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Barbell Brigade

4.6 (200 reviews)
Open 5:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
Updated 2 months ago

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Recommended Reviews - Barbell Brigade

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First Name L.

it's a no-frills, simple gym geared towards bodybuilders and power lifters. Everyone minds their own business and I was able to get a great leg day in. The day pass is $25, it's cheaper than golds. There will be gym rat influencers with tripods, but it's mostly powerlifting influencers.

I absolutely love this gym! It is my home and the community is amazing. I walk in & greeted with a smile. Barbell brigade is a place that I can be to support my wins and losses. No matter what they support my dreams and goals. The entire staff is incredible as well.

I was at a typical gym before coming here. I had trained at said gym for 5 years & felt like I had gotten to the point of needing to find another gym or powerlifting gym that would fill the needs of what I did in order to progress. I felt like the gym I was at made me very stagnant in my progression. I tried Barbell Brigade a few times here & there & loved it every single time I trained there. It felt amazing with the vibe, energy & people in general. The equipment is by far one of the best well equipped gyms around. Every time I came here, I always had what I needed to train or even learned new ways to train because of the variety they have in all their equipment. This year, I decided to get a 5 day pass & try it out way more often. Then, after the 5 day pass was done, my mind was made up & decided to leave my gym & join Barbell Brigade once & for all. I just wish I had joined earlier & had been able to train with proper equipment. Barbell Brigade is such an amazing & incredible powerlifting gym. Would I recommend it to anyone? Heck yeah!

Power lifting gym
Maria K.

Exceptional place for power lifting fans! Nice gym, great equipment, friendly staff and great atmosphere

entrance
Jeron W.

Barbell Brigade is an iconic gym that's quite famous in the area through its strong social media presence. I was quite excited to go as many of my friends have gone before and have a few friends who have memberships there. The equipment there is really good, there's quite an assortment to choose from. Powerlifters are sure to love the selection and abundance of squat rack spots. My only gripe is the pretty expensive day pass. The gym knows how to capitalize on its fame by charging $20 per day pass which is almost as much as my monthly membership for my local gym.

Tram N.

I drove a little over an hour to workout here. I reached out to them in advance to see if I can take Gavin here. They got back to me w/in 24 hours and told me that he is welcomed to wait in the lobby where there is a couch or on the turf w/ me. Obviously a waiver needed to be signed but I am no beginner at that because he goes to Smash Gym w/ me in San Jose and I did the same thing at Elev8 Performance in Huntington Beach 2 years ago. + $20 for a day pass. Same price everywhere else. + Friendly atmosphere. Family-like feel. + Music blaring. No need for your headphones. + Racks on racks. + Each rack can have 2 squatters. + They have rubber and metal plates. + Restroom facility is clean and have a digital scale. + Film-friendly. + First time I saw 55lb bar (so used to the 45lbs). + Love their deadlift platforms. + Cold Monster Zero (white cans) readily available. "Dominate Humbly" fits the atmosphere at this gym perfectly. Regardless if you are an athlete, a beginner, someone who just want to be active and healthy, or just someone that enjoys lifting heavy... this place IS for you. Gavin ended up doing squats and deadlifts w/ me. It was the perfect mother and son date. Thank you for this wonderful experience. If you are lucky, you will see Amanda Bucci... :) Powerlifting = my love!

Gerry M.

"Surround yourself with people who empower you to become better. -sayquotable . ‍First time at Barbell Brigade gym and it was an awesome experience! They have a variety of high quality powerlifting equipment, the ambience is set for serious hardcore lifting, and the staff and weighlifters were very friendly and supportive.‍

...probably what heaven looks like
Kaulana D.

...canoe list check off. After trolling Barbell Brigade for a year, the opportunity presented itself for a drop in as I was in Cali. Easy to find and a great place to lift. Parking - street parking is free with a couple of one-day stipulations (Friday I believe is street sweeping day) but the location itself lends to ease of parking on the street which is free (non-metered) Staff - friendly and welcoming, huge plus, sorry for forgetting his name but Devante/Delante? was a huge presence of aloha, mahalo sir, 10/10. Situation - since it was my first time there I signed a waiver and my info via iPad which took no longer than a couple of minutes, 9/10 Fee - only there for 1 day so it was $20...bonus Yelp $5 off when you "check in" via yelp, 910 Facilities - clean and organized, 10/10 Equipment - coming from 24 HR Fitness in Kapiolani, Oahu, I was a kid in a candy store here as they have reverse hypers, GHD machine and choke (a plethora) squat rigs. Add in Deadlift platforms, rogue bench, 3 comp type benches and a great mobility area and I should've been paying more for rent. Chalk it up, chains, all kinds of specialty bars; kabuki-type Bench, SSB, Deadlift, Bamboo, football, etc. they also have slingshots for benching and bands for mobility use. 10/10 for equipment. I lifted around 1 pm to about 3 pm and it was fairly empty at the beginning. It started picking up at the end of my workout there and the vibe is a lot of head nodding and appreciation when u see someone lifting heavy shit and vice versa. Big mahalo to braddah who told me that I had the SSB bar the wrong way...no ego, all aloha! Big shout out to braddah Andrew for the spot as he just moved to LA and joined the gym a couple of months ago. All in all, I'd recommend this place to all my ohana and friends who want to lift heavy shit at a world class gym. Negative reviews revolve around hours and price...my take; I am happy to pay for value and Barbell Brigade is worth every bit of my hard earned $$$ if I were to live in LA and train there.

Exterior

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3 months ago

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3 months ago

Been training here for 10 years, shout out to Ronny for always getting the SSB out and playing the same song 10x for me lol

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1 year ago

Customer support at this gym sucks. They don't care. Even when you're patient and respectful.

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Ask the Community - Barbell Brigade

Can I walk in to buy supplements (pre workout)?

Yes They have a variety of supplements They have vitamins, greens, protein, preworkout, and immune… Read more

How much is the day pass now (2021)?

$20

Can you vlog (for youtube) some of your lifts inside?

Absolutely. If you are bringing a crew with you, however, please contact the gym before coming to ensure accommodation is possible.

How much is this gym per month?

100 general 90 students 80 ems/ military… Read more

Do people need to commit for a whole year or can we do month to month? Do you guys have personal…

It was month-to-month when I signed up in the middle of 2020. Also, I do believe they have PT services (I've seen trainers there before), but I haven't used them myself.

Are you guys open during Covid? Some gyms have been conducting business outside.

We are opening for outdoor training only. We have 2 deadlift platforms, 6 squat cages, up to 200lb dumbbells, leg Press, leg curl, cable machines and belted squat machine available to use. We are running on a block schedule at the moment, head over… Read more

Douchebag vibe? Most lifters at my current gym are typical gym douchebag bullies. Are there a lot of bullies here? It looks like there are.

Absolutely not. Pretty chill, girl at the front desk was very helpful and showed me around when I visited. It's a mix of average Joe's and some serious lifters but all smiles.

Do they have showers?

No, there are no showers at Barbell.

Equipment rental fee ( chalk or shoes etc)?

Chalk is free No shoe rentals tho. They got all the equipment you'll need

Do they have boxing equipment there? So people can do boxing?

There's an indoor and outdoor bag available. You'll need to bring your own gloves though.

Do they sell Barbell Brigade Apparel at the gym?

We sell a curated selection of some of our best gear at the gym, but carry our full line on our website www.barbellbrigade.com

Do they have trainers or do you work out on your own? And if yes, around how much does the trainer charge?

Yes we do! (You are free to either work with one of our certified coaches or train on your own) Please contact us at (323) 225-2251 for more information about our Barbell Brigade Gym Training Department. Rates vary by curriculum.

How much is the day pass?

$20, $18 if you check in and use the Yelp offer

Is there an age limit to enter?

If you are under 18 you need a parent or guardian to sign a waiver

How much is barbell brigades membership?

$100 per month

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Review Highlights - Barbell Brigade

Everyone's been to a commercial gym (24hr or LA fitness) but this place is a completely different type of gym.

Mentioned in 20 reviews

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EōS Fitness

EōS Fitness

2.9(608 reviews)
1.2 miChinatown

No Airconditioning AND It's HOT!…read moreSince this gym opened in 2018..2019 Thr Airconditioning Has Never Worked Propeely! This gym needs an overhaul by a competent Company!

Review for EōS Fitness - DTLA Overall, I've had a fair…read moreexperience at EōS. My personal trainer was excellent -- professional, knowledgeable, and motivating. I truly appreciated that part of my membership. However, my main concern is customer service, specifically the front desk and contract cancellation process. I signed up for four months of personal training and was fully aware that cancellation requires notice one month prior to the end date. I followed that policy. Unfortunately, actually canceling was unnecessarily tedious and time-consuming. I repeatedly called at 8:00 AM -- the time I was told the "specialists" who handle cancellations begin work -- only to hear that they were running late, with a client, in a meeting, etc. Each time, I was told my name and number would be taken and I'd receive a call back. That call never came. After multiple attempts, I finally reached a specialist on December 8, 2025, who confirmed over the phone that my personal training was canceled and that I was "all set." It is now February 27, 2026 -- and I am still being charged for personal training sessions. When I called to resolve this ongoing billing issue, the front desk receptionist was rude and dismissive. I understand she does not have authority to cancel contracts, but her response of "I just answer the phones. I can't help you," was unacceptable. Customer service is not just about authority -- it's about ownership, communication, and helping direct the issue to someone who can resolve it. People work. People have responsibilities. No one has unlimited time to continuously call a business to fix an error that should have been handled months ago. Because of the repeated billing issue and the lack of professionalism in how it has been handled, they have officially lost me as a client as of today. I work hard for my money. I respected their policies and procedures, yet I was treated as if my time, my money, and my membership didn't matter . It's okay. I'll go -- and I won't be looking back. I'm also taking the three friends I recommended with me. #DoBetter

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EōS Fitness
EōS Fitness
EōS Fitness

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Pharos Athletic Club

Pharos Athletic Club

4.7(86 reviews)
2.2 miEcho Park

I really enjoyed working out here for all of 2025! It's clean, the people are friendly, and you…read morereally get a sense of community here. When you join, you get guest passes to invite friends and family to join you. And it works! One friend liked it so much, he joined the gym. We started lifting together. But then we were told personal trainers were not allowed. That's cool, this is my friend tho. But we understood why. There are other trainers doing their job, it can be distracting hearing someone nearby pontificate about squat form. So any discussions about lifting turned to a whisper "Hey man, your squats off. Try this." "Wrist looked a little limp. Try this." But despite that, we got a final warning email that threatened to kick us out if we continued working out together. That was disheartening. And the more I think about this, the more confused I get. You encourage friends and family joining with guest passes, give them a discount, then are scolded for working out with friends and family? I reflect back on the year, and realize this has been happening right in front of me. Familiar faces were always solo, duos a blip. The 5 people who still Yelp, I implore you to consider, what constitutes personal training? What constitutes advice? Is it the certification of a Pharos approved trainer? They say it's a matter of safety, but I think it's just code for "This is a community that wants you fully invested in their classes and coaches, not each other." So I'm writing this review to warn anyone thinking about joining that potentially may work out with a friend. Your heads may be next. Overall: The space? Great. People? Great. Equipment? Great. Pricing? Steep as fuck. 4 1/2 stars!

tl; dr? Love it. Great people, great equipment. Has everything I need…read more *** September 1, 2024 was my first day back in "the gym"---that is to say, any gym---in many years. I played sports thru college, transitioning into competitive triathlon, but was hit with very serious medical issues and surgeries and treatments took me *OUT* in the 2010s. I thought I'd never get back to my normal self, threw my time/energy into work, and resigned myself to a life on the sidelines. I'm fortunate to have a partner who was having none of it, knew I deep-down wanted and needed to get back, so he bought me a membership. I blushed and grimaced at the price I knew he was paying---I grew up on public assistance, so to *me*, this place is wild---but I accepted the gift, starting going, and never looked back. On my 1-yr anniversary of coming to Pharos, I emailed them this-- "I cannot believe it's been a year. Truly. What a difference it's made in my mental, physical, and emotional well-being. I found sleep, again. And while I continue to emphasize *former*, as in "former athlete" whenever my past comes up, I feel like I'm regaining some of what I lost with my health battles. You're part of that. I'm in remote Yup'ik/Cup'ik territory (AK) for a cultural gathering---here since Tue night---or else I'd be getting it in at Pharos Echo Park today. Thank you, all, so much. m" --but in talking with a phenomenal staffer, the inimitable Sue Shaheen, felt moved to write an actual review and share more publicly about the journey I've been on because Pharos has been a central part. Maybe all of these things are corny to say and share, but they're true. I have always felt welcome and comfortable at Pharos, and that's something I did not expect when I began. The anxieties and intimidation I had about going to a gym and "starting all over" were my own, about my own internal insecurities and the fact that I was a shell of who I was, mentally & physically (I'm 5'6 and wasn't even 100lbs when I started back. I was pretty broken! I still wear a mask every day for health reasons, but no one's weird or aggressive about it.). From the first folks who helped orient me---Kevin & Andre---to other trainers, coaches, and staff I've met over time--s/o to Sue, Joe, Abigayle, Alan, Nick, Cynthia, Alex, Kate, Micheli, Jesse, & more (please forgive any misspellings!)---everyone has been encouraging and supportive. Comrades using the gym have been warm and kind, as well. There's nothing quite like having someone you've never talked to, catch your eyes and go, "hell yeah, GET IT!" as you're struggling for that last rep. It's a good place with good people. As for equipment, there are tons of machines and free weights, which are more than enough for me; I'm here to lift and I don't need fancy. Still, if you compare my photo of the area they call "The Base" (the only space I use) to a photo of the same space here on Yelp from 2021, I think you'll see there's equipment that's been added, and it always feels like they're attempting to grow more. I'm an early morning person, and btwx the variety of machines/weights and the fact that there's no real "crowd" at that time, I never get stuck waiting for my next move/set. When necessary, again, b/c of the variety of equipment available, it's very easy to adapt a workout or move for a particular target muscle to what's available. Is everything perfect? I imagine not. I'm not using the facilities to the max, I'm not taking classes, I don't care about the music, I don't need saunas and pools and ice baths, and I'm just generally not a demanding person, so maybe I'm not able to thoroughly critique every aspect of this gym. But I don't need perfection. I need basic equipment that's functioning and available, and for the athletic space I'm sharing to not be overrun with cops & military. I have everything I need at Pharos and I am grateful to them every day.

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Pharos Athletic Club
Pharos Athletic Club - Insie

Insie

Pharos Athletic Club

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John Reed Fitness - Downtown LA - Sarah second breaker class

John Reed Fitness - Downtown LA

4.1(295 reviews)
2.9 miDowntown

I been a member for over a year and I stlll love this gym! It may have some issues but they strive…read moreto repair it soon as possible. I went from equinox to this gym. I been taking classes at John reed and I felt more comfortable and build confidence and consistency. What make this gym unique? Definitely the ambience. The group instructor had made my experience very comfortable. This place have achieve exceeded my expectation. I love love love Sarah Pace she definitely have a unique work out. I have already taken her circuit breaker, mobility, hardcore core, cycling classes. She Fun, loving and caring. She made my experience comfortable and she know enough American sign language. It Is very helpful to achieve the work outs when I can't hear. Her choice of music is superb. She knows her audiences and watches us and make adjustments if needed to be. Darien pushes you hard to your limit or beyond your limit. His work out is intense. He put in the work and really listens to you're needs. His indoor cycling class is over the top and love every moment of it. He is good at his job! Johnny boost class only class I take when I can take when it wasn't conflicted with the other classes I take. He really good group instructor. He take pride to make sure everyone doesn't get hurt during workout! Justin cycling class is a different level. Easy to follow! I feel this gym does so well being unique. Not everyday I take a moment to write about my gym experience. This gym is on pricy side but it's worth every penny I paid to be member. Best decision I ever made. I love our front desk greets me Every time I enter and leave. Very welcoming! Please don't change the content where I am happy.

I recently canceled my membership, I have visited all three locations. Santa Monica and WeHo are…read moregreat -- but do yourself a favor and do not sign up at the DTLA location. The facility itself is average but acceptable, and the front desk staff have always been pleasant and professional. The real issue here is management. The General Manager, Daria, presents herself with a polite smile, but it becomes clear she expects people to cater to her rather than focusing on clients or supporting her own staff. Follow-through is nonexistent; concerns are acknowledged with empty promises that never turn into action. If this location replaced its current management with someone capable and engaged, it would likely run far more smoothly. Until then, don't be fooled by the surface-level friendliness -- there's nothing meaningful behind it.

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John Reed Fitness - Downtown LA - Indoors

Indoors

John Reed Fitness - Downtown LA - Sitting area downstairs

Sitting area downstairs

John Reed Fitness - Downtown LA - Amazing atmosphere I would recommend this place to work out if you are in the area!! also Marisa had amazing customer

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Amazing atmosphere I would recommend this place to work out if you are in the area!! also Marisa had amazing customer

Los Angeles Athletic Club - This is the "Brandon Special" by Esther, not on the menu.  I don't know what's in it but it's delish.

Los Angeles Athletic Club

3.8(190 reviews)
2.2 miDowntown

I recently stayed here for a conference, and everything screamed vintage but athletic club, too…read more The hotel room is VERY spacious, though it erred on the side of dark. As usual, water in the room costs money, and there are a few other products with hidden price tags in the room, too. Surprisingly, toothbrush and toothpaste was not provided. The water for showering also doesn't get too hot. In terms of the athletic space, the machines were very easy to access. There was never a wait even on weekend afternoons. The lap pool was my favorite part - clean and calm. There was some miscommunication between the lobby and the store, as one said there is no reservation system but there in fact was. But even when told all the lanes were fully reserved, more than half weren't in use. Parking is a bit of a hassle; for non-members it's definitely not worth it. At the time of visit, the parking machine wasn't working. There are also sperate elevators for parking vs the athletic club / hotel area which was a little confusing. The stair numbers also didn't coordinate the best with actual level.

My sister has been a long time member and tonight I hosted my first event for her at LAAC and the…read moreteam was incredible! Pedro (the man) was in charge of our happy hour and came out the gate, straight in charge, as I navigated hosting my first professional event and was exceptionally friendly and helpful! Extra shout out to our amazing bartender Georgette who was -- AMAZING! Pedro, Georgette and the whole staff were extremely friendly, professional and our ensured our first company happy hour was smooth and lively. 5 stars, gold stars! Highy recommend and can't wait for our next company event here with such a great team of support staff Extra kudos to Georgette and Pedro for their services and helping me guarantee a sure lock-in for our first (and many more) events and ensuring i looked goos foe our company event. Thank you so much!!

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Los Angeles Athletic Club - Sliders

Sliders

Los Angeles Athletic Club - Fish tacos

Fish tacos

Los Angeles Athletic Club - Stairway to speakeasy

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Stairway to speakeasy

Fitness Forum

Fitness Forum

5.0(9 reviews)
3.7 miAtwater Village

I met Henry about 2 years ago when he joined as one of the athletic coach's at Burbank High school…read more From the first day he's always been full of great and positive energy training our players and offered to train me as well. I've been training with Henry for 2 years now working on speed, agility strength and have learned and seen massive improvements. As a soccer player I never really went to the gym and thought it was a waste of time but Henry has taught me the importance of off the field work, how to fuel my body, and most importantly take care of my body. He's positive energy and motivation has kept me pushing and wanting to train more with him. He always pushes me to reach my maximum potential and he truly is the best trainers out there.

After years of being terrified to enter a gym because 1) I felt unsure about how to structure a…read moreworkout, 2) I was overweight and felt insecure about my body, and 3) I HATED working out, I have finally found a gym and a trainer that make me look forward to exercising. I have been working with Henry for about a month now, and I already feel like this will be the place that I'll be coming for the rest of my life. As a trainer, Henry is kind, patient, and encouraging, but he will also push you because he knows you're capable of it. He is also a truly gifted teacher, and he's been helping me learn about proper form and how to structure my workouts so that I can avoid injury. I also really appreciate that Henry tailors his work with you based upon your own goals. Learning how to work out properly was really important to me, and he's gone out of his way to help me understand how to exercise in a way that never makes me feel silly or weird for not already knowing this stuff. I genuinely look forward to my workouts with Henry -- a sentence I never thought that I would say! If you're someone like me who has struggled with finding a comfortable gym environment, I cannot recommend Henry or the other amazing trainers at this gym enough. I feel so grateful to have found this place!!

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Fitness Forum
Fitness Forum
Fitness Forum

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Barbell Brigade - gyms - Updated May 2026

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