If you’re a regular West Village visitor, you’ve probably noticed a quiet but powerful shift in the McKinney Avenue block between Lemmon and Blackburn over the past year. First, SoulCycle opened its second Dallas studio there in January of 2017. Next, Barry’s Bootcamp announced its first Texas location just across the street. Then, only a few months into 2018, two Dallas-based gyms, District Climb and Class Studios, opened their doors just steps from the development.
In a few short months, West Village arguably became the boutique fitness mecca of Dallas, where you can find a green-juice-carrying, shiny-leggings-sporting pedestrian at every crosswalk. It makes some sense. West Village’s central location makes it a convenient drive for anyone living in Uptown, Park Cities, and Oak Lawn, neighborhoods that are home to the target demographic Dallas boutique gyms often go for. Perfect post-workout spots like Pōk the Raw Bar, Buda Juice, and Brewed+Pressed just sweeten the deal.
But the best part about the West Village fitness scene might be the diversity of its workouts. On any given day, you can book anything from a barre workout and a spin class to a grueling, choreographed 30 minutes on a VersaClimber machine. To help you keep them all straight, we’re parsing out the points of West Village’s many, many boutique fitness studios.
*Technically, some of these studios are West Village adjacent and not actually a part of the mixed-use development built in 2001. But I live under the assumption that we all sort of file the buildings in that general under the concept of “West Village,” so I hope you’ll forgive!
SoulCycle
The Workout: The New York-based company’s indoor cycling class is known for its cult-y following. Bikes are packed together tightly to create a community feel. Victoria Beckham digs it.
The Commitment: The signature class is 45 minutes, but there are also 60-minute SoulFundamentals and SoulSurvivor classes.
The Playlist: SoulCycle is constantly updating the public playlists of their Spotify account. Typically, you’ll hear a good amount of club-ready, fist-pump-y remixes played loudly enough to affect your hearing for a few solid minutes after class.(Which, full disclosure, is something I want out of a boutique fitness experience.) Hip Hop Friday is always a good time.
The Amenities: A handful of showers with Le Labo products and face wash by EO. They also generously keep gum at the front desk.
Pure Barre
The Workout: A low-impact, high-intensity hybrid of Pilates, aerobics, and, of course, ballet, Pure Barre may be one of the most ubiquitous group fitness classes in the country.
The Commitment: The signature class length is 50 minutes, but there are also 45-minute Core Empower classes, and the occasional 75-minute Hard Core Intensive classes.
The Playlist: This one may be from 2015, but it should give you a sense of what you’ll hear!
The Amenities: Any light weights, mats, or balls used in class are kept at the studio. You do have to have your own sticky socks though.
Barry’s Bootcamp
The Workout: A Los Angeles-based HIIT class that claims you can burn more than 1,000 calories during class. Victoria Beckham digs this one also.
The Commitment: 55 minutes.
The Playlist: This Spotify playlist should give you a good idea of what you’ll hear blaring through the gym’s excellent sound system. Depending on your position in the room, your ears may be left ringing.
The Amenities: Both men and women have massive locker rooms with several sinks and subway tile-lined showers. High-end Oribe face wash and hair products stock the shelves.
District Climb
The Workout: Cardio climbing is a relatively new phenomenon. The low-impact workout utilizes VersaClimbers and basic choreography — it most closely resembles a spin class.
The Commitment: 30 minutes. (It’s all you need; seriously.)
The Playlist: For the most part, it’s lots of ready-ready remixes and the occasional throwback. They could stand to play the music a bit louder, but the brand new studio may just be working out the kinks.
The Amenities: The studio is super small, so no showers, but the bathrooms are pretty chic. You can also pick up some excessively comfy Monrow clothing, a Gwyneth Paltrow favorite), by the front desk.
Class Studios
The Workout: The two-in-one studio offers a spin class (Cycle45) and circuit training (Train45).
The Commitment: Each class is 45 minutes.
The Playlist: It depends on who you get, but Mercedes’ playlists are always filled with jams. (For reference.) The music is appropriately loud in both classes as well. (Your ears may not ring, but the music is never awkwardly low.)
The Amenities: The white marble- and Malin+Goetz-filled showers have a lovely beach house vibe — the gold Kohler hardware is a nice touch. Also, there are three spacious locker room areas between the studios so you should never find yourself awkwardly maneuvering to snag your stuff.
