It is very strict here. They have 30 days cancellation policy. Even though my dad joined this past Saturday 4/25 and only went once and then asked to cancel 4/29, they charged 1 month through his insurance. His knee hurts after exercising so decided not to continue. He gave me his card but the registration person said cannot share card even though he canceled and not using it. His picture showed up when I tried to sign in with the card. The facility here is also not good compared to Fitness SF. Adult membership is $91 and Senior is $81 so not much of a discount even though his is paid for by Kaiser. They have free resistance band workout every other Wednesday at the Union Square plaza at 8am. It's a free class and the instructor is nice. read more

Chinatown YMCA is interesting ..I was 40 years old or so when I first visited ..nice ..swimming pool ..many levels

I agree with reviewers who complain re customer service. Lifeguards blast loud heavy metal "music" so loud you hear it in the locker room, underwater, etc. The volume gives me a headache. I can hear it underwater). Plus the clanky quality is bad at any volume. Most businesses use a set playlist so the workers don't choose "music" the customers hate. Tell the Life Guards that while at *work* they must follow rules and use common sense. Whoever blasts that music at the Lifeguard Stand seems to lack common sense, so should he really be a Lifeguard? read more

This is a great YMCA and has very caring team members and engaged members. I really enjoyed my visit to this YMCA. read more

Chinatown YMCA - Swimming Pools Near Me - San Francisco, California

This review is on their summer camp program only. If you have a hyperactive kid, I would say please search far and wide before considering Chinatown YMCA as your summer camp option. I had signed up my then 5 year old kid there a few summers ago, and hesitated to write this review until I made sure there were more viable options for my neurodivergent kid. I can tell you now that there are better options other than Chinatown YMCA especially if the kid is 6 years old and up. Prior to registering for their summer camp, I had called their office multiple times to explain that my child is neurodivergent, and they reassured me that their staff has experience working with kids who are different learners. Also, weeks before camp started, I had emailed my kid's 504 plan to the camp coordinator. The person who they hired for this role did not open my email until the day my kid started attending the camp. After one full day of camp, they told us they are not equipped to work with my kid and we were left with no childcare for the rest of the summer. The teenagers/college age counselors receive limited training to work with little kids. Please take caution. read more

I have been to this YMCA before and the activiitie the I took was Swimming Lesson which was a long time ago during when I was in High School.... And this year I did another fun Activity which was volunteering at the ŸMĈÀ with my Fŕìèñð Ðàvìð 朋友 Péngyǒu Dà wèi & His Sister Ada & Her Friend 我的朋友大卫和他的妹妹艾达 Wǒ de péngyǒu dà wèi hé tā de mèimei ài dáat at the ŸMĆÃ 5K 10k Řãćê!!!!! And Coolest That We All Got Was Taking A ŸMĆÀ Ÿèàŕ Òf Ťĥè Ŕàìť 5Ƙ & 10Ƙ Ŕàćê Mèďàĺ We also got a Fŕèê ŸMĈÃ 5ƙ 10ķ Ť Śĥìŕť just for Volunteering At The ŸMĆÃ 5ķ 10ƙ Ŕàčè!!!!! If you Ÿéĺpēřs & Ÿëľpèťťèŝ like Volunteering for a 5ķ 10ƙ Ŕãćé Try going to the ŸMĆÃ it's a fun activity to do!!!!! read more

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My kid took 3 periods of the swimming classes and still scared go under the water And He learn swimming in one week somewhere else when we go summer vacation read more

Loved the swimming pool. No joke - saltwater pool! It's clean, and size is acceptable. Shower room is generally clean and tidy. Staff quite nice and helpful. read more

June 12, 2025 My most favorite exercise at the Chinatown YMCA in San Francisco is BODYPUMP, instructed by a Carol L. Her classes are always so much fun, in which she really knows how to motivate me to lift a particular weight and to make each movement count. Her kind and generous attention to my condition, with a recent injured left arm is truly appreciated. May 22, 2025 With a left "frozen shoulder," I hesitated but did attend an Aqua Fit group exercise in the salt water at the YMCA in Chinatown in San Francisco this Thursday's morning. Before the exercise started, I informed our instructor, LaKee Brandin Tolliver, of my injured arm. He calmly advised me to go at my own pace. Throughout the exercise, LaKee had often watched over and provided me with the needed encouragement, also clarification on specific proper movements. His instruction was clear, easy and fun to follow. A great teacher, indeed. read more

Wonderful community, great facilities, friendly people. A historic spot and organization.

I only use the gym itself, but find it and the building to be outstanding from staff to equipment and cleanliness and overall facilities i see. Really impressed with friendly staff that can answer an equipment use question from the service desk on the gym floor with some energy and attention. Equipment is well maintained. Love that this is fully integrated into the Chinatown community and the historic preservation in the building and some of the history i was able to find in the hallways. It's super clean and bright. Fortunately, i am able to come at non-peak hours. Because of the limited size of the main gym floor it may prove a bit crowded during rush hours, but never in my experience--it feels way less like a typical high-energy warehouse facility--it's generally quiet and mellow on the workout floor while everything promotes a good workout. The gym at Chinatown YMCA is a win for me! read more

I took a hit class Monday 12pm by Shira. That class was aahhhhazing! Warm up was just great amount for me, and then love the circuits that got me moving my whole body. The class was divided into two sides and I did my thing with different other workouts for the upper and the other side did things for the legs as a primary workout. I had so much fun and enjoyed the class so much that I got a selfie and can't wait to take the class again. I sweat and felt the burn. Also the ab workout in the end was fat killin. Thank you for having such a great class and helping me become my best self. read more

Chinatown YMCA - Thanks Shira - Swimming Pools Near Me - San Francisco, California

The Chinatown YMCA is great! The building is very clean and new and all the equipment is in pristine condition. The YMCA gym membership pricing can't be beat! I highly recommend getting a Y membership to all my friends and family. read more

I've been a member of the Buchanan YMCA for 3 days, have done 2 classes at the Chinatown YMCA, and already I feel like the monthly fee has paid for itself! The first class was Vinyasa Yoga 2 on Sunday morning led by Wendy. That class alone I thought was worth my monthly fee! She was caring, welcoming, warm, funny, friendly, and knew everyone's name, taking care to ask new people's names and to say their names aloud in class. The class was very diverse--there were some tech bros, some Chinese grandmothers, a 4th grade girl and her mom, some teenagers and young adults, and some women who looked like they just came from Soul Cycle. Wendy seemed to connect with everyone--I'll definitely be back for any class she teaches, especially that Sunday morning yoga: some students went to her two yoga classes back to back! The other class I attended was Zumba. Led by Ailin, the class was just as diverse and just as fun! My Apple Watch said I burned ~500 calories and just like that, I've found my new Monday night fitness club. The Y's facilities are modern, clean, and updated. Staff is very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. I love the tight-knit community there and all of the outreach and community work they do for the local area. After these two classes in three days, I can't imagine going back to any other gym. The classes are high-quality and there's great variety! Is there a way to tip instructors or donate extra? Once I've been working for longer, I need to find out! read more

YMCA should really invest on their facilities especially their lockers, there's a frequent burglary going on in the branch. My wallet got stolen in my locker, i lost everything. This is not an isolated case, i feel like the branch is not doing anything to really PREVENT and SECURE the place. This is such a shame because I love going to YMCA Chinatown, all the staff are nice and kind. But this is not the first time that someone stole something in the Girl's locker room read more

The Chinatown YMCA sits on a steep slope in San Francisco's historic Chinatown neighborhood. The architecture of the building is so fascinating... it honors the Chinese history with a traditional Chinese architecture integrated into a modernized building. The front desk is not the most friendly, but they get the job done. There is no hot tub, but there is a pool that has lap swimming available whenever the facility is open. The fitness floor is well equipped for Cardio. I have never had to wait for a treadmill here. And the barbells and free weights are plentiful. There is also a nice set of stretching equipment that includes foam rollers, yoga balls, and elastics. The locker rooms are small, but fully featured. Pro-tip: Bring your own lock for lockers, but if you forget you can borrow one at the front desk. read more

Chinatown YMCA - Fitness floor emphasizes cardio equipment. - Swimming Pools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this gym. Since my 24 hour fitness contract ended I had been looking for a gym with a decent pool. My high end options were Club One, Equinox etc. I was not about to pay $100+ a month for the privilege of swimming at someone's facility. On the lower end Crunch has no pools. 24 hour fitness has terribly chlorinated pools that are too far from my house. Chinatown Y is a brand new facility with a saline pool that doesn't irritate my eyes. The staff are uber-friendly and as of yet has not been too crowded. The crowd is decidedly asian and I love that. Has a community center feel to it. I love the Y becauese it's not about profits. I work in education and i feel great having my $60 a month going to programs for students and elders as opposed to line someone's pockets. I love my spin instructor Amanda and the lifeguards for master's swim have been really nice. I definitely recommend this place. read more

Chinatown YMCA - Swimming Pools Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Super clean & a terrific value! Pluses: 2 personal orientation sessions with membership; Available machines; A saline pool (!); Modern fitness room; Variety of classes; An outside patio; Community & family oriented environment!!! Lots of space... read more

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I've been to the Presidio, Soma and the Chinatown YMCA. This is my favorite one. Seems the cleanest, it's located in a bustling neighborhood and the building has so much history. The pool is half saline and half chlorine, which feels really nice on your skin. read more

Best place wherein you get the feel of authentic settlements...lots of shops ,lots of souvenir in sale plus their tea shop etc

They won't let you go in the gym when your 11 year old. When I was all year old boy I wanted to use the gym into a man came up to me and said you can be in here your not old enough I told him why he responded you have to be 19 or over to go in the gym read more

Not about the Y itself but the kind of members that frequent this facility! I have a service animal and require the handicapped shower. Today, I patiently waited about 20 min to have access to the stall when the other person took their time. I said absolutely nothing but wait. I went in there 3 min later, another rude member said loudly, "are you done?" I said, "I just started. The previous person took 30 min prior to me." She went off and continued to gossip to her friend about the stall being unavailable. Why are you surprised that people actually dare to state a rebuttal? First, stop your entitlement attitude, it is first come and first serve. Wait patiently and shut your loud mouth if you need access. Time and time again, I have witnessed you and many others like you purposefully claim that because you are elderly, you feel the need to take hours using the shower when the notice clearly stated to you that you need to conserve water, and secondly give priority to handicapped individuals. Finally, your gossip in Chinese is loud and clear throughout the locker room amist all the shower water. This is how loud you are and that others including some Westerners understand every words of yours clearly. There is no sound puffers, just shower curtains. Just because you are old, you are not automatically allow to publicly shame others and take on the behaviors of a high schoolers. Even teens using this facility have proven to be more rule binding and understanding. I have no problem you feel entitled but keep your attitude and loud mouth to yourselves only. The world will be a much better place if you would stop feeling entitled just because you are old, this extends to not just inside the woman's locker room. My food for thought for you is you may win by the numbers of your years on earth, but are you winning by your wisdoms and leading a good example for society? read more

Best vibe and experience. Top notch instructors. I would like to call out A'Lisa and Sabrina. One class with either...and you will be hooked. They pay attention to everyone in the class...making sure your form is correct to prevent injuries. All the instructors are excellent. Can't forget Wendy said Lucia. All instructors have a different style. Very motivational. read more

Great gym and classes. I'm a total newbie to serious training/lifting and am getting the support/assistance I need. It is clean, brightly lit and rarely very crowded. I have yet to try the salt water pool, but it is worth a mention. Lots of classes in tai chi and various training regimens. read more

My rating is not based on the facilities, which look pret-ty freaking amazing after the renovation. **warning, going off-track here...They have a brand new saline pool, yes that's right, say it with me. S-A-L-I-N-E, saline, you're no longer going to smell like C-H-L-O-R-I-N-E after coming out of their pool. They've done a great job on the architecture, incorporating the old with the new. And the fitness center is like music to my muscles... just gorgeous and definitely more than just on par with the gazillion other fitness centers in the financial district. However, what really brings me to my super high rating is the sense of community and family that permeates throughout this YMCA. When you do their summer camps, there's history behind them. Some kid's grandpa probably started something at this camp. When you go to their camps as a kid, as a camper, as a volunteer, as a counselor, you're not just staff. You're part of the family, part of something bigger than just camp. And that's what makes this Y different from many other organizations or YMCAs out there. Families go to the YMCA. And not just families, generations of families - great-grandparents, grandparents, parents, kids, and their potential kids went and all go to the Y. So do it. Become a part of this family. PS - I hear their Residence Camp has amazing food. Their butterscotch brownies are to die for. Literally, they're that amazing. read more

Lately I've been feeling happy yet stuck in my head with outside worldly rubbish. I need a nice peaceful affordable place to go Swim and take some dance or yoga classes.I'm not cheap but I have to be wise. Wow.....the Chinatown YMCA is sooo affordable and has the Greatiest pool in the city.They have much variety of classes and my son has friends that go too. The pool is such a good way to unwind. If you are wanting a great community outlet come check it out. I feel this spot has a wonderful vibe. Yea hey....Cheers read more

Chinatown YMCA - Swimming Pools Near Me - San Francisco, California

Bear in mind, this is a review of the fitness center only as I don't use any other amenity. I recently moved to Nob Hill and needed to find a gym close by. I'm really happy I chose the Y instead of ClubOne, Crunch or any other gym. It's affordable ($60 per month), new and clean, and the staff is very friendly and attentive. The best part is it's not crowded at all. There are 10 treadmills, 10 ellipticals, and several bikes. I go there for cardio every weekday at 8AM and a bit later on weekends and I've never seen more than 5 machines being used at once. Amazing! The gym has a good selection of weights and machines (Dumbells up to 100lbs, Smith Machine, several benches, etc.). It's adequate for someone who wants a descent workout but won't be enough for serious bodybuilders/powerlifters (i.e. No squat rack). There's free wifi and the cardio machines have TVs/iPod players. Shout out to Nercy, who gave me a great tour and made me feel welcomed immediately. Highly recommended if you're looking for a well-equipped, clean and uncrowded gym! read more

I went there for a year to swim, it was great. The soft water is very nice. Everything is clean and new, you have cardio/workout room upstairs that is never too packed. read more

I'm a big fan of the Y. During the day, its calm and quiet, and each one is a little different and special in it's own way. This Y.. when you walk in there's a lap /recreational pool. The locker room is modern and doesn't reek of mildew and sweat.. showers have curtains. I went upstairs and they have a Youth Activity area, ping-pong, basketball court, bbq pit and sort of a courtyard. The gym is up on the 3rd floor, fewer machines than what I'm used to, but the equipments are new have more than one purpose.. ie. There's fly cables, squat racks, deadlift padding, free weights, adjustable benches, mats, treadmills/ellipticals, and everything else. I'd go here more often if I didn't have to walk so far from Downtown. read more

Gotta give it up to my local Y. I've been swinging by this Y for the past year whenever I'm in the neighborhood. A few times, I've been continuously surprised (due to my own faulty memory) to see that the gym closes quite early on the weekends (5pm on Sunday). It's not the first time where I've eagerly pumped myself up to burn off a few calories only to be dismayed at the darkened, locked doors at 5:10 pm on a Sunday. Well...when it is open, it literally feels like a community center bustling with people from young to old. And writing this review, I'm a bit disappointed in myself for having never attended a class. But the gym upstairs is quite nice. While it can get busy on the weekends (kids!), there seems to always be space (unlike 24-Hour Fitness). In other words, you'll never feel trapped in a sauna of man odor. But I have taken advantage of the basketball court, which is pretty nice. While not as big as the courts in Stonestown, this will suffice for a quick shootaround or if you're looking for a confidence boost, you have many an opportunity to play 3 vs. 3 against middle schoolers here. I'll see you there! read more

It's looks nice but the service was the worst I've ever seen. I've been on and off with YMCA for over 10 yrs. my kids school offers after school program with them. I just came in to turn in forms and sign up. 1) there where 2 ladies at the reception area. One didn't know what is going on or how to sign up people. The other acts like she is busy and doesn't want to deal with anyone. 2) I would not pay $88 a month to have to deal with unprofessional people. I Spoke to her in English she responded in broken English so I spoke to her in Chinese and she still responded in broken English. 3) parking it's almost impossible. I thought about signing up a family pack so we can go to the same gym. 24hr fitness don't offer kids gym. But after the service I've seen today. I better find a different location. Also witnessed a guy trying to use the yelp offer and was treated like he was stealing from them. She try to turn him away, tell him he can only take a few minutes to tour the gym. read more

Do you like being completely unable to walk, use your abs to do anything, or get in and out of a sitting position? Yes? Then take Trevor's kickboxing bootcamp class. Preferably after a 4-mile run. If you still need convincing, here are some key words and phrases: Saline pool. Uncrowded. Towel service. Locker rooms. Yoga. Aerobics dance classes. Community service/volunteer opportunities. Basketball. Ping pong. Personal training. Pilates. Spin. $60/month. A hop and skip away from the Financial District. Need I say any more? read more

Here's the thing about the Chinatown Y. Yes, the facilities are great, the customers are nice, and they have a salt water pool. Who cares? What makes the Chinatown Y so totally freaking awesome is the staff. Take today, for example. My shoe broke when I was on my way to the Y, and I had planned to go directly to work after my swim. SO Jenny let me borrow her flip flops. Or the time I lost my wallet, and got it back when the person who found it called them based on their card in my wallet, and they tracked me down to get it back to me. There are just so many examples of them going above and beyond, and you can tell by the warm, welcoming environment there. I'd recommend this Y to anyone. read more

Love the Pool! The staff is great as well. Great gym, new and clean, and they have a great pool! It's a saline pool so no nasty chlorine smell that follows you all day! The gym is nice, however on the smaller side and they do need to add some later classes, but they just opened a few months ago and slowly ramping up. read more

I was a member at the Chinatown YMCA for just over a year. I found their staff to be young and unprofessional mostly concerned with chatting with their coworkers. When I signed up I was promised they weren't one of those gyms who raises your membership rates like 24 Hour Fitness. Six months into my membership my rate went up. Sure it only went up $2 a month, but that's still annoying. Their schedule might work for you if you like to work out during the middle of the day. They have much shorter hours than most gyms I've belonged to. They are closed for more holidays than a freaking bank. Not only do they close for holidays but they shorten their hours on the day before a holiday and the day after. I swear they were never open. They also close for an entire week every September. So you get a nice 3 weeks for the price of 4 deal. I did not care for this gym and am no longer a member. The two stars are for John's pop dance class. It was awesome...until they cut his class to add another damn yoga or zumba class. Not that there is anything wrong with yoga or zumba. The Embarcadero location offers a greater variety of classes. I'm really not as cheap as I sound, I was just extremely dissapointed with my experience at this location. read more

This place is amazing ever since it's been renovated. I call it the gem of Chinatown. The crown of this place is the saline pool. The pool is amazing and it doesn't have a gross chlorinated feeling to it. It's cleaner and rather sleek! I took a tour of the facilities and was amazed by the state of the art gym equipment, the dance studios, the community rooms, and the other teen/children facilities in here. It's a great community space for families to get together and get fitter especially since many do not have a lot of space if they live in Chinatown. They offer financial assistance for low income individuals and families that cannot afford the Y alone. The staff is uber friendly and helpful. On a side note, I once ran straight to the bathroom because I had to use it very badly and it was the only place open within 1 block at 830pm (it closes at 10pm). They staff here are bilingual and are helpful. There are multiple tiers and types of memberships so you should check it out. Do not try to drive here. Take MUNI 1, 30, 45, or 8x. read more

If you mind a small easily crowded locker room and bumping into groups of middle school students at every turn you go, then this is not the best place. In the future it will only get more crowded. If the sound of the Mandarin/Cantonese languages are reminiscent of croaking frogs and whining cats to your hears, then this is not the best place. If you think you might leave your i-pod/gym stuff unattended for five minutes, this is not the best place, as that is how mine got stolen here. This is a good choice if you like swimming in a nice, saline/ chlorinated pool. If you live or work nearby and convenience trumps any other considerations. The staff is also super friendly, courteous, welcoming, and helpful. If you like the idea of your monthly dues helping to support positive programs that cater to children, youth and young and elder adults then this is an ideal gym. read more

This is a review of the fitness center, pool and fitness classes only. My husband and I wanted to up our fitness game with some swimming and classes. In our neighborhood of Nob Hill, we have tons of options. The only one with a pool is Club One, and at nearly $200/mo for the both of us, we just couldn't justify forking out that much cash. So I turned to the Y, since I figured it would be cheap, but I wasn't sure how nice it would be. Let me tell you, this place is NICE -- totally not what I expected. The whole thing was renovated a few years ago, and still looks brand new. Bonus: the staff is super friendly and helpful. 1st floor : The 25-yard, salt water pool has 5 lap lanes. They must still use some chlorine because I smell it on me all day after a swim sesh. No biggie. 2nd floor: Two fitness classrooms and a big, bright, indoor multi-purpose gym (basketball, volleyball, badminton). 3rd floor: Clean, bright fitness room with plenty of available treadmills, ellipticals and bikes. You can plug in your iPhone and connect with the Nike+ app, and/or watch tv. They also have a range of weight machines, free weights and other fitness contraptions. The locker rooms are just okay. They are kind of small, a little damp and smelly, but that's how most locker rooms are I guess. The ladies room is clean, but I hear the mens side is pretty bad. They do have monthly locker rentals, so that's convenient. If kids bug you, this might not be place for you. The Y is more than a place to get fit; it's a community center too. Depending on the time of day, there are kids running around, and a few elderly folks hanging out. Personally, I don't care and it makes me feel a little more connected to my neighborhood. A major upside to this place is that few people seem to know about it! The fitness room is never crowded, and you can always squeeze into a lap lane in the pool. Plus, at a little over $100/month for a FAMILY fitness pass, you can't beat that. My only gripe with the Y is their initiation fee. It's more than a month's membership. I don't understand why they have to charge so much... read more

I work downtown and really scoped out my gym-with-pool options before choosing the Chinatown YMCA. I've been there for 1.5 years now, and have concluded that it's pretty good with a few drawbacks. The Good: -Financial assistance for those who qualify. My membership is $50.00 per month, and for a gym with a pool that's not too shabby. I also like that my money is going to a deserving organization. -The place is high tech! All the cardio machines have tv screens built in, which means gym time is essentially watch Bravo time. -The staff. They are so friendly and always remember my name. It really feels like a community here. -Lack of crowds in the cardio room. I usually go during non-peak hours, but even when I do there are always machines available. I've never waited for a treadmill. The Not-So-Good: -The pool can get really crowded after work. Like I-dont-want-to-swim-anymore crowded. This is especially annoying during the summer, when they cut off two sometimes THREE lanes for kids swim classes. I basically stopped swimming during the summer because it was so aggravating to circle swim all the time. -The locker room isn't the best. I don't know why, but attendees of this gym have some really gross habits (i.e. cutting toenails onto the carpet and eating smelly food in the locker room). It's tolerable, but could be improved upon. To sum, the Chinatown YMCA is a really great organization and pretty good gym. If you can swim during non-peak hours, you should have a fantastic experience at this Y. If you can't, you'll get in the habit of watching cable during your cardio like I have. Join! read more

I have been going to Chinatown Y for 2+ years. First of all, the facility is brand new so everything is clean and it looks great! The swimming pool is an added bonus. Also, they have a full basketball court. The location is convenient if you work in the Financial District, it's really not that far. And for me its about halfway between work and home therefore I have no excuse for not going. So many classes to choose from too! Yoga with Karly and Patricia Bootcamp and body sculpt with Steven Spin Cardio dance, zumba, ballet barre... They also have amazing programs like Building Futures, a mentoring program for at risk youth which I have participated in. There are tons of ways to get involved! read more