When you think about the LA lifestyle you immediately jump to thinking about the flashy and luxurious experience it has become world-renowned for. Fitness is certainly no exception to this, with some of the biggest names and most deep-routed names in the industry setting their anchors across the city.

The perfect weather, coupled with the social lifestyle associated with LA, make it every fitness fanatic's dream, with plenty of surrounding nature and parks to explore on walks or hikes.

Then there are the state-of-the-art gyms that provide a whole world of activities to try your hand at or air-conditioned spots to retreat to for your workouts. 

In this article, we are going to look at the best gyms in LA under a fine lens and see what separates them from other gyms operating in their niche. 

Hopefully, by the time you put this article down, you’ll have a sense of what to expect from each gym and feel better equipped to decide what membership will bring you closer to your goals.

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5 (19 reviews)
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/$/h
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1st lesson free!
Gabe
5
5 (12 reviews)
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$100
/$/h
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1st lesson free!
Beccalynn
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5 (6 reviews)
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$50
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1st lesson free!
Tara
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5 (6 reviews)
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$85
/$/h
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1st lesson free!
Eftychia
5
5 (5 reviews)
Eftychia
$77
/$/h
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1st lesson free!
Christiaan
4.9
4.9 (4 reviews)
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$30
/$/h
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1st lesson free!
Craig
5
5 (17 reviews)
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$60
/$/h
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1st lesson free!
Daniela
5
5 (22 reviews)
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$50
/$/h
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1st lesson free!
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Gold's Gym Venice

Okay, we might as well kick things off by addressing the elephant in the room. A gym that might not only be in the conversation for the best gym in LA. but is considered by many to be the best gym in the world.

You only have to look at the name it has been given in the body-building community to get a sense of the high regard it is held. The Iconic Gold’s Gym Venice is known as "The Mecca of Bodybuilding" and attracts fitness enthusiasts, celebrities, and legendary bodybuilders from all across the world. 

An athlete working towards his fitness goals in a body building gym
With the number of gyms scattered across LA, you'll have no difficulty finding a gym to match your fitness interests and goals. Photo from Cesar Galeao

What gym can you think of that has a reputation so big that it finds itself on the bucket list of those who visit the city, whether they participate in fitness or not?

There is something incredibly inspiring about walking in the same footsteps as many of the greatest bodybuilders to have graced the sport. You’ll be using the very machines and free weights they used to work towards their goals in competing for compilations such as the Mr Olympia titles.

There is simply no gym out there that can compete with the electric atmosphere that is felt the moment you step foot on the floor of Gold’s Gym. You’ll be surrounded by serious lifters, many of whom have their sights set on competing in body-building competitions, fostering an inspiring community to grow alongside!

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Barry's

🗣️ Community

🏃‍♀️ Fitness Classes

🔴 Red Room

As you might have expected from a city like LA, there's no shortage of options when it comes to fitness. Barry’s is a gym that sits at the top when it comes to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts that combine cardio and strength training.

This is one way of burning the candle at both ends that will get you in shape faster than you might have thought possible, causing fitness enthusiasts to become hooked from the outset.

The experienced instructors who formulate the workouts at the gym alter the muscle groups they are targeting each day so that you are never left feeling overworked and have a balanced fitness routine.

Barry’s is loved by its members because of the intensity of the workouts they manage to pack inside their classes, which usually run for about 50 minutes.

If you were to venture down and give this gym a shot, you’d have the gym floor to avail of for your resistance training with their selection of dumbbells and benches. This environment allows members to challenge themselves at their own pace, making it suitable for all fitness levels!

A woman flipping a tire to build up her strength and cardio
Photo from Pexels

Then there's the red room, which, as the daunting name might suggest, comes with its own level of energy.

This dimly lit space with red lighting resembles a nightclub-like sort of vibe, with speakers blasting music that will pump you up for the workout ahead.

Barry's stands out from other premier gyms scattered across Los Angeles, with its ambience attracting fitness lovers seeking a fully engaging workout session. 

Bunda

This next gym is certainly on the more modern side of niches which is dedicated to sculpting your lower half, as indicated by the name Bunda, meaning "butt" in Portuguese slang.

This gym has most certainly captured a market share in the city, providing a safe and inclusive environment for women to work towards their fitness goals.

The gym focuses on training all three gluteal muscles - maximus, medius, and minimus - to achieve that well-rounded rear and healthy physique desired by many. 

A look inside the doors of Bunda Gym.

Members at Bunda are put through the paces in their classes that have been designed by founder Katie Lilly and combine Stairmaster cardio with strength training to work up a sweat while keeping focus on progressive overload. 

In the eyes of many fitness enthusiasts and casual lifters across Los Angeles, Bunda stands out as one of the best gyms for its focus on lower body training. 

One feature that members really love and that sets it apart from other gyms is the InBody scans offered in the gym, which allow you to better track your progress. This also helps you set measurable goals and see tangible results, which will make the experience all the more rewarding and sustainable in the long run!

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The best Personal coaching tutors available
Ludo
5
5 (19 reviews)
Ludo
$40
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Gabe
5
5 (12 reviews)
Gabe
$100
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Beccalynn
5
5 (6 reviews)
Beccalynn
$50
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Tara
5
5 (6 reviews)
Tara
$85
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Eftychia
5
5 (5 reviews)
Eftychia
$77
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Christiaan
4.9
4.9 (4 reviews)
Christiaan
$30
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Craig
5
5 (17 reviews)
Craig
$60
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Daniela
5
5 (22 reviews)
Daniela
$50
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Ludo
5
5 (19 reviews)
Ludo
$40
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Gabe
5
5 (12 reviews)
Gabe
$100
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Beccalynn
5
5 (6 reviews)
Beccalynn
$50
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Tara
5
5 (6 reviews)
Tara
$85
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Eftychia
5
5 (5 reviews)
Eftychia
$77
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Christiaan
4.9
4.9 (4 reviews)
Christiaan
$30
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Craig
5
5 (17 reviews)
Craig
$60
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Daniela
5
5 (22 reviews)
Daniela
$50
/$/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Let's go

Dogpound

If you’re looking for that exclusive experience, Dogpund offers a star-studded list of members, giving that real LA experience.

star_border
Exclusivity

Dogpound is a magnet for some of the biggest names in the US, drawing in A-listers like Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and Cindy Crawford.

Now imagine finding yourself five miles deep on the treadmill only for one of these big names to hop on the one next to you; you’d probably be motivated to hang on a little longer, right?

However, that isn’t to say that if you buy a membership, you can expect to rub shoulders with your favorite stars each time you go to train. The gym operates on an appointment basis in order to allow for the privacy of its members.

There’s also a reason why the gym has achieved this level of popularity: the team of highly qualified trainers design programs that blend boxing, kettlebells, strength training, and cardio to make for enjoyable and effective workouts.

They do a great job of tailoring training to the needs of their members, ensuring that they stay progressing towards whatever fitness goals they have set themselves the task of achieving.

Most members would probably describe the gym as having a distinctive "chic but rough" vibe.

The gym has its own unique charm that’s unlike anywhere else you’ll find in the city, resembling an auto mechanic shop with its old-school garage workout feel that will really have you wanting to throw some weight around from the moment you enter.

A woman working out in front of the mirror, holding herself accountable for reaching her fitness goals
Photo from Eduardo Romero

Now, it wouldn’t be a Los Angeles gym if it didn't have some extravagant features, at least not one worthy of this list, right? Well, upon entry to the premises, you’ll see a driveway that has been transformed into a workout space with black turf and a basketball court, offering a truly one-of-a-kind fitness experience!

Health House

There are some gyms that you just get a feel for from the moment you land in the door, and Health House is one such gym!

You’ll see all sorts going on around you before you even make it to the reception desk, with a variety of classes that incorporate rowing and strength training. The sessions last for 45 minutes each and will target just about every muscle on your body. 

This upscale gym is close to your location and offers amenities that include quality rowing machines, free weights, and medicine balls for your workout needs. Additionally, the gym has a space on the rooftop for exercising with city views. Following your workout session, you can freshen up in the pristine and well-cared-for locker rooms, which have shower facilities. 

A look inside the classes at Health House.

Health House embraces a wellness and fitness method that prioritizes your health and vitality. You will receive support from instructors who are certified and dedicated to teaching correct posture and methods. 

You’ll likely be enticed to get yourself a membership after availing of a day or trial pass. The gym goes beyond fitness by also catering to your holistic well-being!

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John Reed Santa Monica

Sometimes, in order to arrive at a sense of what you would want from a gym, it takes closing your eyes and imagining exactly what you’d want greeting you the moment you step through those gym doors.

For many, it can be the music that lifts them through the latter half of the workout or even helps them get going in the first place, so the purposefully curated playlist and live DJs echoing across the gym floor of John Reed are a feature that immediately propels the gym among the best in LA.

An athlete setting up his equipment for some bent over rows
You'll want to have a look around the gyms you visit to make sure they have the right equipment for your workout routine. Photo from Victorfreitas

The gym offers just about any class you could think of such as high-intensity cardio sessions or the favorited Bikes & Beats class! The participants don’t have to worry about that awkward pause in their workouts in between each song with the live DJs on site, leaving them pumped for the entirety of the class.

However, the pros of this branch don’t end there, with the high-quality equipment that keeps the place in the conversation for best gyms in LA year in and year out.

Some of the gym’s prize possessions include the high-quality Gym80 machines and its spacious layout, which leaves plenty of room for exercise even during peak hours. 

Navigating the fitness landscape to uncover the best gyms in America can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The Benefits of Going to the Gym

Both during a hectic workweek or during the free time you’ve earned for yourself over the weekend, it can be equally challenging to drag yourself to the gym to get a workout in, but once you make a habit of it, it becomes second nature and rather addictive!

There are also endless benefits of getting your workouts in at the gym, such as bringing you a step closer to your goals. Whether you are looking to become a healthier version of yourself, shed some unwanted pounds or pack on some extra muscle, by going to the gym you can steer your progress in your derided direction with the right workouts.

Going to the gym also helps you to become more disciplined. There will often come times when you really don’t want to go, but making the tough decision over an extended period of time will make all the difference in your progress and will even translate across in other aspects of your life.

Going to the gym also presents a healthy avenue to socialize and form relationships with like-minded people striving towards goals similar to yours, and it is a great way to declutter your mind after a long day.

Equipped with knowledge of the best gyms in LA and the benefits that arise once you get your membership application finalized, you’re more than ready to start taking steps towards your goals!

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Samuel

University teaching Assistant in Business Strategy, Statistics, Economics and Project management. My interests include reading, live music, chess and travel.