Cambridge Athletic Club image

Cambridge Athletic Club

Gym Fitness center Physical fitness program Nutritionist Weightlifting area Basketball court Aerobics instructor Squash court

One of the Top rated Fitness centers in Cambridge


Address

215 First St, Cambridge, MA 02142, United States

Website

www.cambridgeathletic.com

Contact

+1 617-491-8989

Rating on Google Maps

4.80 (88 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Thursday: 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
  • Friday: 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 6 pm
  • Sunday: 8 am to 6 pm
  • Monday: 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
  • Tuesday: 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
  • Wednesday: 5:30 am to 9:30 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: equipment (13) staff (11) great (10) people (10) machines (10) clean (9) good (7) space (7) classes (6) Great (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Joseph B. 11 months ago on Google
    Been working out here since about 2019. Generally pretty happy with it. Helpful and available staff when you have questions or want your billing receipt. If you do want to cancel, there's a 2 month transition window but that's it: nothing like the big chain gyms. Five power racks are great, but during rush hour expect them all to be taken up. Like all gyms, there's an issue of people just sitting staring at their phone for 10 minutes between sets, doing nothing. Or super-setting half the machines in the gym. They have put up signs asking people to be respectful but I haven't seen any behavior changes in this. Going off hours is much less busy, but then you have to deal with the cleaning staff mopping right around your feet. Trying to squat when you have slippery floors isn't very safe at all, I've had to start getting a towel from the front desk to dry the floor to I don't kill myself. Cleaning staff should stay away from anyone using a squat rack, including the area near the sides where we change weights, otherwise it's just a slippery mess. The main negative and my reason for only four stars is access. Before COVID, we could walk right in the First Street or the Linksey Way entrance. During covid the building locked the Linksey way entrance, which is annoying as you have to walk around the block to the front. However, they eventually locked the front entrance, too. Gym members don't have access badges to the outside door, so we had to ring the visitor doorbell. That was annoying enough, but now they not only make you ring the door bell but have to speak to the security guard. The intercom is completely unintelligible and you have to shout 'I'm going to the gym!' to be let inside. Not a great experience during winter, or in the rain, since you are not covered. They really need to make getting inside easier. The gym is a tenant of the building, we should be granted come/go access through all doors without having to wait for security to buzz us in.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jonathan C. 9 months ago on Google
    I love the gym - it's in a cool building and has all sorts of amenities like towel service and wet/dry saunas. The staff maintains the equipment very well - if a machine breaks, it's never down for long.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Matthew S. 3 years ago on Google
    CAC has been my favorite gym for about 4 years. On top of having a good range of equipment and services, the place is clean. Like really clean. It's always been clean, but they have taken a lot of extra steps to make the place safe for a 2020 world. Lots of wipes and hand sanitizer within reach everywhere. Spaces clearly marked out around benches and weights. Plastic shields between cardio equipment. Well ventilated. Big signs everywhere explaining what's safe. Again, CAC has always provided a higher level gym experience. But it's nice to see them keeping up with required changes.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Colin T. 5 years ago on Google
    Well maintained. Upgrades equipments regularly. Now has four power racks and two weightlifting pads.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Biella C. 1 year ago on Google
    I had such HIGH hopes for this gym since it is right around the corner from where I live and has a great sauna. There are lots of good things about it but the woman's steam room is full of mold and it is right next door to the sauna. I am quite sensitive to mold so I am unable to join after trying out the day pass. I would consider if they truly fixed it by removing the tiles and cleaning the mold that is likely grown behind the tiles. I've never seen such a bad mold problem in a stream room before: it was smelly and visible. I am glad that fixing the steam room is in the fix list but it smelled musty and the black discoloration is often normal in the grout but it was beyond the grout and on the tile and that should wipe off. Mold is nothing to mess around with especially in basements and when there are ducts and vented air. I will certainly consider once the steam room has been fixed.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mark D. 1 year ago on Google
    Very clean and nice gym! I can tell they really care about their clients. Nice and quiet during off hours as well.

  • 5/5 Matt H. 4 months ago on Google
    A great place with lovely people! We searched and found a drop in place for our kids to play basketball while it was raining. They made us feel welcome! Will certainly return

  • 5/5 Charles L. 10 months ago on Google
    Gym has everything I use: Locker rooms with plenty of space/storage, well kept machines, and plenty of space during the off peak hours I use the facilities. I tried a few classes and thought they were fun, but not for me. I would highly recommend this gym for people who love fitness classes or for people who live in the area and just need a no frills fitness space.

  • 5/5 Angelica 9 months ago on Google
    My housemates and I loved this gym! It was always well cleaned and machines were up to date. The classes offered are fun as well, shout out to Julie from Body Balance. It is a little cramped, but they do their best to space out machines/classrooms, exercise space. Women’s gym was well maintained and full of machines/equipment. The only reason we cancelled is because we’re all moving out of Cambridge, and the cancellation process was straightforward. Hoping to find a gym as good as CAC next!

  • 5/5 Mark C. 1 year ago on Google
    Great gym with some excellent amenities! Always clean and not too crowded. Friendly staff. They offer a lot of deals and reward opportunities

  • 5/5 Lindsay T. 1 year ago on Google
    I recently joined this gym and I love it! They have a variety of machines/equipment and it never seems too crowded. A lot of workout classes and access to squash courts, a basketball court, saunas etc come with membership. I also like the rewards program!

  • 5/5 Abigail B. 1 year ago on Google
    great facility for a reasonable price! the women's only fitness studio was a big sell for me

  • 5/5 Dan O. 1 year ago on Google
    Been going here for a couple months. The gym is great - plenty of equipment, not too crowded, friendly staff. Can’t ask for more in a gym

  • 5/5 Allison L. 1 year ago on Google
    The facility at 215 First St. is roomy with lots of equipment, including a women-only studio, so I rarely have to wait to use any machine. Recently they've added new classes, so there are varied options for cardio, flexibility and balance exercises. The staff and other members are friendly and encouraging. With the help of my personal trainer weekly training sessions since December 2021 I've lost 35 pounds. I'm feeling good and I look forward to continuing to improve my health with the support of the CAC community.

  • 5/5 yang h. 1 year ago on Google
    Small but compact gym with 5 power racks and two weightlifting platforms, which are very nice. I go to CAC during rush hours but always can find a rack. They allow me to use chalk! It is a big bonus to me, maybe it is the main reason I still go here even living far away from here.

  • 1/5 Sara S. 1 year ago on Google
    When I asked trainer Mariette Martinez a question yesterday she made a scene in front of a group of people by yelling 25 times “I don’t care”. I tried to handle it by reporting it to her manager Jared Jalbert and his manger Carla Schneckenburger but they refused to take any action and Carla wouldn’t even respond to me. I doubt this happens very much but if it does know you are on your own to handle it in the moment and it is not a safe or professional space. When I said to Mariette this is the most unprofessional thing I have experienced she said there is a first for everything, laughed, and walked away because she is proud of her behavior and knows there are no consequences for treating people poorly here.

  • 5/5 Michael B. 2 years ago on Google
    Great gym, plenty of space and machines. Wonderful friendly staff that also take the mask mandate seriously and enforce it. The majority of people follow the rules and wear their masks, but there's a minority that try and play games. Just flag these selfish jerks and management will be on them - a few people have had their memberships suspended for repeatedly unmasking. So if you've been someone concerned about returning to a gym due to COVID, CAC Anthenaeum is about as good as it gets.

  • 5/5 Farzaneh K. 2 years ago on Google
    * It is clean and orderly, we usually see cleaning staff taking care of the environment * They have complete set of weight lifting equipments and cardio machines * Plenty of equipment and we never had to wait for anything

  • 5/5 A Google U. 1 year ago on Google
    Great gym for the value. Has plenty of squat racks, has a deadlift platform, and two benches. Most people in the lifting area seem to know what they are doing.

  • 5/5 Andrew E. 1 year ago on Google
    Amazing club, I usually go for squash and working out. The courts are great and they have enough equipment and good variety of machines. Recommend especially if you want a good gym to go to after work.

  • 5/5 Tushar B. 1 year ago on Google
    I came to this gym from June 2021 - July 2022. Only reason I left was due to moving to a new state. I wish I could still come to this place! It is incredibly well-kept and offers a lot to do. I came for weightlifting and they offered more than enough equipment for my desired goals, though they also offered squash, basketball, crossfit, and fitness classes. During peak hours between 5pm - 6pm the gym was busy, but you could get a squat rack or a deadlift pad within 5 minutes of waiting. I always saw someone pass by cleaning the floors, which was a nice touch, and cleaning wipes were always in a convenient reach. I had a great experience here and will miss it!

  • 5/5 Mark W. 2 years ago on Google
    Great composition of basketball court, squash court, cross-fit box, gym and freestyle area! Friendly reception, great trainers. Very clean and no waiting times at fitness machines! Great place!

  • 5/5 Joseph K. 2 years ago on Google
    CAC is a wonderful gym, with incredibly helpful staff. You can tell a lot about a gym based on how they treat your cancellation. I unfortunately had to cancel because I moved away, but they treated me perfectly with respect, and made the process painless. 10/10 would recommend

  • 5/5 Kyle W. 2 years ago on Google
    Great equipment, friendly staff, well-maintained.

  • 5/5 Mr. Frank 'forever 40' G. 2 years ago on Google
    I love how I am always greeted when entering and farewelled on my way out.

  • 5/5 Jackson M. 3 years ago on Google
    Open and offers day passes during the pandemic. Boston resident here appreciates that! The gym is super nice, everyone is friendly, everything is clean and distanced. I never come within 10 feet of another person. Thank you for allowing us to remain healthy and happy during COVID!

  • 5/5 Aly D. 2 years ago on Google
    Staff are friendly and the equipment is consistently cleaned. This location has a great variety of equipment available, convenient location, and large locker rooms.

  • 5/5 Mike G. 2 years ago on Google
    Best gym to workout in the Kendall Square area! Equipment is up to date and clean. Love it here!


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