Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C.

Gym · West End

Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C.

Gym · West End

2

1170 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037

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Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null
Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C. by null

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Membership chain fitness center offering pool, sauna, basketball  

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1170 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 Get directions

equinox.com

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1170 22nd St NW, Washington, DC 20037 Get directions

+1 202 974 6600
equinox.com
EquinoxSportsClubWashingtonDC

$$$$ · Menu

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Aug 20, 2025

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@eater

Where to Spot Soft Shell Crabs Around D.C.

"Chef Todd Gray looks forward to putting the well-sourced delicacy on menus every spring. This year is especially significant; the seasonal American stalwart just turned 25 and recently relocated to fresh downtown digs. The milestone calls for a special soft shell crab presentation. The semolina-dusted crustacean comes with minted cucumber tzatziki, warm pita, and pickled Vidalia onions ($24). A five-course spring tasting menu debuted May 7 with meat-free favorites like heirloom “beet” Wellington with trumpet mushrooms and pickled ramps and lemon bundt cake with Southern strawberries. Reserve via OpenTable." - Tierney Plumb

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How DC Chefs Are Trying to Reduce Food Waste - Eater DC

"Chef Todd Gray repurposes vegetable scraps in stocks and sauces and uses cryoconcentration to produce intensely flavored liquids from produce peels and ends." - Lani Furbank

https://dc.eater.com/2019/8/15/20792457/dc-restaurants-bars-how-to-reduce-food-waste-solutions-upcycle-compost
View Postcard for Equinox Sports Club Washington, D.C.

Mark Anthony

Google
I really enjoy the cleanliness of this gym the basketball court and the pool. If you enjoy a great clean environment consider signing up here

Charles Freyder

Google
I have to agree with the comments about the loud music. The volume has increased in recent months to the point where you can't have a conversation with others. A gym friend has been monitoring the volume on his iPhone and it's usually around 90 decibels (dB). That's exactly the level it was just a few days ago on April 18th when both of us were standing in the hallway near the swimming pool. If you Google 90 dbs, you can see what machinery that volume is equivalent to and the duration of exposure before you have hearing loss. I was told the same thing as another reviewer about the energetic music and motivation (must be corporate Equinox standard language) but if you look around the gym, you'll see that the targeted audience in their twenties and thirties are usually wearing AirPods and aren't listening to Equinox music, anyway. After four years, I am cancelling my membership effective the end of the month. As for the gym itself, it's very clean, the steamroom and sauna are almost never broken unlike other gyms, the swimming pool is fantastic, and they never seem to run out of clean towels. The equipment IS old, as other reviewers have mentioned, but it is always in working order. If a knob falls off a handle or if a seat becomes ripped, it's repaired in a timely manner. Still, it would be nice to have some new equipment, considering the monthly membership fee is in the $250 range. I've only seen the cardio equipment replaced in the four years I've been a member. And some additional strength machines would be nice; there's plenty of space to bring in a few more machines. Personally, I would have loved a dedicated triceps machine. Just set it up near the dedicated biceps machine! Nice, courteous gym members, too, in my experience.

Alya de Bie

Google
The teachers here are amazing! They are what made me keep my membership for the past 2 years. Especially Mike, Jess, Mimi and Emma are absolutely wonderful. I truly enjoy their classes. I’m only giving 3 stars because the hygiene levels at the club are not very good. People walk on the yoga mats with their shoes on, and nothing is said about it by the teachers unfortunately. Also, the sauna is very unhygienic. So many people go in to the sauna with their sweaty gym clothes and even their gym shoes on! You are supposed to shower before entering the sauna, but unfortunately this rule is not enforced at all. Also, many people bring their phones into the sauna. This creates a very unsafe environment. I would expect better from equinox. I have raised the sauna issue many times, with the club manager, with the staff walking around and with the front desk. Nobody has been able to do anything. Also, the front desk told me “this is the reason we don’t go into the sauna ourselves, it is very dirty”. Can you imagine that the staff at equinox themselves realize that the sauna is an unsafe and unhygienic environment, yet nothing is being done? I’m honestly shocked.. this is supposed to be an elite club, and they definitely charge elite prices, but they unfortunately don’t live up to the bare minimum when it comes to hygiene and safety.

M

Google
The only thing that kept me from joining equinox after trying them out is their soaps, shampoos and lotions. They leave a disgusting smell on your skin. Bring back Kiehls soap. That stuff was awesome. Besides that the club is outdated. They just took over a lower brand generic gym and put new equipment in it. I could deal with that if the soaps and lotions were better. Definitely not joining.

Ali Ahmed

Google
1. I would give it negative stars on part of customer service. They canceled my membership over a week in advance. I get texts back extremely late. 2. Showers are old and sauna temperature is seldom regulated. 3. Extremely loud music. Bleeds through my headphones. 4. Nudity in men’s locker room is just a culture shock and a bit unsettling. 5. Got a 25 min sports massage and that was quite incredible. BUT, tea kettle wasn’t even filled. 6. Very underwhelming waiting areas. Since their premature cancellation of my account, my account manager has been unresponsive.

Mia Speight

Google
I was able to access this gym for my workouts while staying at the Ritz Cartlon that is adjacent. The area was clean the front desk staff was very kind and polite. Some of the trainers seemed snobbish and unwelcoming. The layout is awkward as the main gym is on the second. I wasn't aware of until ended my workout downstairs. Pros: Front desk staff is pleasant TRX suspension training apparatus are available Lots of treadmills High ceilings Cable systems Towels available Pre moistened wipes Access with stay at Ritz-Carlton (restrictions apply based on your room) Cons: Poor layout Mean looking trainers who don't greet guests

nancy miranda

Google
Here’s an email I sent to Equinox management this week. To their credit, Alex Anos responded within hours but the reply was basically a boilerplate message telling me (nicely) to deal with it. At this point, My next stop is St. James, and that decision’s just about made. I’m writing to highlight serious concerns regarding the Equinox experience in the D.C. region. While Equinox heavily markets an elevated, premium membership, what’s actually being delivered falls far short. Across the entire D.C. and Maryland area, there is only one Equinox location that even has a sauna , the Sports Club D.C. All other locations only offer steam rooms, which promote mold and fungus, not true detoxification benefits that a sauna provides. For the price of full membership access, this lack of consistency is unacceptable and was not made clear when I joined. The food vendor was terrible, and with no replacement yet, members are left having to leave the club to find food after workouts. Weekend hours are terrible, closing far too early to accommodate serious members and professionals with busy schedules. The parking validation sensor constantly malfunctions, and when it does, I’m stuck either waiting around to fix it, risking being late to appointments or having to eat the cost of a full-priced parking fee. I’ve already paid over $150 because of these issues. On top of that, the three-hour parking limit is not enough when including a full workout, recovery, and meals. There’s no water filtration for showers or steam rooms, despite D.C.’s known water quality problems, far from the “luxury wellness” standards Equinox promises. When you charge premium rates, members expect premium facilities across all locations, not isolated exceptions. I hope these issues will be addressed with the seriousness they deserve.

Sarah Ebrahimi

Google
Updating my review to report that my previous review still stands true. The facilites are in severe decline. Swimming pool has been out of service for over a month now. One toilet in the women’s restroom has been broken for months. Major water leak began during Pilates class today (see photos). What you are paying for here does not align with the horrible facilities and building that is quite literally falling apart. Restrooms are also filthy and lacking basic supplies.

Hayden E.

Yelp
What a complicated review to write! Keep in mind that I live around the corner and go to this gym almost every day. I'll give you the bad and the great so you can decide for yourself. Upgrading to 4/5 as a wonderful member of the services team reminded me of the overall commitment the club has to members. The Bad I've been disappointed in the decline in facilities in the last few months, fewer events, lost laundry, being given other members laundry, and a pretty subpart offer to deal with lost laundry ($25 or two guest passes to replace $180 in lost shorts - both purchased at the club!) The Great Group fitness classes are fantastic. I've been a member during two different periods - and Mike Gray has been on consistent fixture at the club. This is one place where I can say standards are high and consistent, instructors are diverse and incredible, and programming is excellent. I credit Mike and the team. A few key shouts outs - though I could go on forever praising this team. Bryan, Mimi, Jess and Mario - each bring their own style to yoga but all of them create a class atmosphere that is welcoming, challenging, and motivating. Honestly, the three of them have changed my relationship with yoga and have helped me reach key fitness goals. This team is trauma informed, created, and just fantastic teachers. Mary Carmen, Mike Gray, Emma Swain and others in the pilates/barre world are just excellent. They create fun, interesting, and motivating classes where I simultaneously don't think I can go another minute and yet an inspired to do so. They each offer incredible cues, thoughtful adjustments and a commitment not just to getting you a great workout but also teaching you to relate to your mind and body in a deeper and more connected manner. The whole athletic condition team - in particular Maggie, Brandon and Brit - not only have helped me increased lean muscle mass and lower my RHR - but they've done so in a way that has improved my basic movement patterns (hinge, squat etc.), created greater body awareness, and increased my lean muscle mass. Though there is a lot of turnover, every personal trainer has been excellent. The locker room staff is thoughtful, attentive, and very caring. They are not thanked nearly enough and contribute greatly to the club. In general, my experience with the member advisors has been excellent. The front desk staff is incredible - warms, welcoming, and technically proficient and able to solve any snafu with excellence. Other Good mix of machines and free weights, great saltwater pool, squash courts in the back are rather warm but a nice addition. The locker rooms are very dated, not very comfy, and a bit less nice than other equinoxes. Under the last management team, both the sauna and steam room improved (actually hot enough) and that is one thing that has not declined with the new team. Sometimes the coffee machine in the exec locker room works and sometimes it doesn't. They're a bit behind with no cold plunge, cryo, normatec etc for the price point. I've heard a number of members talking about making the shift to the St James which they say has much better commitment to members, service, amd facilities. For me, proximity, group fitness and the majority of the team will keep me here for now (along with hope that next time senior management changes, it will be for the better).
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Maria-Elena T.

Yelp
Came here for a tour and a very long workout. I thought the place was huge and later learned that it is the 4th largest gym in the country. So very clean! Vibe very relaxed and friendly. Great music to keep the workout vibe going. My trainer, Jacob Williams, taught me a few new great stretches, improved my form on things I always do, and gave me a great workout (especially the abs!). I wish I had brought a swimsuit to use the pool. I highly recommend this gym and Jacob.

S F.

Yelp
Low-quality products, constant pool issues/closure for repairs, inadequate customer service when dealing with harassment. VIDA is a fantastic alternative.
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Kim L.

Yelp
Don't be mislead by the lovely photo of the pool. The lap pool is apparently in poor condition. It's closed for repairs half the time and the heater always fails even when it's open so you show up to swim only to learn the water is colder than the pacific ocean in winter.
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Daniel C.

Yelp
Equinox Sports Club is a nice gym with its clean and mostly modern setup. It is spacious, elegant, and fully equipped with everything you'd expect at a gym, including four squash courts and a basketball court. A plus is how you can join a sports league. A lap pool is also available and the pool classes sets this Equinox apart from the rest. The facility has a restaurant offering food and smoothies. Staff members are consistently friendly and helpful, and there's a plethora of engaging classes with great instructors. One of the major flaws is the outdated shower and bathrooms. Both are also not as clean as I would expect from an Equinox shower and bathroom. Another is the unreliable lockers. I've had multiple lockers not function properly. The lockers come with their own locks and I have noticed either some lockers do not open with or without a combination set. Maintenance had mentioned to me that some of the lockers don't work correctly. So I ask this, "why does this high-end gym fail to fix the issue?" On a positive note, the $4 validated parking is a sweet deal, and like all Equinox's, you get the perks of a steam room, eucalyptus wash cloths, and Kiehl's products in the showers.

Ann G.

Yelp
Jacob (Jake) Williams is a fantastic personal trainer and the reason I keep going to Equinox. I have worked with him for 3 years and, at 60, am stronger (and look stronger) than 10 years ago. Compared to other trainers I've worked with, he is the absolute best at tailoring workouts to what I need at any time -- preparing for a bike trip, alleviating shoulder pain, or just staying motivated. Jake really cares about his clients...and is just an all-around great person. Any gym can have good equipment but really personalized training is hard to find.

Saamir N.

Yelp
It's a shame I can't leave less than a one-star review. What was a fine, premiere gym 23 years ago, Equinox on M St., NW DC now won't stop charging me and my son months after we stopped using our membership and I'm in a hospital in Scotland. Multiple pleas to not charge my account were ignored, as were my explicit instructions that permission to use my charge card was withdrawn. Perhaps good facilities but run by highly unethical management. Take your business elsewhere.

Vanessa S.

Yelp
Broken, faulty, old equipment. For $250 a month you expect SAFE working equipment. None of the treadmills or bikes work. I hurt my knee on a faulty bike that fell a part during a cycle class....after I tried 4 other bikes that were broken. (2nd injury...1st injury was on a treadmill). Management refused to not cancel my membership and is making me pay for another month even though they are not keeping up their end of the agreement and is impossible to get in touch with. My bank is now saying the membership was never canceled. Waste of my time, energy, and frankly beyond disappointing. Will never join an Equinox ever again. Managers Joe Vito and Jacqueline Groarke are unresponsive, unprofessional, and incapable of doing the basic roles as managers. Worst gym experience and customer service imaginable. Equinox Issues: 1 of 3 bathroom sinks out of order for 3+ weeks 6 shower lights out for 8+ weeks 3 showers with low to no water pressure for 6+ months Sauna broken for 6+ weeks Multiple spin bikes broken in spin class room 7 of 13 treadmills out of order on 2nd floor for 4+ months 2 of 11 stair masters out of order on 2nd floor 2 of 7 ellipticals are out of order for 6+ months 43 of 44 cardio equipment TVs have minimal to no cable service resulting in fuzziness or no visibility of television channel for 6+ months Dry cleaning amenity unavailable for 6+ months Chilled water cooler on 1st floor out of order Soul cycle bike - power meter out of battery and not registering for 4+ weeks Front door entrance - ADA access was broken for 6+ months

Nahlah M.

Yelp
This is one of the best fitness centers I joined so far. It's very clean and the staff are friendly. It has everything I was looking for from Pilates to strength training. I am always hesitant when it comes to swimming pools but this one is very clean. I highly recommend this gym. It's totally worth it.
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Chris J.

Yelp
Average gym, above average prices. Not worth the cost. Save money, go to your local gym.

Sarah E.

Yelp
Equinox Sports Club in Washington DC. The club's yoga studio (where I take classes 4x a week) had issues for 3 consecutive weeks: week 1) no music connectivity during any of the classes that week, week 2) broken AC (temps were 95+ outside), and week 3) broken AC (continuation of the issue from the previous week). In no instance did the club communicate a timeline that these issues would be resolved nor communicate with the instructors, who would apologize and complain alongside the members, but offered no information. I filed complaints with the front desk 4 times during this 3 week period and was told I would receive an email response: no response was received. After my 4th complaint, I asked for the card of the club manager and was given Nita Castillo's email. I emailed her twice before receiving a generic response which did not address my request for a refund or compensation for the weeks the club's facilities were not working. She ignored my request for a refund and offered guest passes instead. I responded back that 1) guest passes do not benefit me as I am a paying member and the guest passes would only benefit Equinox since it is free advertising for them. I am not interested in that as a solution. 2) She suggested I attend other clubs, Not a feasible solution since I arrange my workout specifically related to my work and childcare schedule, and 3) if there had been *ANY* communication from management regarding the timeline for repairs, I could have looked into re-arranging my schedule. Instead, there was zero information shared to instructors, nor signage, nor an email blast explaining the issue the timeline. Just silence and a hope no one would complain. The lack of customer service and communication is appalling, especially from a brand that promotes itself as 'luxury'. To borrow from your slogan last year, customer service is the luxury, should be the slogan of Equinox because there is ZERO customer service or empathy (nor communication when things go wrong). Also, I hear them misrepresenting 'renovations' ALL THE TIME. For example, I heard a sales person saying they just 'renovated' the yoga studio, when in reality the floor had began warping and becoming unsafe to work out on, so they replaced the flooring. Fixing an issue is *NOT* the same as renovating and updating. Another example, they had a leaky water cooler on the first floor which would cause spills, but was the only water fountain on the gym floor. They removed it and now there aren't any water fountains near the workouts area downstairs.

Alison S.

Yelp
Staff is uncooperative and it has very rigid rules; not good w customer service at all.
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Rachel B.

Yelp
I really love Equinox! This particular location is super spacious and has a lot of great features. The gym has a basketball court and a swimming pool. There are plenty of treadmills. I think there are less available stationary bikes, but several of them have screens so you can do Soul Cycle on demand. The workout classes are really great! I love the Tabata, Stronger, Pilates, and Barre. You have to try the Best Butt Ever class with Tim; it is the best! There are so many classes to pick from at all hours of the day. The locker rooms are nice, but the facility is older than some of the other Equinox gyms I have seen. The showers look outdated. But they still have nice Khiels products! They also have both a steam and a dry sauna. This is a luxurious gym experience, and I have been really happy with my membership. The cost is expensive, and unfortunately, they increased the membership cost this year. However, I do try to think of it as an investment in my health and mental well-being.

Nik E.

Yelp
Been going here for years, it's great, but will let you down over and over again in the smallest ways that add up. Green murky pool, broken "soul cycle" bikes that haven't been repaired in a year, and disgusting locker rooms that smell horrible with lockers that barely lock... it's really hard to call this an equinox when the new ones are literally 10x nicer.

M C.

Yelp
I waited to post this review for over a month to give Equinox every opportunity to do the right thing. My experience with management at this location is so toxic, buyer beware. I have detailed documentation of my experience and this review is written neither in haste nor out of spite. I read the negative reviews prior to joining as a member. However, I have been with Equinox on and off since it acquired Sports Club LA. I have experienced its gyms in four different cities. While I cannot write glowing reviews of its corporate policies, in general, this is, by far, the most disrespectful, and racist experience at any gym chain and location. As a Lifestyle & Sports Rehab Medicine Physician I am very much into an active lifestyle and take fitness seriously. I recently moved to DC and was interviewing gym/workout facilities. Every gym except Equinox was willing to let me try their facilities for at minimum one day and some for longer. The fee for just this location is $254 a month so at this price I deserve to tour the facilities and have a trial. I primarily like group fitness classes and wanted to ensure I connected with the various teaching styles. When I called, I was immediately accused by the membership advisor Janina A of scamming the gym for use during business travel in DC. I wonder if she would have asked if I was named Karen Smith? After I explained that I just recently moved to DC and am a former Equinox member the tone quickly changed yet the damage was already done. Despite this experience and all the negative reviews, I chose Equinox because of my prior experience with stellar instructors and it was the least dirty of numerous gyms I interviewed. Touting eucalyptus towels and Kiehls (not Le Labo) products as luxury is hyperbolic. By these standards, my bathroom is the spa at Burj al Arab. Spoiler, there is no true luxury gym in DC; the bar here quite low. In my contract it states I get one free fitness assessment, one free personal training session, and one free pilates session. It has been challenging to get these scheduled. 3 months later, I did finally get a pilates session. I asked several of the group fitness instructors to recommend personal trainers to work with as I was planning to purchase sessions. I scheduled a session with a trainer 8/9/2023 which was cancelled several minutes prior to my session because via email due to an "emergency" and asked me to reschedule giving me two options. "I emailed you earlier but it seems to have gotten stuck in my outbox. I'm sorry I just saw this last minute. I had a family emergency and will not be able to make it...are you available on Monday evening or tomorrow around 10am?" It did not make sense. Why was she emailing minutes before our session if she had a family emergency earlier? Was it now over in which case she should not have had to cancel the session? I replied to the trainer's email with radio silence from all parties. I kept emailing and calling the personal training manager, without response. I came to know from the front desk staff that he was no longer with Equinox. I emailed the new personal training manager, location managers Jacqueline G and Brandon H, ccing Janina A, membership advisor. To date all failed to accept any responsibility and even shifted the blame to me! Today is proverbial straw that broke the camel's back. I saw Janina A at the front desk and went to express my concerns. From my initial phone call with her, she has consistently demonstrated herself to be an incredibly ugly creature, in every sense of the word, and walked away as I was speaking to her. Her partner in hate, Laura, took over and had the gall to first ask if my concern "was a money issue", next asked me if I had "pulled aside a trainer to see what the issue was" (which makes zero sense to me) and lastly yelled at me. Three strikes and you are out! DISRESPECT + RACISM ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. My lawyer is aware. The management Jacqueline G, Brandon H, Janina A, and Laura are truly vile (I cannot call them human) beings. This is not a problem that is unique to me as there is longitudinal historical evidence of ill treatment of members at this location. I urge you to read the reviews prior to joining as they are consistent with my experience. There is an abject lack of accountability, deeply responsible leadership, and more importantly a basic concern for humanity. I have zero tolerance for this dehumanizing experience, racism, and values aligned with our 45th President. (Just google Equinox is racist). https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/26/nyregion/equinox-settlement-discrimination.html Sooner than later karma is definitely coming for you. NOTE: I have had a positive experience the Group Fitness manager and Group Fitness instructors and the front desk staff (expect for one whom I no longer see anymore). This review does not include you and the reason that I hesitated and deferred posting this review.

Michael R.

Yelp
This is probably the worst Equinox location I've been to. The good: - Beautiful design, basketball court, pool, steam room, sauna. The things Equinox is known for. The bad: - This location is very poorly managed - the staff seem incompetent, or at the very least, aggressively apathetic. They come across as aloof and arrogant, and even hostile on occasion. If you have a concern or complaint, customer service is nonexistent - they just ignore you. The staff by itself made me want to never return here. - The dressing room and steam room are not clean - it doesn't really matter if they're beautifully designed if they aren't being cleaned. For what people pay for Equinox, you should be able to have a relaxing shower without looking at mold on the walls and overflowing trash cans, and wading through a mountain of used towels and standing water on the floor. - There is zero enforcement of any rules, at all. Including people going into the sauna / steam room fully clothed, wearing their shoes. This is unsanitary (not to mention disgusting), and when I informed the front desk they just rolled their eyes and shrugged. - Very, very VERY HIGH PRESSURE sales. Like ridiculous. Everything is TODAY ONLY, followed by some absurd statement that obviously isn't true lol. "You can only join today!!!" "If you don't join today and want to wait until tomorrow then Equinox isn't for you!!!". -- Unfortunately, this seems to be a common theme in DC over the past few years: the deterioration of supposedly high-end places. - hiring people who obviously aren't capable of managing, or have very low standards - those managers lower the overall standards of the place - they then don't enforce any rules for these already lowered standards, allowing people with selfish, poor behavior to do whatever they want - those low standards attract even more people with selfish, poor behavior - that poor behavior and low standards become the new norm So we're left with places that look nice, but have untrained (or incompetent) staff that make the experience unenjoyable. If I'm paying $20 for Planet Fitness, my expectations are very low and I go with the flow. If I'm paying 10x that for Equinox, I expect a 10x better experience - not just nice architecture and better tile in the bathroom.

Viji V.

Yelp
Update to review: a regional person contacted me and we got this resolved after I sent the original email confirming cancellation. So I'm updating to 2 stars.
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Ali S.

Yelp
Avoid. Don't even give this place the benefit of the doubt. That's the mistake that I made. I have a running list of issues with this club and met with the General Manager (Amanda Walker) to discuss them. While meeting with her, all I got was an apology. No plan of action and no attempt to keep my business. Very corporate. This club is below the Equinox standards by a long shot. My issues: 1. I get locked out of my locker at least once a month. The lockers are extremely outdated. Finishing a workout only to have to go to the front desk to wait for someone to unlock my locker is a waste of my time. 2. Before the club ripped up the carpet, the men's locker room always smelled like mold. If it was mold, the club put a lot of people's health at risk and is unacceptable at this price point. The locker room was flat out disgusting. 3. The use of plastic cups (and paper cups) in this club is so disappointing. It's creating waste for the environment. From my understanding, clubs in New York, LA, and San Francisco don't have cups. I have addressed this with corporate a number of times and have gotten a corporate response every single time. And the biggest issue of all - they have expired hand sanitizer for their members. It expired a year ago. This lack of attention to little details makes me wonder what other corners they're cutting and which of those are putting their members' safety at risk.

Audra D.

Yelp
Feeling disappointed with myself for choosing this location for a birthday indulgence of spa & gym for a day. I came for a massage with hopes to use the steam room & pool afterward. My massage was very ordinary, average at best; I was surprised that my masseuse did not responding to the suggestions of focus I had offered. After the steam room, I headed to the pool, which after an hour, had left me with red eyes, and a grossly discolored bathing suits. A woman in the locker room had told me they just can't seem to get the ph/chlorine levels if their pools right. After a much anticipated, and too expensive day of "pampering", I was left with an average massage, a ruined bathing suit, bloodshot eyes, that no amount of grapefruit Kiehls shampoo could fix.
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Bianca S.

Yelp
Having read a number of reviews that site members of the management team as not being customer friendly or particularly helpful, I have to agree. On the way to the airport I visited the club passing by ( without an appointment) and ran in to see if I could take a quick look at the facility before my daughter ( who is registered for an enquiry about membership). It is company policy not to allow guests in without an appointment, but I asked to speak to the manager on duty to request that an exception be made. I asked to at least just be allowed to stand at the entryway and look into the gym, so as to get an idea of it. The manager was most emphatic and was not welcoming in any way. When I asked him to please explain why the policy was in place he said " Goodbye Ma'am" and walked away into the gym. I understand why company policy exists, but also think that there is a need for some flexibility and at least friendly customer service. The website says walk ins welcome!
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David K.

Yelp
not professional staff and I wouldn't pay for sport club membership to have poor customer service experience

Reeut S.

Yelp
Worst customer service I've ever experienced. We had to pay in full for a spa service we didn't receive due to circumstances out of our control and they would not budge in flexibility. The manager was rude and unhelpful. I would not recommend this place to anyone. I told them as such and they didn't even care.
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Semaj B.

Yelp
Im writing this review to give recognition to and highlight one of the member reps Bruce. I have been touring and testing out different gyms in the dc area and of all the reps I've dealt with from the various gyms I ultimately decided to go with Equinox Sports Club DC because of how attentive and available Bruce was. He answered all my questions, always responded back and always sent me emails with offers, and information about the club while I was trying out other facilities and it never felt pushy or forced but genuine. Some of the other reps from the other gyms never replied or replied days or worse yet weeks later and when deciding on a purchase such as this, for me customer service is everything. I need to know that I'm going to be seen responded to heard and taken care of and my needs met with anticipation and I got that and more from my time spent working with Bruce, If you're reading this and you're new or thinking about joining ask them to pair you with Bruce he's the best!
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TJ J.

Yelp
Spoke with membership advisor Erica on the phone and all she did was belittle me. Very rude and unprofessional. Will not join this gym.
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Lah R.

Yelp
This review is limited to my recent spa experience. Alana was professional and quick to check me in for my massage. She was knowledgeable about the products and very attentive to my requests. While shopping for new workout gear, Hana proactively checked on me and set my gear aside so that I could try it on after my spa appointment. I am so happy with my purchase and these ladies made the experience exponentially better! Gary is a relaxation genius and gave me one of the BEST massages I have had!! I was rushing to get to my 80 min performance massage and he calmed me down so that I could truly enjoy the experience. Gary used perfect pressure and was able to feel out exactly what my body needed. I left feeling like a new person with a body that would achieve its optimum performance. Visit the spa, get a massage and you will feel better! :-)
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Dennis A.

Yelp
I've been a member of Lifetime (Rockville, Reston, Ashburn) Equinox (Bethesda) and Sports Club LA (Equinox DC before it was acquired by Equinox). I share because I feel my experience helps provide context for my opinion. Let me also share that my primary interests center around resistance training and cycling (spin classes). I recently joined the DC club without actually visiting the gym assuming it was at least as good as the other Equinox gyms and as good as it was while under the previous owners. BIG MISTAKE. During my first workout I was shocked and very disappointed at not only the condition of the equipment (2nd floor) but how he machines were laid out. It seems clear to me that whom ever was in charge of layout had zero understanding of the basic requirements when locating a machine that requires the user to load and unload the weights (plates). For example, the shoulder press machine is located approx 1 foot from a wall making it very difficult to load a plate. In another example, there is a machine that cannot be loaded or unloaded while someone is using the adjacent machine. Poor condition of the equipment (2nd floor). It quickly became obvious that there was very little investment in equipment. At one point 50% (3 out of 6) of the treadmills on the second floor were out of order for over two weeks. All in all I find it incredibly disappointing that Equinox, one of the most expensive clubs in DC, has done so little to ensure that the club lives up to expectations. Clearly the very poor Yelp ratings have done little to motivate them to improve the club.
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Jesse P.

Yelp
I'm surprised this passes as an Equinox. Small weight lifting floor in an otherwise giant building. It's like a 1998 style gym with 2020 fonts used to dress it up. Bethesda is a FAR better location and would recommend that you look there for a true Equinox experience.

John T.

Yelp
As a dues paying member here for about two years - I am very upset about the number of underemployed personal trainers and other equally underemployed Equinox employees such as membership directors who use these facilities as their day camp for adults (themselves); are entirely disruptive and disrespectful to the paying members; and crowd us (paying members) out of the workout areas. The inmates have taken over the asylum. I have complained and provided examples to senior management a number of times - although none of them (senior management) could manage a Subway sandwich shop. This has been to no avail as the situation gets worse. I am supposed to be subsidizing these people to play all day and interrupting my work out experience with my membership fees? It's ridiculous. You may ask why I am a member still? I am dubious about a long term commitment to this place and do enjoy some of the group exercise classes - open to finding a true luxury workout experience in DC. Trust me - this is not a luxury product - along with the persistent criminal activity in the locker rooms - which I have unfortunately experienced first hand and detailed here, I would dissuade anyone from joining and would be welcome to ideas on a true luxury workout facility in DuPont/West End. (Vida is not the answer)

M T.

Yelp
Bring your own Purell. Equinox Management evidently doesn't believe in communicable illnesses like flu or Covid. And who has ever heard of such things spreading in a gym. So bring your own hand sanitizer
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Phil T.

Yelp
Ok, nice things cost more. The question becomes "is it worth the price?". Concerning Equinox gym, the answer is a resounding "Yes!". The place is huge, spotlessly clean, every piece of equipment is of the highest caliber, the staff is very friendly, the locker room is immaculate. If you want classes they have dozens running at all times. Every member is very, very chill. Ladies, you'll never be bothered during your workout. Guys, you'll feel just as welcome. My only complaint is the small restaurant inside the club. The food is amazing and healthy but the people working there are eons less friendly and professional than the gym staff. When you order they half listen and your order will be half correct. All in all, I will absolutely continue at Equinox, I'll just stop at Whole Foods on my way home.
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Zoreana S.

Yelp
Music is so loud that it's impossible to hear your own even when I turn it up to the max. Do smth please, management. People kick exit buttons and n one is doing anything about it. Put a sign up "use your hands not feet". Update: 9/25/2019 - no changes re loud music

Rani P.

Yelp
Nice atmosphere for a massage. Basic massage therapists and poor management. The front desk made a mistake with my booking time in the system and I was charged for a "cancelled" session and offered another spot on the same day, but I would be charged again. I would not recommend the spa and the front desk staff and manager have poor customer service. There are better massages to be had at more reasonable prices.

Yoga M.

Yelp
Disappointing $180 massage. Weak and unskilled. I'm actually shocked that a gym of this level would have a masseuse on staff who cannot give a basic massage. Freezing cold hands, too.
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Jess R.

Yelp
We scheduled a couples massage and didn't use the facility. If you're staying at the hotel, this is a stand alone gym. No frills massage, no add ons. The massage therapist I was assigned was very nice. However, she didn't ask if the pressure was ok. Now, I could have asked for lighter pressure, but she was working through my muscles and I left the massage feeling good. If you're staying at the hotel and looking for a more spa like experience, opt for the Georgetown location because they have an on-site spa. I felt the massage was expensive for what we got. High end hotels are charging the same and they have numerous add-ons, etc that make the cost more worth the time.

Wendy H.

Yelp
Took my friend for a massage and had a massage myself. No one could check us in. We ended up wandering around the spa area and bumped into the masseuses who told us where to go. No one telling us how to lock up in the locker room. No robes. After the service no one could check us out so I had to call the next day and ask to be called back (after being on hold for more than 10 minutes). I would rather spend a lot less and go to a no frills place or spend more at a place like Mandarin. They evidently had a flood but that does not excuse the lack of training the front desk to sub in. The folks I did interact with were nice and tried to be helpful.
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Eun Sun J.

Yelp
If you can find another gym, you should. The facilities are nice, but the customer service is very bad. I was staying in DC only for the summer and I told them I will leave at the end of the summer. The account manager said no problem. They still charged me for August and when I asked for the refund, they did not give me a refund for the entire month I was not going to the gym. What is worse is that the account manager stopped responding to my e-mails as soon as I asked for the refund. Three e-mails in a row! If you do not run into any account issues, your experience will be fine. If you run into any complicated issue, however, you will find yourself be very angry.

Nick B.

Yelp
It's gyms to a new level. There's nothing about this place that isn't well sorted out and the variety of classes included in the membership is phenomenal
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Abby G.

Yelp
I recently joined Equinox and I'm already hooked. I did my due diligence regarding research of luxury gyms. It came down to vida fitness and equinox. At Eqinox, I worked with Ryan to learn about the club, the amenities, memberships/ contracts. I was very honest about the negative yelp reviews regarding contacts and terms of memberships. Ryan answered my questions directly and Addressed my concerns. In one week, I've done 10 classes and my favorites are: Precision Run, Cycle Beats and Barre Bootcamp. Amenities are incredible. The place is so clean and smells so good. The ladies locker room is constantly being clean. I'm happy with my decision to join Equinox.
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Gabriella S.

Yelp
This is a review on the spa alone.*** I believe that the spa has gone down hill since one of my prior visits a few years ago. A few years ago I did a scrub treatment that was incredible so I was super excited to return! Perhaps it was just my masseuse but I had a massage where I mentioned to please focus on my upper back and shoulders. I swear to you, the masseuse literally did not touch my shoulders or upper back. She would graze the spots I wanted attention on and I would say "yes right there" and she would literally stop and move. I honestly thought I was like in the twilight zone. For more than $200 I am shocked. I do not even feel like I had a massage... I may have been better off going to a Massage Envy, maybe the masseuse would listen. I feel like I got completely ripped off.
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John W.

Yelp
Just joined 6 months ago, and couldn't be happier. If you do join, I would absolutely recommend using a personal trainer, and if you do pick Cali Garner! Been working with him almost since I've started and he has made a huge difference in how I work out. He's very knowledgeable about technique and puts together a great program Day in and day out. On top of that, he's a super nice guy that makes it fun every day. Highly recommend!
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Ian S.

Yelp
Overall very disappointed with experience I had here. I work for another fitness club in the area and was excited to see the new renovations and get an official tour. I like to be informed of all industry offerings for the benefit of myself and those I come in contact with in work and life. Upon arriving I was grilled by a manager at the front desk about my interest in joining (before even seeing the place), when I explained I wasn't exactly looking for a new membership but was interested in touring the facility he refused to let me in. After some back and forth he relented and agreed to contact membership for a tour (after closely examining my ID). When I brought up the awkward exchange to the membership rep she was equally cagey - claiming they are a private club, not open to the public, want to avoid customers who aren't serious, and don't have protocol for "dealing" with people from other clubs. Well what I walked away with is that this place is not about a good guest experience across the board - treating everyone respectfully and equally. They didnt seem to care much for interacting at all unless you are talking dollars and cents. They aim to profile you and sell you and are the quintessential hard sell that many of my guests frequently complain about. Although they have a top-notch facility - their talent is not - which puts them way on the bottom of recommendations in my book. I've heard many rumblings about the egos and price point at this club but gave them the benefit of the doubt - but the word on the street is not far off. No amenity is worth one-sided business practices and pressure from disingenuous people.

Juliet A.

Yelp
My massage therapist at the Equinox Spa, Alison Gregg, was by far the best I've ever experienced. She was a godsend for me as I suffer from chronic pain, and I have never had a massage therapist as adept in helping with that as she is. I have had many massages and hers are by far the best, as she really listens and has a great knowledge of how to help. I cannot thank her enough!
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Karen C.

Yelp
Since it's become an Equinox, there have been noticeable improvements! (even though the Sports Club LA is the same brand) The machines have been upgraded / replaced for the most part. And overall, it was always a great gym. Clean with nice amenities / offerings (pool, basketball court, squash courts, towels, spring water cooler, nice bathroom / showers), many class offerings, plenty of machines & space. The staff is always nice/polite and attentive too. Sometimes I wish the gym would be open later (till 11pm would be nice since there are many apartments around the area)
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Emily P.

Yelp
This place is horribly managed and I do not recommend it at all. They treated my trainer horribly and when she quit, they refused to refund me for my sessions, forcing me to decide between using that money (over $1000) in the spa or leaving and forfeiting the cash. Like I'm gonna go get a massage in the middle of a pandemic? This club is unbelievably over-priced for what you get and the management seems to really hate their customers. They also seem to hate their staff. I cannot recommend anyone go to this place when there are so many reputable gyms in the DC area to be found.

Gypsy K.

Yelp
Management is incredibly shady - they try to hide complaints and unhappy customers. Would not recommend this gym.
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Chris H.

Yelp
A great club that meets my needs. the M St. NW location is convenient for me, but management continues to put a lot of effort into keeping the equipment and facilities up to date. They just put in a bunch of new strength training equipment that is easy to understand and use. Yes, it gets a bit crowded at gym rush hours but it is never impossibly busy. I work with trainer Ana Cetverikova. She has a great attitude, is extremely knowledgeable and has done a superior job of creating a series of workouts that are tailored to exactly what I need. She's smart and when I'm dealing with a particular issue is very good at diagnosing the situation and coming up with appropriate exercises. She's made ...and continues to make...a big difference in my physical fitness which is much, much better after working with Ana. Only drawback, she's so good that her schedule is quite busy.
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Tracy N.

Yelp
I've enjoyed playing basketball in this gym for our co-ed Sunday league for many years. They keep it up well (change out the nets, floor is swept and there is an abundance of towels for pre and post workout) and on Sundays, we get full use of the gym/pool for the day. The women's locker room is equipped with just about every toiletry you'd need in case you forgot something at home. The staff are always friendly and our scorekeeper and referees do a good job.
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Jenn C.

Yelp
Continuing to charge after membership was cancelled. I called to cancel my membership in early June since I was moving out of town and could no longer use the membership. After recently checking my bank statement (early August) I found that I had been charged for BOTH June and July! After repeated calls to the manager and being told they were "out" or "in a meeting" I finally emailed. They told me they would cancel my membership effective today but would do nothing about the last 2 months. I had already disputed the charges with my bank and now the manager seems confused and had the audacity to ask if I was sure I called and who I spoke with. 2 months later I do not remember the name of the person which seems to be a huge issue. Incredibly poor customer service in my opinion! I would strongly recommend looking elsewhere for gym facilities.
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Maddy G.

Yelp
Clean, spacious, and equipment is always available. If you enjoy squash and/or basketball, there are many courts and others interested in playing. The changing room area is very nice and has all of the accouterments that you would expect of an Equinox gym. It's expensive, but the price for a nice gym in DC is what it is. Docking a star for a couple reasons: their locations in other cities are much nicer. I am able to use the Boston and San Fran locations when I'm there for work, and while smaller, the aesthetic is definitely better. Also, many of the treadmills should have been replaced with newer equipment a few years ago. Otherwise, staff is friendly, but more importantly not too pushy (BIG plus in my book), and the little cafe provides decent offerings/great smoothies for a post-workout snack.