Equinox East 61st Street

Fantastic experience: From a bodybuilders perspective: believe me if I say this is the best Equinox in NYC - I worked out at all of them. Yes places like Hudson y are pretty, but if you go to the gym to actually (!) train hard, this is the place to be. No other equinox has this wide selection of great equipment (especially for leg & back). It is never cramped such as downtown gyms and the space is massive. I drive 40min up from soho to workout there. Just disregard the outdated locker rooms, the quality of workouts you get here will make up for that.

Positive experience: I dislike the layout of the gym. Anytime you need to take an elevator from floor to floor (while them being incredibly slow during rush hour), is not fun. Most basketballs in the gym are deflated. And, the lockers require you to sign and get a key that you need to carry with you everywhere. The pool and the jacuzzi isn't maintained properly. But, the shower pressure is a absolutely amazing. My favorite thing about this location.

Positive experience: I decided to stop by this facility to use the pool — I had no idea I was stepping into some kind of 1980s time portal. After some light research, I discovered that this gym (formerly the “Vertical Club“) was basically the Studio 54 of the ‘80’s. For better or worse, it doesn’t seem as though the gym has changed since it’s heyday. I noted carpeted locker rooms, a vase of plastic lilies, lock-and-key lockers, and turquoise-blue carpet in the stairwell. I half expected to see women with glittery makeup and belted leotards turn the corner. All in all, the vibe really doesn’t match the Equinox branding. On the other hand, I did enjoy the facilities. They have a small pool, huge jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and tons of other amenities that I didn’t get a chance to use. In addition, the staff were all super friendly and helpful!