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Chinatown YMCA

4.2 (140 reviews)
Closed 6:30 am - 7:45 pm
Updated 1 week ago

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Services - Chinatown YMCA

Personal training

Chinatown YMCA Photos

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Recommended Reviews - Chinatown YMCA

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Reviews With Photos

Denise C.

Chinatown has its own YMCA branch..It's not Japantown...for historic Chinatown..there's a pool and basketball courts with scoreboard..there's a weight training set..3 levels..elderly ladies using the weights..tai chi and I have not done tai chi...jo sun hahahah teens..I ran the 46th Chinatown YMCA Lunar New Year 5K yesterday and it was really energetic for 30-40 minutes..register and record your time running and walking from Chinatown around the Embarcadero..if only you knew who was running behind you..

Thanks Shira
Justine Ray M.

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.

Fitness floor emphasizes cardio equipment.
John S.

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.

Carlos A.

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.

Tons of space after 8pm & so clean too!

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3 years ago

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19 days ago

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Monica L.

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8 months ago

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11 months ago

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7 months ago

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

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3 years ago

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7 years ago

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15 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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Megan C.

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3 years ago

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9 years ago

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7 years ago

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

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8 years ago

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Ask the Community - Chinatown YMCA

How deep is the pool here?

Is the center open for vaccinated individuals?

At this time the Chinatown Y is closed for indoor operations. We are hoping to reactivate this location in September.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Review Highlights - Chinatown YMCA

For over a year, the Presidio Y has been my main facility, but after a recent move, the Chinatown Y became my home gym.

Mentioned in 10 reviews

Read more highlights

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Equinox Pine Street

Equinox Pine Street

3.6(515 reviews)
0.3 miFinancial District
$$$$

Beautiful space outside of the gym! The gym itself is fairly standard -- looks clean, smells great,…read moreand the equipment is well-maintained. The real standout is the locker rooms: stocked with Le Labo products, plus a lovely pool and steam room. I attended a barre class, which was solid overall, but the instructor didn't have a mic, making it tough to hear cues clearly. The mats are also very short -- shorter than your typical mat -- so taller folks may find it challenging. Minor gripes for an otherwise nice experience!

I was honestly surprised by the lack of service at Equinox Pine Street. For a gym that positions…read moreitself as "premium," I really don't understand where that reputation comes from. Here's what happened: my colleague was visiting San Francisco for just one day, and we decided to meet at Equinox. She sent me a guest pass so we could work out together. When we arrived, we found out that her membership had expired on April 30th. The date of our visit was May 5th. She was told that she needed to renew her membership through the original club where she signed up, which was in Los Angeles. That part, while inconvenient, was understandable. What wasn't acceptable was the attitude. The manager (a young Asian man in a green Stone Island sweater) didn't even take the time to listen to the situation. He brushed us off and simply told us to call the Los Angeles club. This is a paying client of a nationwide network, not someone asking for a favor. We tried speaking with the front desk associate, but she said the manager was unavailable and couldn't say when he would be free. She also said she couldn't help us in any way. We even offered to open a brand-new membership right there at that location, since we had already been waiting for a renewal link from Los Angeles. Time was the key issue for us, not money. In the end, my colleague wasn't allowed to enter the gym. Ironically, the guest pass she created for me on April 30th still worked -- so I was able to get in, but she wasn't. As for the facility itself, it's clean but clearly outdated. The smiles at the front desk feel forced, along with the routine "hello" and "have a nice day." If you're going to market yourself as a premium fitness club, the level of service should match -- especially when it comes to loyal clients.

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24 Hour Fitness - San Francisco

24 Hour Fitness - San Francisco

3.1(516 reviews)
0.3 miFinancial District

Shoutout Rose at the front desk! Such a chill vibe and went above and beyond to help me out!read more

Subject: Formal Complaint - Harassment and Aggressive Behavior at 24 Hour Fitness Sutter-Montgomery…read more(San Francisco, CA) I would like to formally report an incident that occurred today at a 24 Hour Fitness location in San Francisco, CA. While I was using a treadmill for cardio exercise, I briefly answered a phone call from my boyfriend while continuing my workout. A man who was using the treadmill next to mine suddenly addressed me in a rude and aggressive manner, asking how long I intended to stay on the phone. I calmly asked why this was an issue, and at that point his behavior escalated significantly. He began yelling at me loudly, using offensive language, and repeatedly demanding that I stop talking on the phone or leave the machine. His tone and behavior were extremely aggressive. He pointed his finger at me and moved closer to me, which made me feel physically threatened and fearful that he might become violent. Several members around us witnessed the situation and intervened to defend me. Despite this, the man continued yelling, not only at me but also at others who attempted to calm the situation. A very kind female member went to notify the gym staff about what was happening. I stopped my workout and went to speak with the manager. Shortly after, the manager and a front desk employee addressed the individual. Even during this interaction, he continued yelling and pointing his finger at me aggressively. After some time, he left the area, still behaving in a hostile manner. Both the manager and the staff member apologized to me for the incident. Other members also expressed their support and concern. Although I appreciate the response from the staff at the moment, I am submitting this report to ensure the incident is formally documented. The behavior I experienced was intimidating, inappropriate, and made me feel unsafe in a space where members should feel comfortable and protected. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope this report helps prevent similar situations in the future. Sincerely, Amanda de Almeida Campos

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Live Fit Gym - Fairmont Hotel - 8 WEEKS. Real support + structure. Personal training, chiropractic, massage & wellness--integrated to amplify YOU! *Non Members can be MI8

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4.3(138 reviews)
0.2 miNob Hill
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In town for work and looking for a real gym vs my hotel. This place was very accommodative and felt…read morelike I was at my local gym. Conor was very helpful and couldn't ask for more from this place.

This is NOT a review of the hardworking frontline staff. They're the only reason this place hasn't…read morecompletely fallen apart. This is about the horrendous management--whether it's LiveFit, Fairmont Hotel, or both. I've been coming here for years, and what was once a promising gym has become an ongoing disaster. On December 31st, after walking several miles in the rain because parking is a nightmare, I arrived only to find the sauna closed for cleaning at 9 AM--peak hour. No notice. No sign. No email. Just some guy with dirty boots in the spa area and tools spread out on seating where members usually sit--naked. They even offered me to go ahead and shower while they worked. Seriously. While someone's cleaning the sauna or sealing tiles? In the same enclosed area? With members naked and barefoot? And yes, I witnessed maintenance using the same towels we dry off with to clean their equipment. That's beyond disgusting. Two days before that, I was in the sauna while a worker was sealing tiles with harsh chemical fumes filling the air--no ventilation, no warning, and no way to leave without stepping on wet grout. I'm not exaggerating--this happens constantly. As for the steam room, it hasn't worked properly in 3-4 years. The classic line: "Fix is coming tomorrow." "Next week." Now it's "fixed"--but it's not even hot. Just damp and gross. I've stayed quiet for too long out of respect for the staff and hope that things would improve. But the truth is, management has shown zero respect for paying members who build their routines around this place. If you're staying at the Fairmont expecting a spa or luxury fitness experience--don't. This place is running on fumes and goodwill from overworked employees. The rest is neglect, poor planning, and complete disregard for member safety, hygiene, and experience.

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Empower - The Empower Flow Room.

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4.2(31 reviews)
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Great value for your workout! The coaches are knowledgeable on technique with boxing and form…read more I bought the Groupon for one month and have made it my goal to be consistent with working out this month. They make it easy to go to a class as you don't have to sign up for a class prior to attending. You can just show up and they can accommodate you. My choose this gym because it convenient from my work and I can walk here after work. The only thing is that they make you purchase their shirt as part of their "uniform" policy if you go and are there for their Groupon. Shirts are $13 each which is not bad, but just beware and know this beforehand.

My girlfriends and I have been talking about getting together for a work out class for the past…read morecouple of months. When one of them found a Groupon for Empower: 5 group kickboxing classes for $19 (according to Groupon, originally $200), we decided to go for it. Our first class was on Wednesday, August 10th at 5:30pm. Johnny taught our class and he was awesome! Would make sure our technique was correct without making us feel like we were doing it completely wrong. Great in a class atmosphere if you get a little shy in group classes. We started off with jumping jacks as part of our warm up. Then we paired up and he taught us boxing combos. We would take turns punching and blocking/receiving. Great way to get out aggression. Most of the class was spend doing this. Then we went into their version of burpees, running in place, and some kind of crab/bear/spider crawl. When I was giving up during my crawl, Johnny kept cheering me on. We ended with crunches (which luckily for me, weren't too bad) and of course high fives to finish up the class. This isn't in the fine print for the Groupon, but it's only valid for their Monday or Wednesday class at 5:30pm, so keep that in mind before purchasing. For those who get off at 5:30pm or later, I wouldn't suggest getting this as you can't apply it to any other classes. Great first class. I haven't worked out in over a year, so it was nice breaking a sweat and punching out some pented frustration. Looking forward to my second class!

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Chinatown YMCA - swimmingpools - Updated May 2026

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