David Barton Gym

This is my first review for a gym. I normally go to a private gym at work back home, so I have limited reference data. Also, my review is a bit skewed since I have free access, a nice perk of being a guest at Boston Park Plaza.

I'm giving 5 stars for this gym, since it has all the qualities I look for in gyms plus exceeding several expectations:

1. Spacious, clean, and sleek looking with great upbeat music. I like how everything is black and grey with good overhead lighting and mirrors everywhere.

2. Lots of equipment and benches - no need to wait for folks since plenty of dumbbells lined across the rack.

3. Kettlebells! From 20 lb all the way to 50 lb! I use these in favor of 80% of the rest of the machines and other stuff.

4. Squat Rack - they have a real one, in addition to that horrid, ergonomically-inferior Smith Machine. Barbell Squats are the king of all exercises for me since high school (I was a shot putter on the track team and was rated one one of the worst in the city LOL).

5. Cool art and motivational slogans to add to the environment. I like the murals and their theme, "Look Better Naked" - as good an excuse as any to work out. Also makes you feel less guilty about eating out from all those Yelp recommendations!

Facility is nice.

Management is poor. Since opening the gym has had bumps with membership agreements, follow through and not being very responsive. Several times, I've heard that management essentially refuses to believe anything, unless you have it in writing. It is clear that the place is suffering, as membership is very weak.

All summer long, there has been a severe leak issue with HVAC system. This has been constant and in 2015 is unacceptable for a new, purportedly luxury, fitness facility. If this place wants to compete with Equinox then they should start acting that way.

Lots of turnover from pre-opening and no one really seems to be running the shop. GM is clearly a novice and not motivated with follow through.

Positives are locker rooms, equipment, trainers, classes.

Cleanliness is inconsistent.

David Barton is the newest gym in Boston
And all the socialites are checking him out!

It's located conveniently next to the Park Plaza.
So, you can easily follow up your workout
with dinner and drinks downtown.

The Deal: I just attended their grand opening.
sign up now for a special opening week deal:
only $49.95 & 1 week money back guarantee.

Negative star?

The gym itself is fine. Great music and nice equipment. The problem is customer service.

There are many reviews here that warn about being charged erroneously or having a hard time quitting....THEY ARE TRUTHFUL! I'm sad to say that month after month I continue to get charged for this gym and I don't even live in Boston anymore. I continue to fight to not only cancel my membership but get a refund. Please don't join this gym if you aren't prepared to deal with some serious issues in billing. If you are a female, try Healthworks. They rock.

So disappointed.

I recently joined Class Pass to try different gyms around the city since I just moved here, before committing to one. The gym is dimly lit which I didn't hate, and the machines are brand new. It was also not too crowded during the 6:00-7:00 am time frame I would attend which makes it easy to get a good work out in.

I also think the women's locker room is well kept and makes it very easy to get ready for work.

However, one negative comment that left a bad taste in my mouth, was when I recently received a $20 class pass charge "missed class fee" on a gym time that I actually attended. I even specifically recalled that the front desk attendant seemed too busy to be bothered while I checked in by giving my first and last name and stating that I was there with class pass. Other gym's and studio's employees around the city genuinely seem interested in interacting with you, whether it be by simply saying "good morning" or asking how a class went etc., while this one could even care enough to simply mark me present. In fact, just out of habit when leaving a gym, while walking out I turned to the attendant who was with another person that appeared to work at the gym as well, and said "thanks guys have a good one," without a response.

Normally, those issues wouldn't have phased me, but looking back at my experience at the gym and putting them all together, perhaps the employees need to be better trained in hospitality and correctly checking Class Pass attendants in properly.

Honestly, DBG is hands down the best gym I have been to in the Boston area. Not only are the facilities top notch, but their customer service is far beyond any gym I have been to, ever.

First, I want to talk about the atmosphere. When I first walked in, I was very impressed with how cool this place is. I've never seen a gym like it before. The lights are dim, they play good music, and the entry area is full of comfy leather couches and cool art. I feel like the space itself inspires me to work hard at this gym. Cyc is my favorite spin studio of all the places in Boston, and it is located right in the gym! The locker rooms are great -- you don't need to bring your own lock which is a game changer for me since I always forget mine. The showers come stocked with products so you don't have to bring your own. And the bright red wood floors are a nice touch.

BUT, the staff is really the reason that I was so impressed. For the first time in my life, I did not feel pressured to sign up for a membership. Nicki, the GM, was absolutely amazing -- she spent time getting to know me and talking to me about my needs instead of just trying to sell me everything they had to offer. Not once did I feel pressured to sign up, but rather I felt like she was just teaching me everything I needed to know about their gym so that I could make my own decision about whether or not I wanted to sign up. Obviously I did, and I couldn't be happier. When was the last time the GM of a gym gave you a hug on your way out the door?

In regards to the price, it is very comparable to other gyms in the area. It's a bit more expensive than Beacon Hill Athletic Club, but you can't even compare them when it comes to facilities and amenities. As my mom always says, you get what you pay for, and that is definitely the case with DBG. Totally worth it -- best investment in my health and happiness I have ever made!

I've recently purchased a gym membership here after coming here quite a bit through ClassPass. I've been looking into different gyms as I've been wanting to cancel ClassPass. I wanted to find a place that was convenient for me to get to after work because if I had to do a lot of traveling, I knew I wouldn't be as motivated to go.

I narrowed it down to LA Fitness and this gym. LA Fitness was a lot bigger and had more amenities and equipment than this gym. The decision to sign up for David Barton came down to two things, the location and the people who frequent this gym. I work close to the green line so it's very easy for me to get on the T and head here after work so I knew I wouldn't have an excuse to not make it to the gym. Second, the price point is a lot higher than LA Fitness and other places like Planet Fitness, however, I like it. Not to be a snob but the price point keeps certain people out of this gym like meatheads and trashy lowbrow types.

The area is small but the equipment is brand new, space is really nice and sleek, and the classes that I've taken here have been good. As the area is small, since I come after work, even though there may not be a whole lot of people it can definitely feel crowded, especially around the free weight area, so this should be considered if you're looking for a new gym.

Overall pretty happy with this gym.

Is this a gym or a nightclub? I've never worked out in such an environment: Extremely loud techno/house music and darker that any other gym I've been to. Sometimes they have a DJ mixing tunes. It is definitely a different experience, I just don't like working out in such an environment.
I've been here a couple of times using ClassPass. I like the decor, locker rooms and very clean and trendy. Showers are clean, bath gels smell really good.
I attended the DBGym HIIT a couple of times. The instructor is good but the workouts are not very challenging. I barely broke a sweat. I did feel energized after the workout though.

Fantastic equipment. This would be a five star gym if it weren't for the obnoxiously loud techno music. Basically the same song that plays over and over at a ridiculous volume. I have politely asked them to turn it down a little, and was told they are "unable" because it is "part of the David Barton branding"

Last time I was there there were 11 people working out, eight had headphones on. I'm going to guess that those eight people were listening to something other than techno.

My company uses this hotel extensively for Boston travel, and this is a consistent complaint, to the point that some people even pay to go elsewhere. I'm no fan of techno, but even if it were at a non-concert/rave volume it would be reasonable.

But it's ridiculous. I guess the David Barton branding states "employees must continuously play OOTZ OOTZ (untza untza) OOTZ OOTZ at volume 11."

Would be a fantastic facility were it not for this one ridiculous, easily modify drawback.

This gym is top notch! To start, I've never seen gym equipment this nice. They have a ton of cardio machines so you will never have to wait in line. They all have that virtual thing where you can go for a run in different countries on different trails. So cool! Who needs windows when you can go for a run in Austria or California?

There is also plenty of dumbells, kettlebells, foam rollers to go around. Plenty of weight benches to where I've never had to wait for one at any time of day. There are a lot of different weight machines as well. I've never seen so many pulley systems either - again, I have yet to have to wait for anything I need to do.

Sound system is pretty awesome as well. I haven't used my headphones for any workout since I've started here. Its a good mix of club, hip-hop, and pop - the tried and true workout tunes.

Best part is their trainers. From my understanding, this gym has a huge reputation to uphold so they went through great lengths to get these guys from all over. I just had my first workout with Sammy... can't believe the pump he gave me in just one shoulder workout! I felt like a beast! This guy blew me away with what he knew and how to implement it. I've been weight lifting for quite some time now, so showing me anything new or different isn't an easy task.

They have trainers for all sorts of goals and levels to get you where you want to be. You need to be at this gym! Don't let any of the snarling/naked pictures or muscle-heads scare you away. Everyone here is knowledgable, friendly, and here for you.

I really don't understand all of the negative reviews. Yes, the gym opened a few months after it was supposed to, but that's what happens when you're trying to construct something new (and safe) in a historical building from the 1920's. They had a rough start, but in my opinion they have made up for the delays by giving incredible, personalized service to their members and a great facility with impressive amenities.

Don't let the negativity keep you from trying this gym. It's a fantastic environment that will make you want to keep coming back which will inevitably help you meet your goals - whatever they may be.