If you’re fed up of exercising in busy work out spaces with equipment that has seen better days, then Paris is home to several boutique gyms that combine high-end gear with upscale décor and a more refined atmosphere.
For regular gym-goers, there’s nothing more frustrating than finding a machine with a queue of people waiting to use it. That’s just one reason why boutique gyms offer a far more rewarding experience, with fewer people and an overall superior standard when it comes to facilities and personal service. From stylish fitness studios to exclusive members-only clubs, we’ve picked out some of the best boutique gyms in Paris for those who like to stay fit in more luxurious surroundings.
Blanche
Set in a grand Art Nouveau mansion in Pigalle, Paris’s 9th arrondissement, Blanche brings five-star luxury to the serious business of keeping fit. Spread across 3,000 square metres, this exclusive club combines state-of-the-art Technogym equipment with elegant studios where patrons can partake in everything from boxing to yoga and Pilates. Its showpiece feature is a spectacular 20-metre infinity pool surrounded by granite, while a sauna, hammam, stylish restaurant and even a private cinema make it somewhere to hang out long after your workout.
Klay
Housed in a converted 19th-century factory in the Montorgueil district of Paris’s 2nd arrondissement, Klay is far removed from your average gym. Original iron beams and a vast glass roof lend the space an industrial-chic backdrop for gym bunnies to enjoy while they make use of the high-end cardio and weight-training equipment, along with dedicated boxing, cycling and fitness studios. There’s also a swimming pool set beneath vaulted brick ceilings, plus a sauna and hammam. When you’ve finished exercising, the on-site restaurant offers somewhere stylish to refuel.
Annette K. Seine
Few gyms in Paris – or indeed anywhere – can match the setting of this sprawling fitness and wellness club that is located aboard a moored barge at Port de Javel Bas in the 15th arrondissement. Spread across three separate decks, it offers premium equipment, intimate studios for Pilates and cycling classes, and an eye-catching 50-metre heated outdoor swimming pool. There’s also a sauna, massage and balneotherapy facilities, as well as a rooftop bar and waterside restaurant.
Episod
With several locations across Paris, Episod is centred on high-energy, instructor-led group workouts. Its flagship venue near the historic Place de la République in the 10th arrondissement comprises of seven dedicated studios offering activities including boxing, indoor cycling, strength training, bootcamps and Reformer Pilates. Upscale interiors, immersive lighting and premium exercise equipment are augmented by swanky changing rooms, complimentary toiletries and an on-site Energy Bar
SILO
More of an intimate fitness studio than a conventional gym, SILO occupies a stylish space in the city’s 8th arrondissement.Specialising in Lagree, an intense but low-impact workout combining Pilates-style movements with strength training, it offers small-group classes that caters to everyone from beginners to experienced regulars. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors and high-spec changing rooms add to the boutique look and feel, while an in-house speciality coffee shop provides a sociable spot to kick back and unwind after a hard session.
Temple Noble Art
The often brutal sport of boxing gets a major glow up at Temple Noble Art, which has a grand total of five clubs across Paris, including locations near Palais Royal and Saint-Lazare. Far removed from your typical crowded, stuffy boxing gyms, these upmarket, design-led spaces boast dedicated rings, punching bags and premium training equipment, with small-group classes led by bona fide professional boxers. Sessions cater to complete beginners as well as experienced pugilists, with non-contact options also available for those who’d prefer to head home with their looks in tact. Afterwards, members can kick back and unwind in the sauna or freshen up in changing rooms stocked with organic toiletries.
La Montgolfière Canal
More social club than conventional gym, La Montgolfière Canal is housed within a former hot-air balloon factory dating back to the 19th century, a few minutes’ walk from Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement. An 18-metre-high glass roof towers above its airy interior, where members have access to cardio and strength-training equipment alongside studios for boxing, cycling, yoga and Pilates. It also boasts saunas, hammams, massage rooms, coworking spaces and a café-restaurant serving freshly prepared food.