The Kimberly Hotel Fitness Center Review

One of the nicest surprises of our stay at The Kimberly Hotel in Midtown Manhattan was the fitness centre on the second floor. We hadn't expected to spend much time in a hotel gym on a family trip to New York, what with Times Square, Rockefeller Center and Central Park all within easy walking distance, but it ended up being somewhere we kept coming back to, and honestly, we loved every single visit. It quickly became part of our daily routine, a proper little ritual bookending our days out exploring the city.

Open Whenever You Need It

The fitness centre is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it's complimentary for all guests, accessible simply with your room key. That kind of flexibility made a real difference to us. Whether it was an early morning session before a big day of sightseeing, or a quick workout after coming back from Times Square in the evening, the gym was always there and ready whenever we fancied it, with no need to check opening times or book a slot.

We found ourselves using it at all sorts of odd hours thanks to the jet lag that comes with a transatlantic trip, and it was brilliant knowing we could simply head down at six in the morning, or even later in the evening once the kids were settled, and have the whole place feel just as welcoming as it would in the middle of the afternoon. There's something properly reassuring about a gym that never locks its doors, especially when you're travelling and your body clock has no idea what time it's supposed to be.

Caption: The fitness centre, packed with cardio machines, free weights and a lovely bright, colourful mural running along the wall.

Properly Equipped

We were genuinely impressed by how well equipped the space was for a hotel gym. There were multiple treadmills, exercise bikes, a rowing machine and a full rack of free weights, along with a weight bench, a cable machine and a stability ball for stretching and core work. It never felt cramped or basic, and there was always a machine free whenever we wanted to use one.

The space itself was bright and surprisingly stylish for a hotel gym, with a bold, colourful geometric mural running along one wall that gave it real character rather than the plain, clinical feel a lot of hotel fitness rooms have. Mirrors ran the length of the room too, which made it feel bigger than it actually was and made it easy to check your form while lifting or stretching. The rubber flooring throughout was soft underfoot and clearly built to handle heavier free weight work without damaging the floor beneath, and everything felt clean and well maintained during every visit we made.

There was also a great spread of equipment beyond just the cardio machines. The dumbbell rack ran from light hand weights right up to some seriously heavy options, so there was something suitable whether you fancied a gentle warm-up or a proper strength session. The adjustable weight bench and cable machine gave us plenty of scope for a full body workout without ever needing to queue for a piece of kit, and the stability ball was a nice touch for anyone wanting to stretch out or work on core strength after a run.

Caption: A row of treadmills and a full set of free weights, with plenty of space to move around and train properly.

Our Overall Thoughts

We genuinely didn't expect the gym to become such a highlight of our stay, but the 24/7 access, the quality and range of equipment, and how easy it was to fit into our day meant we ended up using it more than once during our trip. It's a brilliant amenity for anyone who likes to keep up a fitness routine even while on holiday, and it's a great example of how well-run The Kimberly is as a hotel.

If you're staying at The Kimberly and fancy squeezing in a workout between sightseeing, the fitness centre is well worth a visit, and if you're staying longer, it's well worth looking into that complimentary Health & Racquet Club membership too.