Embarcadero YMCA

If you’re looking for private adult swim lessons and you need something with a flexible schedule because of work– I would NOT recommend these classes. I purchased an 8 pack of swim lessons in April 2015 and still have not been able to use more than 3. They can never get me on the schedule, overturned staff 3 times in the course of the year, and have put me on the schedule and then have not showed up twice. What a waste of time! Very disorganized and very poor customer service. They have nice swim teachers at least some of the ones that I have met– so I give them one star. I happened to miss one class because of traffic in the rain (for some reason people can’t drive in the rain) and they charge me for missing the class. I emailed the instructor to let him know that I was going to be late because of traffic– but it didn’t fall into their policy requiring 24 hour notice so I get charged a class– how is that even fair?! I have showed up twice to no instructor even though a class was scheduled and no repercussions.
The new director of the program offered me a «take it or leave it» deal where I could take all 5 classes at the same time on the same day in a row and he would not charge me for the late class I missed. Well if I could do that I might as well have taken a group class… what’s the point of private lessons if you can’t get schedule flexibility. I finally asked them for a refund so I could get swim lessons some where else– luckily they processed that quickly but doc’d me for the one class I was late too… whatever. Frustrating.

Great gym right downtown. I just went for a day and paid $ 20 for a day pass. The view was really great from the cardio equipment and the facilities were great.

Overall for the price, the gym is fair. The staff tends to be pretty rude on a regular basis; you can do better.

It seems like the pool formulation has changed and my skin is no longer reacting to it! It isn’t saline, but it is gentler than before. Thanks YMCA!

The facilities and staff at this YMCA are fabulous. The problem occurs when you try to cancel, not only can you not cancel easily, but you can’t cancel from any other YMCA and they specifically make it difficult for you to leave. I have been trying to cancel my membership for a month now, and I finally got it cancelled only to be charged for ANOTHER month! Talk about stressful. When I requested a refund (because I can’t use their services any longer) they told me I was out of luck and that I have to keep this 70 $ charge for something I couldn’t get out of and now can’t use. Talk about crap customer service! If I were you, I’d go to any other gym in the city!

Embarcadero YMCA offers late hours on weekdays (til 9:45pm) and a great assortment of exercise equipment, classes, and function-​specific rooms (cycling, TRX, Kinesis, Basketball, Swimming). The best aspect of Embarcadero YMCA is a diverse membership that respect one another and help to make this a community rather than just a gym.

This is the first time I wrote negative review, they made me so unhappy because they cut people’s lock on the hanger and throw all swimming suit in a large cart like garbage without any notice just because they need to close and clean during Thanks giving.

I sincerely enjoy YMCA facilities. It’s never super super crowded like the 24 hour fitness stories I always hear about. This Embarcadero location is one of my favorites in the city, mostly because it’s spacious and clean.
WEIGHTS
The 3^rd floor studio has nicer dumbbells and more weight variance. Just be sure to return them here if you take it out of the room. Weight machines and barbells are plentiful.
RUNNING
There’s a stamp near the front desk you can use if you’re going for an outdoor run so you don’t have to check in with your membership card again.
CYCLING
There’s a ton of spinning classes here and there’s usually plenty of open cycling machines.
YOGA
Ehh, this location isn’t that great for yoga classes. I’d recommend Stonestown YMCA for this.
POOL
There’s a handful of water fitness classes as well as open pool hours for swimming.

I went there because my YMCA is closed for maintenance. First the good: it’s much bigger. It has much more updated equipment and more choices. The women’s locker room is huge.
OK, now the bad: it’s super crowded. There’s very little space to do anything besides the machines. It’s as if they’re discouraging you from leaving the machines. Even the weight lifting area is tiny. Unlike Chinatown, there’s no place to do squats or lunges. I always felt like I was in someone’s way. I never got into a groove.
And waaay too many hipsters. I like being around real people of all ages, not just the young, beautiful ones.
Glad this isn’t my normal gym. I’ll be happy to go back to Chinatown.

I’m excited to rejoin the YMCA (there is a Sept promotion on the initiation fee too so this is great timing to join). I used to be a member as a college student (very fee friendly for when you are under 26) and moved back to SF recently. I had the chance to try it out as a guest last week (went for a swim and i didnt have any skin problems like another reviewer) and I just took my first lunch time workout class– Kinesis which was really fun and tough.
I appreciate the diversity of people who use the YMCA and I think the staff has been very friendly. I have been a member of Equinox and while amenities are all nice, it felt soulless. The YMCA succeeds at making the place a community through the variety of classes and opportunities to interact with members and staff. Also, the YMCA has way more classes than Equinox at every time of the day.

It pains me to give this Y such a poor review because I am a huge fan of the organization and facilities but this experience was (thankfully) unlike any other I have had at any branch I have visited. As an out-​of-​city visitor, I was under the impression that all I had to bring with me was my Y card. According to the rude attendant, she needed to call to verify my membership with my home Y branch and confirm my address and birthdate, which she did; however she still insisted that I needed to pay $ 5. I agreed to this and then was told that I could not visit the gym, afterall, since I did not have my license. The manager on duty was also rude. I would not recommend this facility at all.

Stayed next door at the Harbor View Hotel and went to the Y 2 times during my stay. It was great. New equipment, really nice people and even good to see the kids there to swim. I’d forgotten going to big city gyms my whole adult life that kids need exercise too!

I just broke up with the YMCA. It’s something I’d been thinking about for awhile… dirty towels, dated machines, high fees, and unfriendly staff are a few of my issues with the Y. But it was close to home and I always loved the view of the bay from the elliptical machines.
But today I finally cancelled. A «senior staff» member came at me quite aggressively regarding their no cell phones in the locker room policy. I wasn’t on the phone — just checking my texts. If she had politely asked me to put my phone away I would have had no problem. Instead she pulled a power trip and was quite rude. We got into a yelling match and after she said ‘normally we’d kick you out for swearing’ I told her don’t bother, I’m canceling my membership. Now.
I don’t want to get my workout therapy at a place that can reduce me to tears. Bye bye Y — I’m joining Crunch.

Very nice and facilty. Clean and friendly staff. Compliments of Harbor Court Kimpton hotel

I’ve been a happy gym member at this YMCA location for a few years. The things that keep me paying the monthly membership fee for this place are the convenient location to my work and, more importantly, the friendly, casual, and relaxed feeling to the place.
To echo Maria D.‘s review, the community of people who use this facility come from all walks of life, and everyone just does their thing. There are no egos on display. You can work out on recently upgraded equipment, stretch out on comfy mats, play pick-​up basketball– even book a massage– and not feel like you are taking up someone else’s precious time. Love it!
The weekly schedule of classes, run by energetic and knowledgeable staff, has enough variety (in terms of time and activity) to please any fitness-​minded person. The women’s locker room is always kept clean, and the new hair dryers rock. Yay!
The only reason I’m giving this place the A-​OK is… the pool.
Man. Let me explain.
The water treatment for the both the lap pool is very harsh on my skin, which, as a person who threw herself into the deep end of a pool at age 3 and has loved being in the water ever since, is a major disappointment. I cannot swim in it. My skin turns blotchy and red after only a few minutes in the water. Luckily, a retreat to the sauna more than makes up for the acid bath experience of the pool. If this place could treat the water differently, I would be an even happier gym member!

The pick up basketball is mediocre at best. The 1 star review is their policy created for the new America where when you win you have to treat losers like they won too. I have played bball in every well known large city in the country and never have I ever heard about a rule that says when you win 3 games you go to the bottom of the list. I pay a whopping $ 75 which is more than way better gyms just so I can play ball. Not only that but this might very well be the only gym left that adults play and everyone really plays shirts and skins. Like really. Like people can’t remember 4 people to pass it to. Like really? Grow up.
I won’t really review the workout rooms even this they are crowded in rooms that look like an apartment with low ceilings.

Wonderful, un-​pretentious, well-​maintained gym. I really recommend this place if you are not a typical gym goer or if you are a serious gym rat who wants a no-​nonsense place that is not trying to be a spa.
There are all kinds of people working out here from the super fit who jack the elliptical resistance up to 20 to the chubby (moi) to the old Chinese guys killing it on the weight machines. Everyone just does their thing. And you can’t beat the view of the Bay Bridge on the 3^rd floor.
Last, since I always have the hungries after my workouts, I appreciate their vending machines filled with healthier snacks like string cheese, jerky, almonds, Clif Bars, etc. It really makes you feel extra virtuous as you walk out.

Will not return to Embarcadero YMCA. I selected this spot for it’s proximity to work. After getting a shoulder injury I requested a leave of absence and the gym agreed to a 90day grace on membership. My rehab went slightly over this mark and I was auto-​charged for a month even though I could not use the gym.
When requesting assistance with a refund, I was reminded what poor customer service looks like. Unfortunately they were unwilling to consider my ask (more symbolic than financial).
The result is they secured a month of revenue. And I closed my account the next day. My business is now with SF Fitness where there’s better value & attention to service. It’s comforting to know quality alternatives exist.

Swimming pool has a lot bleach — not good for sensitive skin, what I have.
Showers are oldstyle not very clean.
Finnish sauna is good one, not popular at all. I had great time in sauna.
If you have long hair take dryer with you, they have dryers but very old and those really damage hair.

The stunning bay views. The positive community vibe. The modern facilities. Truly a fantastic experience. Very laid back attentive positive staff.
The facilities include a large cardio area, wieghts and basketball court.
Also avaialbe: lap pool, sauna and steam room. Complimentary towels.
It’s really all about the views and location however!