FITNESS SF - Embarcadero — Local services in San Francisco

Alright everyone.. hold your breathe... this is going to be a long one. I have only written about 3-5 yelp reviews in my entire life.. so please keep that in mind

This gym is absolutely amazing... I am so confused why there isn't a million plus 5 star reviews.

Okay so let me give you a little bit of background information... I love working out and it's a huge part of my lifestyle.. I workout typically 6 days a week. Some context: I was living on the East Coast for 2 years and moved back to the Bay Area (SF to be exact). I was on the hunt for a good gym (CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN, not overly packed so that I could actually use the equipment without twiddling my thumbs waiting for that next person to be done, and positive and inclusive environment, and something not too far from my place/work).

I moved back to SF in August and LITERALLY not kidding, looked at 5+ different gyms: YMCA Embarcadero - this gym straight up smelt like chlorine

24 Hour Fitness Embarcadero - guys this gym smells so disgusting and is NOT clean at all. I literally would rather work out at home or on my balcony then go here. Equinox - alright,I love the eucalyptus towels..and the gym is nice, BUT its literally PACKED PACKED every single day.. how am I supposed to workout waiting in 10-25+ min lines to use equipment. And how am I supposed to pay over $200 to wait in line?!? Planet Fitness - doesn't meet up to my gym standards Bay Club near Embarcadero - their is literally carpet where the weights are... it literally reminds you of an OLD OLD building.. not into it. Also this is about $200... not going to pay that for carpet near the weights. Alright so you guys get it.. I did my research and went way overboard in ensuring I find the best gym that I will be happy going to everyday.

Finally, after feeling really upset/down since all the gyms weren't great in SF.. I thought well I guess it cant hurt to check out ONE last gym. After stepping foot in Fitness SF Embarcadero I was introduced to Ralph. He was the one that gave me a tour and I was blown away by his demeanor and customer service. I could go on and on about Ralph, he is always happy, makes everyone feel welcome in the gym, and has great customer service. I know... I know this email sounds very repetitive, energetic, and a bit overly enthusiastic, but I want you to know truly how much this gym and environment has helped me in all aspects of my life. I've gotten back into working out regularly and actually look forward to seeing Fitness SF Embarcadero employees.

Point is: I am sure most of you want a gym that is 1) reasonably priced 2) CLEAN!!! 3) Positive Environment

To be honest, I didn't care to pay a large amount for a gym if it met all of my needs but Equinox and Bay Club didn't meet all of them.

Great pros about Fitness SF: You can go to all of the locations with the membership you don't need to pay more Outside turf which is awesome! You can bring equipment/weights/rowers out there and workout Gym is never that packed at all which I love. Selfishly I don't want people to keep joining ;), but DAMN this is seriously a hidden gem!! Great resources!! Khaliah and Leah are so nice and helpful! They are both personal trainers and always give me tips/advice to help me achieve my goals... FOR FREE! I met the President (Zhou) after I joined and he went above and beyond and literally handed me his business card. What kind of President at any company does that? They really care about their members and you will find the resources you need to achieve whatever goals you are after!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS GYM! Please feel free to message me directly if you have anymore questions. I PROMISE PROMISE you will not regret joining! So so glad I found...

Crystal Sealed the Deal for Me!

I’m usually a tough cookie to sell. I juggle 2 to 3 gym memberships at once because I can never find all the things I need at one place. For me, great staff can truly make or break the experience—and Crystal absolutely made it!

The gym itself is fantastic with its spacious layout, natural light, and the beautifully renovated upstairs area. But what truly stood out to me was Crystal’s warmth, professionalism, and her genuine passion for helping members feel welcome. She gave me an engaging tour, answered all my questions, and made me feel valued from the start, which convinced me to join.

I think it’s important to point out excellent individuals, especially in large franchise gyms like this. It’s easy for companies to lose sight of what truly matters, but recognizing quality employees is critical. Crystal’s dedication should absolutely be rewarded and recognized.

Thanks to Crystal, FITNESS SF - Embarcadero is now my go-to spot. If you’re looking for a gym where the staff make all the difference, Crystal will make you feel...

On my very 1st day here, I was in the cardio room when a homeless, crazed man with bare feet wandered in, lay down at a spot near me & started screaming / staring. Shocked that FitnessSF would have such a breach - having an attentive check in person is a must. If they can’t be stringent about who they allow in, why charge a monthly $100 membership fee?

Once front desk was alerted by me, they did get rid of the person but definitely left a sour taste in my mouth. Would be 100% cautious that an incident like this is possible before enrolling.

Edit - Changing this to 2 stars because I appreciate the response & empathize homelessness is a citywide issue. That said, hopeful that better security & more attentive check in people will be deployed to ensure member safety so avoidable experiences like this...