If you’re a meathead, gym bunny or fitness freak planning a visit to the Big Apple soon — do not fret — I have your gym search covered. Listed below are my top choices for day pass gyms, each one hand-picked as the best option in its borough.
Gyms were selected based on several criteria: a day pass is available for purchase, the cost of the pass, accessibility of the gym (both in getting there and entering) and gym quality. Chain gyms like Crunch, Blink and Planet Fitness were not included in the selection process but there are many located throughout the boroughs that can be viable drop-in options.
Without further ado, here is the best day pass gym in each New York City borough.
Brooklyn
Absolute Power has two locations in Brooklyn — one in Williamsburg and one in Bushwick. You can drop in at either location for just 15 bucks, but I’d recommend popping in at their newest spot in Bushwick. The latest location offers a few more squat racks, upgraded machines, more space and a bigger turf to do your thing.
Absolute Power Gym
49 Wyckoff Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237
+17185695727
Day pass: $15
Manhattan
Mid-City Gym has been serving Manhattan for decades and is located on the basement level of a residential building near Times Square. The iron bunker is dark and gritty and has plenty of solid machinery to get you pumped for the day. In fact, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been known to show up on occasion and toss some kilos around. Drop in for 25 bucks and you can finish your workout using the same calf machine Arnold once trained on.
Mid-City Gym
345 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036
+12127570850
Day pass: $25
Queens
Check out BQE Fitness the next time you’re in Queens. BQE stands for Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the gym sits right beside it. The massive, multi-level Woodside gym checks nearly all of the boxes for the athlete, bodybuilder, powerlifter and regular Joe, with a bonus of an onsite café and seating area, basketball court and group fitness classes.
BQE Fitness
26-50 Brooklyn Queens Expy W, Woodside, NY 11377
+17187264343
Day pass: $20
The Bronx
When in the Bronx, you must make a stop at Daro’s Extreme Fitness. The rugged warehouse gym next to the Bronx River is a little on the — dare I say — extreme side, so don’t show up expecting shiny, new equipment and towel service. What you can expect is an environment that will get you revved up to lift heavy and train hard.
Daro’s Extreme Fitness
1125 Bronx River Ave, Bronx, NY 10472
+17185007070
Day pass: $10
Staten Island
Last but certainly not least (I didn’t forget about you Staten Island), let’s go to Pumpin’ Iron Fitness. I love this place. It’s old school and homie. It’s a small, elbow-to-elbow gym but it delivers a solid punch with a good selection of equipment and plenty of iron to toss around. Drop in for 25 bucks and make sure to say hi to the owner Paulie for me.
P.I. Fitness
1595 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10302
+17186892796
Day pass: $25
