Manhattan Plaza Health Club

Great, great gym!!!
This is CLEAN (very, very, very important to me!). The classes are fun, diverse and frequent throughout the week. Plus I L-​O-​V-​E the pool, although at time it can get crowded so come very early in the morning!
I just wish, I could get my behind into this gym more often!

Clean gym but usually crowded in the morning (as I suspect most gyms are). The weight lifting area is usually occupied by the trainers/​clients or really disgruntled members not wanting to share the equipment. If I were able to use this gym during the «off» hours I would rate it higher. Not the best for morning workouts.

I know people are nailing this facility for the outdated bathrooms, construction, and policies, but hear me out.
For peeps affiliated with Columbia, e-​mail membership services with your Columbia e-​mail address. They will immediately tell you that you qualify for a discount — $ 79/​month, or $ 795 for the full year up front (that works out to about $ 60/​month), and no activation or registration fees.
$ 60/​month for a gym this nice is a STEAL, especially because you also get climbing gym membership included. Y’all know how expensive it is to join a rock gym on top of a regular gym so this deal is quite clutch.
This is way nicer than Blink, Crunch, and NYSC. For the price you’re paying and all the features that are included, you really are getting a lot. If you can, pay for the entire year up front because you will get SO much more in terms of freebies and discounts (discount massage, three free guest passes, free locker rental for the year, 1 free personal training session, etc etc).

My fav gym. I like the trainers there who’s very friendly. And I like the gym which has reasonable price with all kinds of equipment. I come from uptown all the way here to workout ;P

I give it 3 stars because it got the job done. I made some great friends through the climbing gym (everyone take Nicole’s class!!), learned quite a lot through the climbing classes that were offered and even had a date here! The bikes are really nice and the equiptment is pretty standard. I do have some issues though–
It’s HOT. It’s so freaking hot in the cardio area. I don’t get it. I mean… we are working out, not simulating playing at the beach. I was sweating to death while riding the bike at level 2. It’s TOO HOT, guys. It’s too hot.
The 2 free guest passes are a JOKE. We pay a bunch of money to come here and over our membership we only get 2 passes?! Seriously, turn down the heat so you can afford to give us a few more free passes.
The TV is stupid on the cardio machines. They get about 7 channels and they’re not that great. Yes, yes I do go to the gym to watch TV sometimes.
It felt like the rooftop was having work done the entire time I was a member. It was super disappointing for those nice summer days. Part of their selling point was the nice rooftop area that linked to the pool. But it was total crap the entire time it was nice outside.
The climbing gym has become quite ridiculous over the last two years. I think they are compensating for the LIC Cliffs, but seriously guys, calm down. You know what you’re doing when you set up those top-​rope routes. You know.

I currently have a case pending against this gym in small claims court.
In Feb 2014, when several co-​workers suggested we join this gym together, during a promotion, I opted to try it. It is a few blocks away from our office.
The day that I went to join was a Friday, and the last day of the promotion. No one was working who could sign me up, and in order to receive the promotion, the staff required me to come back the next day (Saturday). I live in another borough, so that was not convenient at all. The next day, the staff had not communicated, so I was put in the position of proving I had been there the day before, in order to receive the promotion. I should have taken this as an omen, but unfortunately did not.
A few weeks after signing up, I noticed what seemed to be a high charge on my credit card. I thought that the gym might have billed me two months up front, instead of just one. I hadn’t used the gym yet. When what seemed to be overbilling continued, I decided not to use the gym at all. Note this gym required payment by automatic withdrawal from bank or credit card. Also they do not provide a hard copy of the contract upon signing, but it is instead emailed from «Administrator.»
I called the gym but no one in accounting was available. I called my credit card company, who basically didn’t believe me and said they couldn’t do anything since I had signed a contract. I told them that the contract was for half the rate that I was being charged… they asked if I had bought personal training!!!
Eventually I was able to call the gym with my credit card company on the line, and again no accounting staff was available. On a subsequent attempt, we were able to speak with someone named Kathy who had access to accounting. She looked up my account and said that they’d signed me up for 2 memberships, and therefore had been billing me double every month. She offered to refund about 40% of the total amount. I requested a complete refund of all charges, and she said she’d ask the manager. She wouldn’t cancel my membership without a request in writing.
I followed with a letter by fax and received an email reply from manager Scott Salmon, saying that they would not refund any more of the fees. I will update this review with my result from small claims court in a couple of weeks. Sorry, I would just never use a gym that overcharges me, or is so sloppy or difficult. There are too many other gyms to choose from. This has been expensive — and incredibly stressful, the opposite of what a gym should be!
I will omit any detailed comments about the quality, condition, or upkeep of the gym, since I only went on the tour, however I will say that my first impression of the space was not good, and again I wish I had heeded it.

This place is in desperate need of a refresh and remodel. As a matter of fact, it was probably due for one about 10 or 15 years ago. It’s shockingly dated and run down. The locker rooms and showers are dirty and although they have a towel service, they charge $ 1 to «rent» towels. The basement-​level workout floor is cramped. The spin room is detached from the rest of the gym, requiring you to enter the club, sign up for class, then exit again and go back down to the spin studio. Most of the staff members are surly and unhelpful.
The price is right for a NYC club, but the facilities just aren’t up to snuff.

I wanted become membership Mahattan health club. Because they have pool and other things to do even more than workout. But price is not what I was expected $ 89 plus $ 89 registration fee. Membership seller didn’t want to talk about price even. «If I can’t afford go another one» that was their attitude for new clients. For attitude 0 star for the club 4 – 5 starts. I really want to join this club. But… If anyone knows any other options, bit price or another closest gym with pool please let me know. Happy holidays for everyone!

Well equipped gym. But even more, the nicest employees! And clientele. No attitude here! Say hi to Danny at the front desk. He’s great!

Has such potential to be the best health facility in New York City. The pool is unmatched. However, the gym’s management needs upkeep.

I’m only writing about the climbing gym and locker room here — have not used the other facilities. I have been climbing about six times so far.
I started going to MPHC’s climbing gym with virtually no climbing experience. The gym appealed to me most because of its convenient location and fair price for a lesson/​month membership package, but I’ve found a lot of other reasons to keep coming back.
Every part of the facility is put to good use. There’s a nice variety of routes available at all difficulty levels and the staff is busy redoing sections of the walls on weekday afternoons.
The staff is very friendly and helpful and I highly recommend the available clinics. Staff always seems happy to see me and someone usually wishes me a good night on the way out.
All the rental equipment, ropes, and hardware is kept in good shape, and all the ropes are always hanging neatly where they should be.
Fellow climbers are usually focused on their own climbs, but never seem to mind if I ask for pointers or help with a bouldering problem. Even when it’s crowded, I’ve never had any issue getting a chance on the wall I wanted to climb.
Towels in the locker room cost 50 cents ($ 1 deposit). I think that’s very fair considering the hassle of bringing a wet towel home to wash.
Before you shower and leave, be sure to take advantage of the steam room and saunas in the back of the locker rooms. Sit on your towel, massage the tension out of your arms, and rest up for a few minutes. Follow by pouring a cold bucket of water over your head.
Awesome place to climb — CLIMB ON!

Manhattan Plaza Health Club (MPHC) is a beautiful facility, but the swimming pool is seriously mismanaged as follows:
* Safety Violations — a Family Swim is held on Fridays, Saturday, and Sundays; during this time out-​of-​control children are running on the pool deck, screaming, and jumping on each other in the water; the lifeguards huddle together hardly glancing at the pool; a serious accident is waiting to happen;
* Health Violations — each day a scuba class is held in the pool comprised of non-​members; for months the scuba students were not showering before entering the pool; MPHC and the Aquatics Director declined to enforce the City rule that requires swimmers to shower; finally a member complained to the City and the club agreed to enforce the rule; currently scuba students shower in their wet suits which likely does not satisfy the City health requirement;
* Crowded Swimming Lanes — the Aquatics Director believes that each lane is large enough to hold 5 – 7 swimmers; thus lanes are so crowded causing members to collide, with fights often ensuing; MPHC closes swimming lanes approximately 35 times per week, excluding members and allowing non-​members to use the pool, including scuba students who have little regard for club rules;
* Broken Facilities — MPHC’s two whirlpools are now closed for an indefinite period; MPHC has refused to compensate members for this lack of service;
* Rowdy Atmosphere — the MPHC pool is gorgeous with sunshine streaming through the glass roof and beautiful landscaping; unfortunately the atmosphere is marred by the Aquatics Director who spends much of his time shouting; he yells at swim students «Move it! Move it!;» he shouts commands across the pool to the lifeguards; thus the atmosphere becomes like a rowdy public pool; during water-​exercise classes, music is blasted at high volume;
Again, MPHC is a beautiful facility and has the potential to be one of the top health clubs in NYC; however, serious attention needs to be paid to the mismanagement of the pool.

This review is only for the climbing gym!
Decent climbing gym, decent equipment, clean, and friendly people. The prices are decent. Rentals aren’t that expensive. If you don’t have a package you can get a single climb in with rentals for around $ 30. You have option of bouldering or rock climbing with harness. They have free classes during certain times to help give you tips on how to climb better and how to traverse. Overall, it was an okay experience. I haven’t found better or worse yet so I’ll keep it at an average rating for now.
PS: if you’re already a member at MPHC you can get a discount!

Five stars for the price and for not requiring an annual commitment. The rock climbing and pool are also a plus. They have a good selection of group classes including TRX, yoga and cycling. The downside is that you cannot register online for popular classes. They do however allow you to call ahead for a reservation.
Why 3 stars overall? The training floor and locker rooms need a major overhaul!!! The locker room and bathroom is old and grimy. I refuse to take a shower there which takes away some of the convenience. They also charge $ 1 for a towel «rental». The training floor is down in the basement so lighting and a good paint job are crucial… but they missed the mark here. The entire room needs a makeover. On the bright side, the equipment is decent and well maintained. They could use a stair machine though.

Review is only for rock climbing gym~
I came here for the $ 60 dollar introduction lesson and I don’t remember who did my lesson but she was super nice and explained everything and answered all of my questions. I ended up paying $ 100 for the lesson + a month membership. I’ve been back a few times and there have been times when it’s crowded and times when it’s not. But even when it’s crowded, people are really nice about switching out and letting you go. I’ve never been to another rock climbing gym, so I can’t say if this one is better comparatively, but it’s definitely good enough for me to keep going to!

After giving up on trying to be a runner, I started to look for swim teams around the city to join. I found out about their swim club decided to sign up without a membership.
Since they bill non-​members every 3 months I was happy that the aquatics director pro-​rated me the first session so that I could start right away.
I swam with the club in the mornings from 6−7am so obviously the facilites were super clean and there was very little crowding. The people who work out here are definitly on the older side. While all very nice, if age is an important factor in a gym, consider this. I had one nasty old person give me trouble but she eventually left me alone.
Overall, I really liked the gym and swimming in the mornings but what drove me nuts was the front desk. Everyone was very nice but it was incredibly disorganized and EVERYTIME I came to swim in the morning they claimed I never paid. EVERYTIME!!! You would think that once I paid, there would be some note on my account, but nope. No organization. Dealing with this was super annoying because I always pay and on time. Dealing with this at 6am made it even worse. There also was never any clarity on if I should have a card or not to enter the building. Before it was «we will remember your face» to «you should have a card, or wait maybe not» to «you have a card but we can’t find it behind the desk» to a week later «we found your card here» then «oh you have a hold on your account». EVERYTIME there was an issue. All I wanted to do was swim but they made it so fustrating that I looked for another team.
I think this gym offers a lot and in the long run is great — just be on top of the staff about your account because they can’t do their jobs themselves.

This gym is cool if you like experiencing 1980s nostalgia.
When I first moved to the area in 2006, it was sufficient. I soon discovered the Chelsea Piers gym, then Crunch (now closed in our area) and finally Reebok Sports.
Having gone to Reebok for 9 months, returning to Manhattan Plaza was a sad downgrade. You get what you pay for, and I think that MP should be no more than $ 30−50/mo.
The equipment and photos on the wall are still the same as when I was there ages ago. It looks like a fire hazard with narrow stairs to get from here to there including the entrance.
The carpet is old as is everything. There’s rust on the weight bars. The locker looks like something out of a run down high school, and they charge for towels. No thanks. A lady was sweeping dirt right by my feet. Tacky.
The only advantage is that this gym has more equipment than the one at home, so at the end of the day, I did feel good having worked out. But I wish I’d never heard of Reebok Sports because after that, a place like Manhattan Plaza feel like a dump.
In conclusion, this gym reminds me of some longtime employees. They just assume longevity and are set in their ways, so they see no need to change, upgrade, be better, offer the best, stay cutting edge. They just exist, and somehow survive.

Pretty good climbing facilities, considering that this place is on some of the most expensive land on the planet. And, if you get a membership to the climbing gym, access to the rest of the place is only a few bucks extra per month. The climbing gym also has an awesome 3 month deal for students, which was perfect when I was there for a semester.
The climbing gym is a small space, and the bouldering area gets packed on weeknights. There’s almost always room to do some top roping, if you want to grab a partner. There’s not much lead climbing here (it’s all on the roof of the bouldering area, and it’s pretty juggy), and the top rope routes tend to be less technical than BKB (not harder grades, just less interesting), but they always have good bouldering problems set up, and they set new ones pretty often.
Also, people are really friendly. I came here not knowing anyone, and I’d meet a couple new folks every time.

This is a review only for the climbing wall and bouldering.
Came here a while ago with a friend as a birthday treat. The wall climbing instructor Eli was informative and really enthusiastic about showing us the ropes. Took the climbing class and soon after my friend and I were wall climbing and belaying. Lots of fun! We decided to take a break and do some bouldering. A bit scarier… only because you’re not harnessed to anything… There was an instructor who led a little tutorial on how to boulder. He was also super informative and enthusiastic. There are many paths to take in both the climbing wall and the bouldering.
We both ended up paying for a month pass which was unlimited climbing visits which included the wall climbing/​belaying tutorial for $ 100 (before tax). I came back several times to mainly do the bouldering (which alone is $ 20 per session) and always walked out accomplishing a little more than I did the week before.
They do change the paths so it adds a little variety to the exercise.

I came here with a Fitness Access Pass to check out the facilities, but I only went to a couple of classes so I can’t really speak to anything else. That said, MPHC has one of the only rock climbing walls I know of in NYC (I think there’s one more at a Crunch location and another uptown) and they have a pool, which definitely sets them apart.
I didn’t expect much from the classes, to be honest, but I ended up really enjoying my experience. I took a «Power 7s» class, and the instructor (Ven?) was really enthusiastic and made everyone sweat while maintaining a lighthearted attitude. There were people of all shapes, sizes and ages in the class (maybe 12 people total — it’s a small studio) and the overall atmosphere was really pleasant. We did a fair amount of partner work and everyone encouraged everyone else — it was very much a feeling of «we’re all in this together» vs. «I can do this better than you can.»
The locker rooms were also larger than I expected, and well maintained. I live a little too far away for membership to be an option, but I’d definitely recommend this place.