Fitness & Gyms in San Francisco, CA

“Dropped in with 3 Kiwis while we were in town for the CrossFit Games. Awesome facility, great gear, and a cool crew. Super welcoming right from the start. Definitely recommend if you need a spot to train in the area!”

“Nothing else like it! A workout we’ll never forget… and certainly haven’t the next day ? Insane energy, care from the coaches, ludicrous avg fitness level, and bonkers views running w the Golden Gate Bridge in the background. Cannot wait to be back! Thanks Martin!”

“I joined Tribe SF to get in shape before my wedding and because it was close to work, and I accidentally stumbled onto the best gym in SF. I've tried several gyms since moving here, including some that were personal training only. I much prefer Tribe's small group personal training. You still get a ton attention to form, but with the community and camaraderie of struggling through a workout with others. I'm always motivated to show up to class, and Tribe genuinely goes out of its way to connect members and support each other's fitness journeys. For example, they hosted a Brides workout and brunch where I got my ass kicked and then got to bond with other brides-to-be over brunch, trading wedding planning tips and tricks. You truly cannot go wrong coming here.”

“I joined this box right after moving to SF and were there for about 3 months before I had to unfortunately move and coming here regularly is not quite possible. I have been doing CrossFit on and off for about 3 years and can genuinely say that this is the best box I have been to.

A few things to highlight:
1. The coaching is so consistently good no matter which class you go to (in Potrero Hill or South Park locations). I feel like I am learning something new every class that helps build my skills. Even though some classes can be very busy, coaches are always focus in safety, skills work and giving feedback (for example having lifts done in waves so they can watch closer).

2. Two locations to choose, close to each other provides a unique advantage to always gets a workout in even if a class in one location is full

3. Great space size allowing both open gyms and group classes. Other boxes I have visited can be too full to the point where you feel it is quite chaotic to move around and that’s not the case here.

Last but not least, a great variety of skills range of attendees also create an encouraging environment ❤ I absolutely loved my short time here and hope to return.

Special shout out to the 3 coaches whose classes I attended the most (Alexis, Rachel, and Marciano) - your coaching truly made a difference in my life!”

“I never thought I’d fall in love with a bootcamp. Everyday we are presented with a new challenge and everyday I get the chance to exceed my limits and prove to myself that I can be stronger, faster, fitter. It’s been an incredible journey and even just being in the middle of the third week, my body already looks more toned, I have so much more energy and I feel absolutely incredible. Simon and Wayne are by far the best coaches I’ve ever worked with (sorry everybody else!) by the way they encourage you to push through the punishment (with awesome music to boot!) with workouts that I was previously unaware of. I’m no pro athlete or even amateur boxer but I feel at home at HitFit. I would one hundred percent recommend this bootcamp to anybody who wants to feel like a badass!

Edited to add: I’m now on my 3rd bootcamp. Pic one is from January, pic 2 is from May. These coaches have made achieving my dream body a breeze. If I had known I could be whipped into shape this fast, I would have done it a long time ago.”

“This was my very first Barry’s class, I’m visiting from out of town, the front desk staff and instructor (Sami) were all so kind and welcoming! Great workout with a mix of strength and cardio, easy to follow cues and a fun playlist!
They have full locker rooms with showers and towels if you want to freshen up after class, and even gave me a cute little welcome gift! I would definitely return to this location if I’m back in San Francisco again in the future”

“What a great place to workout! King runs a solid operation with engaging regiments that keep me in shape. As a bonus, he has a great community of members I have the privilege being apart of.

I’ve been a member going on three years, and continually enjoy every workout. I appreciate that each session is different, while focusing on cardio, weight, and boxing technique.

As someone who has a background in boxing, I love having that aspect as part of the routine. Also, the boxing bags he made are intelligently designed… he clearly knows what he is doing.

Needless to say, I highly recommend Punch King. For me, it’s fun and beneficial.”

“I’m writing this review from the perspectives of both a member and a trainer.

The Yard has the best equipment among all of the gyms I’ve been a member of. The Mill Valley location also has a sauna, cold plunge, and Normatic compression therapy for recovery. The shared turf provides open space for warming up and room for dynamic movements.

I never had an issue with the cleanliness of the gym. All bathrooms are always stocked, and the equipment is wiped down after every use. In addition, none of the machines has ever been out of order. The space is well-maintained, making it a great first impression.

The gym’s pod system is extremely efficient. You NEVER have to wait! There is always a pod available to book, even on busy days. In fact, the San Francisco location added three new pods for rush hour. Some equipment is shared, such as dumbbells, kettlebells, and machines, but I never had a problem sharing.

From the trainer’s perspective, The Yard offers a great split by using a package system at a set rate. This allows the trainer to charge the client directly and keep the full rate.

The barbell classes are the best I have coached. It’s a simple yet effective program that focuses on progress and results. The gym also offers HYROX classes and athlete-inspired classes. Progression Run Club, led by Ross, offers a variety of runs a week open to all members.

Overall, The Yard is the best gym I have trained and worked at. Joe and all the trainers are welcoming and friendly. They continue to support you, whether you are a member working toward your fitness goals or a personal trainer trying to grow your business!”

“This gym is great! Ryan really helped me get setup and was kind enough to show me a tour of the facility. I had no idea this gem existed here in the city, right here in my backyard!”

“I have been coming to this gym for almost 2 years now (long overdue review, I know). I love how inclusive it is - nobody hassles me, there are young and old, male and female, and lots of differing skill levels. It’s a refreshing change from some of the super specialized gyms, that can also often feel like a dating site. Thanks Castro Fitness. ❤”

“Great gym with a reasonable price for SF. Could be packed at times but wait is never long. Always a squat rack open. Need to park in the park if you plan on driving.”

“The community is supportive and the classes are great! Equipment and gym in good condition. Challenging cross-fit workouts where you can always scale up/down to your activity levels.

But the membership management is poor. I opted out after the first month trial for health reasons. They charged me for month 2, then processed a refund. Fast forward to month 3 and they’re still charging me. I’ve asked for a refund but no response after a day so I’m resorting to a review to seek attention and encourage the team to implement a modern (self-serve + automatic) way for users to opt out and as a consistent and correct source of membership status.

Edited- thank you Tom for the prompt follow up, revising my rating upwards. Missing the final star for perceived value for money, it’s on the pricier side so it may be harder to derive the full value, but to each their own.”

“I’ve been going to flagship for a few weeks now after a brief hiatus from exercising. The workouts are challenging (and quite gruelling at times) but I’m enjoying them and settling nicely into the routines. Facilities and equipment are great and the coaches are fantastic - I really like their attention to form when doing lifts as well as targeted dynamic stretching before the workout starts.

I’d love for some time to be baked in for stretching/cool down out at the end of classes as I usually have to run on the hour.

Generally, it’s a great gym with great people (and doggos) and would recommend it to anyone!!”

“Great gym and friendly community feel. Love the build class for a progressive challenge. Also bonus points that parking isn't too bad nearby in the evenings!”

“Had my first class here at Barry's a few days ago. The staffers are informative and helpful, the space is clean and seemingly well-maintained; the class and the instructors were very clear with their coaching for the group class. The space felt very disorienting at first with low-light and loud sound, but once you get settled, it seems fine. My observation is around hygiene and cleanliness. During the class sessions, no one seems to be wiping down their equipments in between use, which seemed very gross especially during a sweat-inducing class. Perhaps there's more encouragement from the instructions to do so during the session?”

“I’ve been training with Louis at Fitness Urbano for over 3 months now, 3 days a week, and I’ve seen such great results. He does an amazing job of keeping every session fun, challenging, and interesting so workouts never feel repetitive.

Louis is knowledgeable, motivating, and really pays attention to form and progress. I feel stronger, healthier, and more confident since starting with him. Highly recommend both Louis and Fitness Urbano if you’re looking for a trainer who will keep you consistent and actually make working out enjoyable.”

“I love barrys and have been going for years! I will still keep going but I’m super sad to hear Cory is leaving here. He had great music and mixed things up for double floor. IMO one of the best teachers and a huge loss for the marina. (Still love the other coaches though five stars)”

“I started training with Charlie about 2 months ago, and I can honestly say it’s been a game changer. As a runner, I had started slowing down and dealing with back pain, leg pain, and just a lot of nagging issues that I couldn’t seem to fix on my own.

In a really short time, I’ve already noticed improvements that I didn’t even realize were possible. I feel stronger, more balanced, more confident with myself and more aware of how my body moves. I’ve also never really had much upper body strength before, and that’s already starting to change in a noticeable way.

Charlie is incredibly knowledgeable and really pays attention to what your body needs. He adjusts things, explains why you’re doing certain movements, and makes sure you’re progressing safely while still being challenged. On top of that, he’s just a genuinely great, personable coach who makes every session enjoyable.

And I have to mention Pepper. The absolute highlight of the studio 🙂

If you’re dealing with pain, trying to improve performance, or just want to get stronger in a supportive environment, I can’t recommend N Motion Fitness enough.”

“Layla is amazing and very knowledgeable about anatomy. She was very patient and made me feel very comfortable and relaxed. This is a great place for people who work at a desk/computer. The manager, Mike, is very helpful and does a great job to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

“Went on Tuesday… don’t know if it was just super understaffed but Ham was running around doing everything whether it was folding towels, greeting people or taking care of the locker room. Thank you Ham for making it such a great experience!”

“Best gym that I have been to and I have been to a lot over my many years on the earth. Amazing concept with your private training area which you reserve for an hour. Loads of equipment in the area and the shared space. Good selection of cardio machines and the best bit is what ever your planning on working out you can as you dont have to worry about people hogging the machines.”

“TL;DR - Down to earth gym, great trainers, community vibe.

I’m really glad I found this place! Like others have said, it is a small gym, but the setup and equipment provide a surprising amount of flexibility around fitness programming.

There’s a boxing area, a gym area, two bathrooms, a water station, a small dry-sauna, and a cold plunge on the roof patio.

I really like the trainer I work with and have noticed that the other trainers here make a real effort to form a rapport with their clients.

I also like that all kinds of people work out here. I’ve even noticed a couple of kids working with trainers. It very much feels like a community space, and I’ve become friendly with the staff and clients I see regularly. It’s nice!

I was looking for a place where I could not only get in shape, but learn more about how I can do that sustainably long term. I’m definitely getting that and am happy with the results.

I’d highly recommend this gym to anyone looking for a chill, down-to-earth workout experience. I find myself really looking forward to working out here and I’m really happy to find a place that will work with me on reaching my goals.”

“Had my first class here at Barry's a few days ago. The staffers are informative and helpful, the space is clean and seemingly well-maintained; the class and the instructors were very clear with their coaching for the group class. The space felt very disorienting at first with low-light and loud sound, but once you get settled, it seems fine. My observation is around hygiene and cleanliness. During the class sessions, no one seems to be wiping down their equipments in between use, which seemed very gross especially during a sweat-inducing class. Perhaps there's more encouragement from the instructions to do so during the session?”

“I've been training with Todd for over 2.5 years now. Todd has been able to help me overcome old sporting injuries to my shoulder, knee and help strengthen my core again to to support my back. I have dropped weight, put on muscle and feel stronger now than I have in years. Todd listened to my needs and the results speak for themselves. Highly recommend.”

“They have the most friendly and responsible staff. I accidentally left my ID at the front counter and I forgot about it. They called to tell me they held it for me and let me know when they'd be available. Thanks Brooke!”

“The community here is amazing! They let me try out a class for free since I’m new to the area and it was the most welcoming environment with really attentive coaches who showed me the ropes and watched my movements to make sure I was doing them correctly. Will definitely be back! ??”

“Was able to drop in for a couple days while in town for a wedding. As an Oly lifter I'm always looking for a place to lift on my vacations!

Fog city has a separate space with platforms from the main class gym, kilo plates, and decent oly bars. The owner was super responsive to my texts and helped me get setup so that I could make the most of my gym time! The space is open and inviting with plenty of sunshine.

The community was very welcoming. 10/10 drop in gym for a weightlifter! Reasonably priced for drops in for the area too and easy to get to with public transit or a car.”

“Best spinning classes in SF! One of the rare studios teaching authentic indoor cycling classes that are NOT Soulcycle inspired. Bonus for the amazing community and vibes!”

“Had my first class here at Barry's a few days ago. The staffers are informative and helpful, the space is clean and seemingly well-maintained; the class and the instructors were very clear with their coaching for the group class. The space felt very disorienting at first with low-light and loud sound, but once you get settled, it seems fine. My observation is around hygiene and cleanliness. During the class sessions, no one seems to be wiping down their equipments in between use, which seemed very gross especially during a sweat-inducing class. Perhaps there's more encouragement from the instructions to do so during the session?”

“Walking into AW for the first time, I had zero background in structured training and felt unsure of myself. The coaching team immediately put me at ease, guiding me step by step in a way that felt encouraging and personalized. This gym stood out because it truly supports beginners while helping them grow at their own pace. Over the years, I’ve gained strength, improved technique, and built real confidence in how I move and train. The coaches are skilled, patient, and genuinely invested in their members, creating a motivating environment that feels more like a community than just a gym.”