I really enjoyed working out here for all of 2025! It's clean, the people are friendly, and you…read morereally get a sense of community here. When you join, you get guest passes to invite friends and family to join you. And it works! One friend liked it so much, he joined the gym. We started lifting together. But then we were told personal trainers were not allowed. That's cool, this is my friend tho. But we understood why. There are other trainers doing their job, it can be distracting hearing someone nearby pontificate about squat form. So any discussions about lifting turned to a whisper "Hey man, your squats off. Try this." "Wrist looked a little limp. Try this." But despite that, we got a final warning email that threatened to kick us out if we continued working out together. That was disheartening. And the more I think about this, the more confused I get. You encourage friends and family joining with guest passes, give them a discount, then are scolded for working out with friends and family? I reflect back on the year, and realize this has been happening right in front of me. Familiar faces were always solo, duos a blip. The 5 people who still Yelp, I implore you to consider, what constitutes personal training? What constitutes advice? Is it the certification of a Pharos approved trainer? They say it's a matter of safety, but I think it's just code for "This is a community that wants you fully invested in their classes and coaches, not each other." So I'm writing this review to warn anyone thinking about joining that potentially may work out with a friend. Your heads may be next. Overall: The space? Great. People? Great. Equipment? Great. Pricing? Steep as fuck. 4 1/2 stars!

tl; dr? Love it. Great people, great equipment. Has everything I need…read more *** September 1, 2024 was my first day back in "the gym"---that is to say, any gym---in many years. I played sports thru college, transitioning into competitive triathlon, but was hit with very serious medical issues and surgeries and treatments took me *OUT* in the 2010s. I thought I'd never get back to my normal self, threw my time/energy into work, and resigned myself to a life on the sidelines. I'm fortunate to have a partner who was having none of it, knew I deep-down wanted and needed to get back, so he bought me a membership. I blushed and grimaced at the price I knew he was paying---I grew up on public assistance, so to *me*, this place is wild---but I accepted the gift, starting going, and never looked back. On my 1-yr anniversary of coming to Pharos, I emailed them this-- "I cannot believe it's been a year. Truly. What a difference it's made in my mental, physical, and emotional well-being. I found sleep, again. And while I continue to emphasize *former*, as in "former athlete" whenever my past comes up, I feel like I'm regaining some of what I lost with my health battles. You're part of that. I'm in remote Yup'ik/Cup'ik territory (AK) for a cultural gathering---here since Tue night---or else I'd be getting it in at Pharos Echo Park today. Thank you, all, so much. m" --but in talking with a phenomenal staffer, the inimitable Sue Shaheen, felt moved to write an actual review and share more publicly about the journey I've been on because Pharos has been a central part. Maybe all of these things are corny to say and share, but they're true. I have always felt welcome and comfortable at Pharos, and that's something I did not expect when I began. The anxieties and intimidation I had about going to a gym and "starting all over" were my own, about my own internal insecurities and the fact that I was a shell of who I was, mentally & physically (I'm 5'6 and wasn't even 100lbs when I started back. I was pretty broken! I still wear a mask every day for health reasons, but no one's weird or aggressive about it.). From the first folks who helped orient me---Kevin & Andre---to other trainers, coaches, and staff I've met over time--s/o to Sue, Joe, Abigayle, Alan, Nick, Cynthia, Alex, Kate, Micheli, Jesse, & more (please forgive any misspellings!)---everyone has been encouraging and supportive. Comrades using the gym have been warm and kind, as well. There's nothing quite like having someone you've never talked to, catch your eyes and go, "hell yeah, GET IT!" as you're struggling for that last rep. It's a good place with good people. As for equipment, there are tons of machines and free weights, which are more than enough for me; I'm here to lift and I don't need fancy. Still, if you compare my photo of the area they call "The Base" (the only space I use) to a photo of the same space here on Yelp from 2021, I think you'll see there's equipment that's been added, and it always feels like they're attempting to grow more. I'm an early morning person, and btwx the variety of machines/weights and the fact that there's no real "crowd" at that time, I never get stuck waiting for my next move/set. When necessary, again, b/c of the variety of equipment available, it's very easy to adapt a workout or move for a particular target muscle to what's available. Is everything perfect? I imagine not. I'm not using the facilities to the max, I'm not taking classes, I don't care about the music, I don't need saunas and pools and ice baths, and I'm just generally not a demanding person, so maybe I'm not able to thoroughly critique every aspect of this gym. But I don't need perfection. I need basic equipment that's functioning and available, and for the athletic space I'm sharing to not be overrun with cops & military. I have everything I need at Pharos and I am grateful to them every day.

David, the training manager, and Jenna, the personal trainer, were amazing to work with. I'm so…read moreglad I met David. He really listened to my goals and physical limitations and recommended Jenna as the best fit. Before training with Jenna, I was dealing with recurring pain, stiffness, muscle strains, and diastasis recti. Since working with her, all of those issues have improved significantly. I became much stronger and achieved incredible body recomp results. At my 1st check in the number on the scale barely moved but I'd lost 6 inches of measurable fat from around my body and replaced lbs of fat w muscle. That's why the inbody scan is so important. I got it done beginning, middle, and end and invested in a smart scale for home. Beyond the physical results, Jenna gave me the knowledge and confidence to train on my own, and I've continued applying what she taught me. Working with Jenna was hands down the best investment in my physical health. I highly recommend meeting with David and allowing him to guide you toward the trainer who best fits your goals and needs. As for the gym itself, it's one of the cleanest Equinox locations I've been to. There is always staff cleaning equipment and keeping everything organized. If it's your first visit, be sure to allow extra time for parking, the garage can take a while to navigate. Also, don't forget to validate your parking and keep track of your ticket.

This Equinox is not as crowded as Pasadena or Culver City location…read more Front desk = 2 stars. Most of the time, they are friendly but that one lady that worked there on 7/15 afternoon tanked the entire Equinox experience. I reported a broken treadmill that stopped suddenly and how dangerous it is. This lady totally ignored me, didn't even make eye contact or asked I was injured. So unprofessional!! Parking = 2 stars. The entrance to parking lot is very narrow and all the spots are very small, difficult to park. Group fitness classes = 5 stars. All the instructors are good and classes are not crowded. Women locker room = 4 stars. Usually clean but it's overly stocked with face lotion and not body lotion. Like there are 3 times more face lotion than body lotion, so hard to locate a bottle of body lotion.

Awesome 1st time visit. Had to pay a $20 guest fee. The sign up process is a little tricky (what…read moresessions you can/ cannot sign up for as a guest online) ultimately it worked out. The front desk guy was cool, welcoming and gives you a brief tour of everything before you hang out. I played a timed pickup game, 4 quarters and cooked. I liked the clock and timeout situation.

I visited once for an event and the event security kept some of my property. I called and even…read morestopped by during business hours to speak to front desk employees who took my information and said they would help get me in touch with security, but never heard from anyone. I get it, everyone is busy, but you should at least follow through for potential customers otherwise they feel like you are just lying to them to get you to leave them alone.

Under previous ownership, this league was excellent. Most recently, the quality, the…read morecompetitiveness and overall fun has declined significantly. Most notably, the refs are clearly influenced to officiate games in certain teams favors. Inconsistent calls, bad behaviors (physical tackling and excessive rough housing) not corrected fairly on each side, more refs present for certain teams. Once a ref threw a flag and then asked another ref if he saw something flag worthy. Like wtf! And certain teams are allowed to beef up their rosters midway through the season when it's against the rules of the league. It's all rigged and unfair. It has taken away the love for the game and put a focus on unfair "competition". My son used to love this league. His team felt a sense of pride playing for it. But with rigged games, behind the scenes drama, unfair favoritism, it's too discouraging to continue on. We won't be returning.

Very competitively unequal teams. A few teams pick off the best players, and the rest of the teams…read moreare composed of what's left. If you are a coach and your kid is friends with somewhat experienced players that you will pick for your team, or if you know someone like that that will pick your kid, you will be fine. If you are a first time player you will likely be on a team with other inexperienced/first time players coached by a parent that is new to this. If you are in the latter category, have fun loosing every game. Good news is your kid will be cured from wanting to do football again for a while.

I came to the Social Club for JiJi's Jazz Lounge, which is an open jam and artist showcase. JiJi's…read moreJazz Lounge is an awesome event that you should all tune into, and the vibe is perfectly matched by the Social Club. The shrink menu was curated for the Lounge, and they were really yummy. I won't talk too much about them in this case they were limited offerings for just the lounge. I will speak to their wine selection, which includes great wines and natural wines too. The wine service was amazing as well. I got some snacks to start off the night, like the cheese board and toasted bread. Both were really well done and delicious. I would definitely come back for a date night. It is very cozy and cute here. The decor and seating options are beautiful, and there is an outdoor area to play games as well. The cool thing that they offer here is an all-inclusive wedding package for up to 35 people for just $10k-- that's a steal!! Might mess around and get married, honestly. Parking is a little tricky, but there is a park nearby. I assume there is parking there, but I ended up parking in their parking lot, which is reserved for other businesses during regular hours.

Visited the social club for my first time, The vibe was so…read morechill met some super cool people and best of all was able to see MACK KEANE live. Well worth the 3hour drive

I dropped in twice. First time I didn't stay for any training as the instructor said he wouldn't be…read moreinvolved that day. He said that was typical for weekends. Came back on a weekday and stayed for training... he was barely involved in training that day. I understand how someone might think he is rude but I wouldn't go that far, really he just comes off as checked-out and not interested in his gym / business. The session is about 1/3rd combat sport related. The other 2/3rds is light cardio drills you can do in your own home. The other attendees are more willing to help and with that I would say this place serves more of a sparring club than a serious training gym.

The Yard and Yoshi are excellent. This review will hopefully be helpful as an update to how class…read moreis run (since class has changed a little). First my background: I've trained Muay Thai for two years (first time was in April of 2022). I've trained at 7 gyms: FLMT (Florida Muay Thai , OC MT, Team Oyama, Classic Fight Team, Rising Suns Thai Boxing, NELA Combat Fitness, and Boxing Works. My home gym for the last year was Boxing Works under the instruction of Coach Bryan Popejoy, where I trained 3-4 days a week and did one on ones once a week for about 3 month. I would've stayed there however I recently moved to Northeast LA (Highland Park) and the drive to Torrence for BW was too much (about an hour to an hour and a half drive there and 40 minutes on the way home). Whereas the Yard is a 6-minute drive from me with ample sessions. Second, class style: Classes are Monday through Friday: 8-9:30, 10-11:30, 4-5:30, and 6-7:30pm and then two sparring classes on Saturday from 9-10:30 and 11-12:30. As far as I'm aware, Yoshi teaches each class and he does an excellent job. At other gyms, I feel much more advanced then I do at the Yard. Lots of basic bad habits that I got into are getting fine-tuned and corrected. A typical class is organized in four parts: (1) Cardio: A five minute round of jump ropes and then a 30 minute cardio session where we jog, sprint, do knees, teep across the mats. (2) Bagwork We then do several rounds of shadow boxing where Yoshi will make small adjustments to our form. From there, we all go on the heavy bags and practice whatever we want to work on for several rounds while Yoshi works one on one with us on pad/mitwork. This is where I think the Yard shines. If you go to a class with few students, you are essentially getting a free one on one. When you're not working one on one with Yoshi, you are working the bag. (3): Drills/Sparring From there, we work on a specific technique through partner drills and then light technical sparring. Yoshi is very attentive as he goes around and makes adjustments and suggestions. On Fridays the technique is clinch focused; which is really great. Many gyms in Southern California lack emphasis on the clinch. (4): Burnout/core work: We end with 3 minutes of ab/core work and then a minute plank. Sometimes we will burnout with skip knees on the bag. Overall: An excellent choice. I can't speak to how it would be for a beginner, as I came with two-years of experience. I imagine it would be a great place to start. Potential cons: I do not see people doing drills on thai pads (where one partner holds pads and the other hits). Typically, a Muay Thai class is 1 hour. At the Yard, it is 1.5 hours. Which means its a little more demanding. At this point, I cannot train every day even if my schedule allowed it because my body and cardio is just too shot. I imagine with time, that'll change.

When Sanctuary Fitness in the Arts District closed, I couldn't find what I was looking for-- then I…read morefound Fit Body Boot Camp. The workouts are amazing-- the coaches are so great and they make sure you have the right form. I've been telling everyone about Fit Body Boot Camp in Chinatown!

The best of the best! I joined fitbody bootcamp Chinatown about a year ago and it was the best…read moredecision I have ever made the coaches are amazing and they help you all the way during the workouts. Also I highly recommend the challenges, they help you with nutrition and tracking macros. It has helped me so much I was stuck at a certain weight and I have lost a lot more weight since joining FBBC and since joining a lot of their challenges. They also give the best word of the week.

This past Friday I attended the Dining in the Dark at the City Club and had so much fun. I was…read moresigned up via Renaissance club and so I was seated with members from the club and we ended up fast friends laughing joyfully as we ate blindly. First, there is parking at the building but it's easy to miss because of traffic but it's a quick enterance and then down a steep tight hill into the lot. Valet is there but I found a self parking spot. For the event our parking was validated which made the parking only $8 which was a relief since parking around the area can be quite pricey! Inside the room all the tables are intimately set up according to how many people were on the reservation, and the room is surrounded by windows where you can see the amazing LA view. I love that according to what you're going to eat you get a color coded candle. Meat is red candle, Fish is blue, and vegetarian is green. When it is time to go dark they announce and you blind fold yourself with a blindfold that you get to keep at the end! There are 3 courses and I will not ruin it by telling you what I ate so you can be surprised. After each course the chef comes in and he tells you what the food was. I honestly expected that because my sight was gone that I would be hyper aware but somehow I guessed wrong about some of the ingredients! It was such a cool experience and the dessert was so good I wanted more. Dining in the dark was such a wonderful experience. If you need date ideas this would be a really great date idea! After the dinner was over, I explored the 51sr floor a little before heading to the elevator and it's really beautiful up there. There are some rooms with a TV and table and chairs and all the windows. In the waiting area there are even binoculars to use. Such a cool experience I would definitely do it again!

Beautiful views from the top of this building! I've typically come here for finance events and…read moreconferences so my perspective is purely from a meetings and workshop POV. Staff is friendly and helpful and the catering is pretty good. I enjoy seeing DTLA from this vantage point as there aren't too many other buildings out there that have similar views. Only thing is that this is valet only. So hopefully you're being hosted for parking because it's pricey!