Visiting DEFIN8 Fitness was a great experience. For starters, it’s located in the Silver Fortune Plaza in Central, so I only had to take the MTR to reach it. 

Inside, the interiors are bright and airy, and it feels more like a boutique than a gym (if not for the workout equipment, of course). I immediately felt relaxed in the space and saw why a lot of women come here for their daily training. 

On top of that, they offer over 300 group classes weekly. Each offering has a flexible timetable, so it’s easy to book a schedule even if you’re packed for the work week.

The range of classes and services is well-rounded. There’s HIIT, Body Pump, Zumba, and Pilates. Speaking of which, they’re actually the very first studio to offer Infrared Reformer Pilates in HK.

I won’t lie, however, that I was caught off guard when I found out their rates. Considering the amenities, membership options are higher than most – it’s located in Central too, which is already telling.

For modern and spacious facilities, though, I can say they’re worth the money.

Wonderful and motivating

“Now one of my favourite studios in central for Pilates on mat and reformer🙏🏼 I come back everytime feeling stronger & balanced. I have tried their HITT/more cardio intense classes which were nice to try but not my personal preference. All trainers are wonderful and motivating! …”

Fiona | Google Review

Huge change in my strength 

“Love Defin8 ❤️ I highly recommend their Reform8 infrared pilate classes! I have seen such a huge change in my posture and core strength. Their Bodypump and Fatburn classes are also so much fun and the instructors always have good energy and challenge/ motivate you! Everyone is so kind and friendly. Defin8 has been my happy place!”

Maria Guan Loreto | Google Reviews

Drawing upon first impressions alone, The Gym has to be one of my favorites. The space is sleek and sexy, with modern amenities that make the entire space feel very high-end.

I checked out the shower areas, the sauna, and the overall layout and was happy with how clean and well-maintained everything is.

Another major advantage is the facilities. Their most unique feature is their recovery room, where you’ll find cyrobath, cold plunges, and Normatech compression suits. 

These are quite rare in the city, so if your focus is on fast muscle recovery and reducing inflammation, this location is a good choice.

That said, note that the prices here are expensive considering everything I’ve laid out so far.

With what you’re paying for, you get access to group classes as well as personalized training programs. The place is founded and operated by professional athletes who combine strength conditioning, rehabilitation, and nutrition for their programs. 

I find the options flexible too, as clients can choose among different formats. There’s one-on-one training, group classes, tailored workshops, and even corporate wellness options. 

Great experience and clean facility

“I’ve been coming here for many years now, and have been working out with one of the personal trainers Stephanie for almost 7 years now. She is very experienced and I have never been stronger or more toned! The facilities at the gym are great and there’s a lot of space. Toilets are great too with clean showers and even a room with hot sauna / cold plunge.”

Mitche Choi | Google Review

Provided meaningful differences

“I have been training with the Gym for over a year.  The trainers are great, developed a program that really worked for me.  I have seen meaningful differences in my body and strength level.  I will never go to another gym!”

Pamela Fang | Google Reviews

Coastal Fitness is your traditional gym, with its rugged yet strong interior that really sets the energy in the place. It wasn’t crowded when I visited, though a regular told me that it does get busy in the afternoon.

After asking about their programs and plans, I find them ideal for those who prefer a personalized approach. Each session also caters to all levels, from absolute beginners to pro athletes.

I love how smooth my initial consultation went. They assessed my full training history, nutrition, and lifestyle to ensure a precise program design.

Their trainers are just as supportive. Everyone felt supportive and highly knowledgeable, fixing forms and postures to ensure a safe workout.

That said, they do have a lot of popular trainers. And these trainers are often booked most of the time. If you have an eye for a specific professional, booking them might be difficult.

Their facilities make the experience even better. The equipment is basic, not high-end, but they’re well-maintained. Workout zones are spacious, the showers are clean, and the outdoor running area is tidy.

Amazing gym and community

“Amazing gym and community! The equipment is clean, the members are friendly and quality the classes are fun and you can tell there’s thought and effort behind designing the programs. And the coaches are world-class! If you’re living or visiting, this is a must stop for training. Shout out to Ant, Ed and the team for making my experience a fantastic one 🤙🏼”

William Henke | Google Review

Very well planned programs

“”Love the atmosphere and energy the gym brings. Been working with Karan for a few months now, great guy, very knowledgeable and pushes the best out of you. Didn’t have any gym experience before this but the whole process from the first meeting assessment, to the first session and progression from each training session is very well planned and carried out. Definitely different vibes to other commercial gyms that I’ve sourced before deciding on joining Coastal Fitness. Highly recommend to go give it a try!” 

Brian Chan | Google Reviews

As a women-only gym, I immediately felt safe at Pherform. It does have a nice, peaceful energy to it, making it a less intimidating choice for many.

The best part is that they tailor their services to female-specific fitness needs. To achieve this, they consider the physiology, anatomy, and training modalities of female bodies.

However, this also means they have limited heavy, free-weight lifting equipment. So if your target leans towards bigger bodybuilding goals, you may find the options here to be limited.

Beyond this, what influences client success is their clear framework in programs. It’s specifically designed so members can easily track their progress. They even use apps to help with tracking weights and extend support at home.

I love their transparent membership model, with options for group classes, personal training, and nutrition programs. 

Group class is small, so it still feels personalized. The attention is mostly for posture correction and techniques. 

While I’ve yet to try this myself, I do find their 8-week intensive program to be an attractive option. It involves unlimited classes, coaching support, and accountability.

Made me stronger and more confident 

“I’m 73 and I have had amazing experience with Bernie. She has made me stronger and more confident and is exceptionally friendly and fun. She is very knowledgeable and I feel after working with her that I understand my own body much, much better. Thank you!”

Kwai Chun Liu | Google Review

Zero intimidation or unnecessary pressure

“I’ve been looking for a good gym for a while now and am so glad I finally found Pherform. There are really great coaches, community and classes, with accountability built into your membership, and even workouts for when you’re traveling. And as someone who was just getting back into working out after an injury and a long break, there was zero intimidation or unnecessary pressure. In this short time, I’ve already seen great results and I always look forward to attending training sessions!”

Iris Van Kerckhove | Google Reviews

Getting off Central for a while, I found this wonderful spot in Wan Chai that offers a boutique gym experience. The interior is thoughtfully made, with natural lighting flooding the place.

If there’s one thing I appreciate the most about them, it’s their rates. They’re not the cheapest, but they’re definitely more accessible than most options.

Value for money is good too – for instance, they have a 12-week reboot program that only costs $500 per week. This already includes personalized programs, monthly body composition analyses, and physical assessments.

They even have free assisted training, allowing members to receive on-the-spot guidance at no extra cost.

I absolutely love their amenities. Cardio and strength equipment are clean and modern. They even have private showers with Dyson blowers. Everything is high-end – seeing the tanning solarium almost didn’t surprise me. 

If there’s a downside, I did find their registration process to be pretty strict (I almost didn’t push through with this one because of this). Plus, there’s limited availability in group classes, as they keep each session small.

On the good side, classes have a good balance of intensity and accessibility. Options include Pilates, Fight Fit, Get Stacked, and more.

Helpful and friendly

“Can’t recommend Ozone enough! Kanny and all the other trainers are helpful and friendly, and they’re like brother figures to me. The environment and atmosphere are all great, and I would recommend this place to any other person who would like to start their fitness journey.”

Chris Tao | Google Review

Very well equipped

“Love training here, I can express myself in the art of working out, putting into practice years of experience in weight lifting and body training. Staffs are really friendly, very well equipped, very very nice location, don’t get tempted by all the restaurant around! And last but not least the showers are amazing!!!”

Christian Payet | Google Reviews