ELBGYM Hofstatt — Local services in Munich

I went to this gym for over 2 years. The gym itself is ok. It's very crowded most evenings so that you have to wait up to 15 minutes for a locker. It's a lot less busy in the morning. The gym staff were generally helpful, but the  company-wide administrative support staff are all complete pricks, who never answer any direct questions, and do nothing but resend stonewalling form emails. They overcharge and refuse to follow their own rules or make any corrections.

Earlier this year, my work contract and visa expired and I had to leave Germany. The guys at the gym desk said they don't do the administration stuff but I could end my membership by contacting the support by email. I was less than 6 weeks into the 3rd renewal of a one-year contract I had signed in January 2022. The desk staff repeatedly assured me that I could end the contract if it was because I had to leave Germany. There was a special word for it, sonderkündigung, and that I just needed to send an email to their company-wide administrative support.

I sent a clear cancellation email at the end of February, informing that I could no longer stay in Germany and would be leaving because my visa expired, asking if they needed any specific information about it, and thanking the gym staff for the workout plans. I didn't get a response, but also didn't think very much of it while I was resettling in the Texas. When I followed up a couple of months later, they said they didn't receive it. When I forwarded them the original copy from google servers which showed it had been delivered, they said, well it didn't matter because the email didn't come in time. They wrote that I could only get out of my contract if I paid them around 900 euros!

It's now near the end of June. I called the support phone number at least half a dozen times during business hours, and exchanged close to 20 emails. But to date the only thing I ever got back from them is a bunch of absurd stonewalling form emails wrapped up in German polite speak. For example: "Leider reicht der Nachweis nicht aus, um deine Mitgliedschaft vorzeitig zu beenden. Bitte sende uns einen anderen Nachweis zu, damit wir dein Anliegen schnellstmöglich klären können." which translates to: "Unfortunately, the proof is not sufficient to terminate your membership early. Please send us another proof so that we can resolve your issue as quickly as possible." They never provide any information on how to resolve anything. I finally just canceled as many of the payments as possible with my bank, but they still owe me more than a hundred Euros from overpayments since my first cancellation email.

The people responsible for company-wide administrative support are deceptive, dishonest, and overtly obstructive. I can't recommend them...

I trained there for the 1st time yesterday and would share some of the things I have noticed.

Location 5/5: 5mins by foot from Marienplatz/Sendlinger Tor.

Gym size 4/5: The gym is rather small and would have rated it lower if it was not very central. Understandably the rent prices are considerably higher in the inner city.

Equipment 5/5: The gym offers multiple Eleiko barbells, some of which are Powerlifting barbells. Deadlifting without dropping the bar is allowed, however dropping weights is strictly forbidden. WEIGHTLIFTERS outhere, this gym is not for you. How is dropping not allowed in a gym that offers Crossfit?

Changing rooms, showers, toilets 0/5:

Changing rooms: I have never been in a changing room so small, that I had to wait 10 minutes for someone to empty his locker so I can store my stuff and go train, but this was the best part about it. Toilets: I wanted to go to the toilets but this is the first time I have been in a gym so dirty in Munich, not even low-cost gyms that cost 20 Euros a month are dirty as that. The photo attached below is showing the cleanest toilet out of the rest.

Shower: Long story short, the showers stink so bad that I went out of training without showering, and just showered as soon as I got home.

To summarize: the gym has a lot of potential to be way better than it is. The high quality equipment and great location do not compensate for not providing enough lockers for men, or providing clean toilets (especially considering the...

I stayed in Munich for a couple of days, this gym has a €25 day pass and it’s super easy to get. Also, the day pass is good for 24 hours, so I was able to come in the next day and train which was great. I went around 7am both days, and it was fairly crowded, but I did not have to wait for any machines, and there was still plenty of space. There are a few negative reviews, and I found the place to be very clean, and all machines to be functioning properly. In summary…

Pros: 24 hr Day pass / easy to get for travelers Plate loaded machines, cables, dumbbells, great for bodybuilding and other types of weight training. Also 4 squat racks/deadlift platforms. Hammer strength stuff iykyk. Good cardio equipment, and even some HIIT training areas/equipment. Opens at 6am for you early birds Classes if that’s your vibe Facilities were clean when I went in the morning Front desk spoke English, very polite and helpful.

Cons: Don’t expect a ton of space, I didn’t find this a problem, but some machines you may have to get friendly with the person next to you, and what’s wrong with that? Limited equipment, although they have everything you could possibly need, you may have to share on a leg press, or a cable set. Bathrooms have even less space, they have private stalls (only for the toilets), but the lockers got crowded very easily during morning rush.

I highly recommend this place. Great lifts, cool lighting, good pump up music. What else...