Services Offered
Verified by Business
Review Highlights
“This gym has a wall climbing center, two pools (1 indoor and 1 outdoor) plenty of fun classes and machines.” in 13 reviews
“An indoor one which is always heated and another one on the roof for those who love to swim under the sun.” in 18 reviews
“There are 2 weight areas and 2 cardio areas (one on first floor and one on fourth) with a good mix of equipment.” in 28 reviews
Location & Hours
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Amenities and More
About the Business
The minute you walk through the doors at Mission Bay, you'll be met by a dynamic, spacious environment and colorful, contemporary art and architecture. Opened in 2005, UCSF Mission Bay is part of a vibrant and growing neighborhood in the heart of a thriving biotech center. Surrounded by open space, and with an incredible view of downtown San Francisco, the unique and beautiful fitness center at Mission Bay serves the UCSF community and is also open to the general public. Bakar Fitness & Recreation Center features a 25-yard outdoor rooftop pool (voted best pool in SF by 7x7 and SF Magazine), indoor therapeutic pool, dedicated Pilates studio, NBA basketball court, squash, racquetball and outdoor climbing wall. With three floors of activities, a full-sized gymnasium, and a sunny rooftop pool, you'll be sure to find your fitness bliss at Mission Bay.
Ask the Community
Q:
Can a 14 year old that is on a swim team use the pool for an extra practice day?
A:
Yes, we have a couple options available: A one time child drop-in is $10, however an adult must also purchase a pass and accompany them. We also offer a child add-on membership, which is $25/month.
Megan G., Business ManagerQ:
Do you need to be a member to use the outdoor pool, or can you pay a drop in fee?
A:
Thanks for reaching out. Non-members can purchase a guest pass in-person at the front desk.
Megan G., Business Manager
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Overall rating
275 reviews
5 stars
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1 star
- Apr 11, 2024
Best gym experience in San Francisco. The gym is very clean, spacious, and they have been putting in effort to improve over the last 6 months. Compared to some other spots, the 5-7 pm crowd isn't unbearable.
They have been expanding weekend hours and giving out guest passes (huge plus). There are 2 weight areas and 2 cardio areas (one on first floor and one on fourth) with a good mix of equipment. Worth the experience for the price.Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Alvin P.San Francisco, CA02Aug 29, 2024
I've worked out here since 2017. Good gym for people who want to lift weights. There's 5 squat racks, 5 completely overbuilt platforms for deadlifting/the Olympic lifts (Their Eleiko SVR platform costs over 4k apiece), dumbbells that go up to reasonable 100 lbs, a leg press, landmine, and numerous bodybuilding machines, all from Matrix.
The employees are all great people. You can tell they really care about how things are run. They've listened to concerns about a lack of barbells, and some time later, I saw 2 brand new Rogue Ohio power bars and 2 Rogue Ohio bars. A couple of them have actually spotted me on bench press too.
HOWEVER, I've got a couple of improvement suggestions.
1. Could we get a pair of better benches? The current hammer strength benches are problematic.
a. They don't have any safeties, and I've had to lift the bar off of quite a few different people over the years who didn't ask for a spotter. This could really lead to some bad accidents.
b. They also only have 2 j-hooks for the bar, which means people of different arm lengths will struggle to use them. Rogue makes several benches with built-in safeties and many attachment points for the j-hooks, so lifters of all sizes can use the bench more easily.
2. This gym used to have 4 functional trainer cable machines. After the pandemic, 2 of them were removed from service. PLEASE BRING THEM BACK! There is always a line for the cables, and this is a versatile and popular piece of gym equipment that is always in high demand.
As it is, the current cable machines often need repairs, meaning that there is often only one cable machine in service. Repairs also can take months! At least, if there are 4 of them in total, if one of them is down, we can use the other 3. Also, with 4 cable machines, they will wear down more slowly since the wear will be distributed on 4 different machines.Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Collin L.San Francisco, CA3764140Dec 22, 20237 check-ins
This is my current gym of choice due to the convenience of being close to work. I will say this gym is very clean compared to any other I've been to. I hope it stays that way and not only because it was very recently remodeled.
On the main floor, there's a good number of cardio machines and cages but somewhat lacking in benches and cable/weight machines. At peak hours, there realistically aren't that many people but the feeling of overcrowdedness looms due to there being only one machine unit for many of the popular exercises. This problem is further exacerbated by a lack of variety. There are a few, if any, apparatuses for decline exercises, for example.
Hours of operation are particularly short and especially so on weekends. The mobile app is dated and definitely needs a mega update. You can't even change your password on it... For $84/mo (UCSF employee rate), there's a lot to wish for but I remain hopeful that this will be remedied in the near future.Helpful 5Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 1 - David J.San Francisco, CA0115Dec 24, 2023
Obviously as you can tell from many reviews, the gym suffered an extreme flooding event a few years ago. Sometimes accidents happen and I am not sure why one would blame the facility for this accident. I think they handled it really well, giving members the option to freeze their membership if desired. Now the gym is completely fixed, so it's not an issue at all any more. I give it four stars rather than five because it's a no-frills public university gym, not a juice bar kind of place. It does have the best outdoor pool in San Francisco, and I love that there is open family swim indoors on the weekends.
Helpful 1Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Megan G.
Dec 27, 2023
Thank you for taking the time to leave this review and for your understanding during our flooding repairs. We are so thankful to be fully open once again with a renovated first floor and are thrilled to hear you love our outdoor pool as much as we do!
- May 15, 2022
This gym is poorly ran and maintained. Although it charges a premium price, the gym is plagued with problems such as flooding which close entire floors, as well as routine closures of the pool and other important amenities. On the weekend, this gym closes at noon which doesn't barely give you a half day to use it. There is no free street parking nearby because all of the property is owned by the University of California, so you need to pay to park every time you come to the gym. Parking easily adds up to more than the gym cost itself if you go regularly. Ever since I became a member a few months ago, and I can only recall a few weeks where everything in the gym was in working order.
Helpful 13Thanks 1Love this 0Oh no 0 - Bee S.San Francisco, CA01Jan 23, 2023
If you work full time, which most people do, the chance of getting to the classes are slim.
And even, when you sign up, classes get full and people steal your spots! I signed up for the spin class, 24h ahead, got there early, put a towel on the bike to save my spot while going to changing room, when I went to the class, it was full and someone took my spot!! no one checks...i wonder why one should even bother to sign up.
at the gym, all machines are always full...
what a waste of money!!!Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0Business owner information
Megan G.
Feb 3, 2023
We are sorry to hear about your recent experience in Spin, but are so glad that you were able to connect with our Group X Manager directly to discuss further and remedy the situation. We recognize the Group X experience has been impacted by the Bakar flood and we appreciate you sticking with us as we navigate these challenges. We look forward to welcoming you in another class soon and can't wait for our studios to be back open!
- Michael M.Danville, CA061Dec 8, 2022Updated review
Would still highly recommend against joining. Day of closure notifications, very limited weight lifting equipment that is STILL in a dusty studio. Many people use the weight floor and the cardio equipment is hardly utilized in comparison, yet weight floor is jam packed with people- may have to wait 20+ min for a bench during regular hours. Paltry offering for additional equipment on the weight floor even with the remodel (if the proposed layout is any indication). The gym is going to be a disaster come new year's for folks looking to get back into shape. Lack of accountability regarding deadlines for construction- I don't care how complicated "multi-layered" programs are, if you aren't sure about dates offer customers incentives so they aren't getting totally shafted having to deal with unforeseen circumstances and construction scheduling issues.
Helpful 2Thanks 1Love this 0Oh no 1Business owner information
Megan G.
Dec 9, 2022
Hi Michael, we're sorry to hear about your experience. We are looking forward to expanding our weekday hours in January, as well as increasing the dedicated weight space when our fitness floor reopens, which will help alleviate the weight room congestion. In the meantime, I will direct message you to connect you with our Member Services team who can discuss some membership options. We also try to always give 1-2 week's advance notice when we need to close early or shut down - please let us know if you didn't receive our communications and we can make sure you are on our email list.
Aug 7, 2022Previous reviewWhile the gym was nice to freeze memberships until April 1st- evidently they needed people to sign up again and put a hard deadline otherwise memberships would be cancelled, and signing up again would charge an initiation fee. I was notified by member services at the time that masks were still mandatory. No big deal! I'm okay with following local and business regulations. What is not okay- membership services failed to explain they drastically reduced their hours, and were asking the same rate:
Old hours:
5:30am-10pm weekdays
7:30am-8pm weekends
New hours:
6:00am-8:00pm weekdays
8:00am-12:00pm weekends (finally to 2pm)
That's 25 hours less per week they are open, and asking the same membership rate! Good luck getting to the gym in time if you work late hours, and goodbye going to the gym on the weekend if you need to sleep in or run errands. I appreciate they expanded the weekend time 2 hours, but its not enough. How is that even good for employees? Ask them to come in for a half shift on the weekend?
Well they have a world class facility right? Oh yeah... The pool flooded the whole first floor and everyone lifting weights or using equipment is in a construction zone. Dust and debris all over equipment. This is a glorified garage- even fitness 19 puts this to same.
I wouldn't be so frustrated if the UC didnt own half the real estate in the area, and is raking in the dough all the while nickel and diming folks who expect the same level of service they were offered before. The gym should be offering a discounted rate to members until services are back online (re: an actual weight floor) and hours are similar to before.
All of the folks who work the at the fitness center, including the facilities that are still functional, are great. That said, I would advise against joining until the aforementioned are fixed or membership services is more honest about the state of the gym. - Ken B.San Francisco, CA112014Jul 25, 2022
I loved this gym when I joined.
It included parking for seniors.
The gym is great, clean, I go during the weekdays. So no lines for equipment.
Sadly after a few months the parking was taken away then covid hit. Now with warriors near by, the lot has become a big $$$ maker. $50. For game parking. With that extra money I wish they would consider helping seniors with parking. It really does make the membership too high for a fixed income by the time you ad in $8 to 10. Everytime you go.
That's easily $120. A month. Plus membership. And if you want a class...
It's just out of reach for seniors.
I would love to go back. I hope you consider this.Helpful 2Thanks 0Love this 2Oh no 0 - Tea I.San Francisco, CA05136May 23, 2022
I agree with Zach S. I joined in February and was so excited to have a nice pool and Zumba classes. Since then, the outdoor pool flooded the entire first floor so the classes have been moved to a "pub lounge" and the Zumba classes are outside on cobblestone (which is TERRIBLE for dancing/jumping/joint pressure).
The pool is often really dirty. Can't the lifeguards just use their nets to clear out the debris and bugs so we aren't swallowing them?!
I was there for an hour and half today and it cost me TEN DOLLARS to park on top of my regular $112/mo membership.
I have complained about the lack of amenities and services many times, and they have only offered to put my membership on hold.
I say they let the members park for free, or at least a more discounted rate. If I go 6-7 days a week, which I do, parking could cost MORE THAN MY MEMBERSHIP.Helpful 5Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 1Business owner information
Megan G.
May 25, 2022
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We look forward to being able to get all classes back in our studios as soon as possible following the unfortunate flooding incident. Your feedback is important to us and has been shared with our Group X and Aquatics teams - in addition, final repairs were just completed to our pool auto filter.
Please check your direct messages in regards to parking, which is handled by the UCSF Transportation department (we do offer discounted parking during off-peak hours), as well as your membership during this time. We value your membership and look forward to seeing you back in the gym soon. - Bosey P.San Francisco, CA2272Jun 10, 2022
I turned up today after being talked into a monthly membership. It is a blazingly hot, beautiful sunny San Francisco day and the outdoor pool is ... closed! Not open until 4:30 pm. Closed ALL DAY and only opens at 4:30 pm for lap and leisure swims.
So I thought "Oh well - I'll do my lap swim in the indoor pool ..."
CLOSED AS WELL!
Are you kidding me?
I asked why and the front desk girl said: "short-staffed"
What?
They can't find anyone to watch over an outdoor rooftop pool in a beautiful location in summer in San Francisco?
What's the freaking point of having an outdoor pool in SUMMER then?
I spent good money in a cab to get there and had to go straight home.
I can hardly believe this.
Get your act together!Helpful 6Thanks 1Love this 2Oh no 2Business owner information
Megan G.
Jun 13, 2022
Hi Bosey, We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced. We are actively working to recruit and hire lifeguards, but unfortunately we have been impacted by the nationwide lifeguard shortage. We look forward to being able to expand pool hours soon and take full advantage of the sunny San Francisco weather on the rooftop. In the meantime, we recommend checking our pool schedules on our website prior to coming in for a swim: https://campuslifeserviceshome.ucsf.edu/fitnessrecreation/schedules. I will direct message you with some membership options as well.
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