really slowly so swim late; circling is NOT an option. 8. Perfect pool water: temp and salt solution good. It's short. Equinox is 90 lengths or so for a mile; this is 103. Already 90 is a lot of turning around but this is more. . 9. Boat trips: you get cruises (2 when you sign up). The owners of NYHRC are very wealthy. In fact, Equinox 63rd pays them rent. That corporation owns the space, which I learned upon joining. This club isn't trying to bleed members dry. It's much more egalitarian. 10. Cheap: You can get a YEAR for 1250 if you pay upfront, 139/month for all 8 clubs if you commit to 12 months. Month-to-month: 159. If aesthetics don't matter to you, it's a more than functional club. And there are lots of classes--which I will never take. 11. BEST music. No house. 1980s-1990s. Fun. Cons: 1. 30 to 35 years out of date. Carpeting on stairs. Ceilings with holes, paint chipping, HIDEOUS royal blue in the weight room. Dark and sad. 2. No locks in the lockers. 2. No towels in showers, pool area, OR weight room! At Equinox, towels are everywhere. NYHRC provides towels but placed so that you don't use too many (presumably to cut laundry /water bills). 3. Pool aesthetics: 1970s, garish, plastic LSD situation---has dirt encrusted. So bad. The gross cream colored tile clashes with the horrid blue, plus the weirdo asphalt. It's like every renovation just proceeded atop the former one. It's a devastating shock after Equinox's Architectural Digest look. 4. Locker room: That floor has never, not even once, been clean. By the time you get up from shower, your feet are covered in dirt
Val E. GC
Hands down the best gym I've been to! Personal trainers and staff are so friendly and helpful. PTs will give you tips on workouts if you ask them. Locker room is always clean and never smells. Eight floors of great equipment (although I spent most of my time in the weight room). Definitely recommend!