NYC's Boutique Fitness Studios Are Getting Better, Data Shows

Pilates and barre brands in the Big Apple are flying high when it comes to customer service, while yoga and cycling have room for improvement

New York City’s boutique fitness studios are improving when it comes to the in-class experience they provide for their members, although some modalities are lagging behind, according to a new report.

The Fit Guide, a company that rates boutique fitness studios in categories including class experience, reception services and technology, shared data from its 2025 New York report, the first of multiple reports slated to release this year in major cities.

On average, boutique fitness studios in NYC scored higher in this year’s report than they did in 2024, a positive development for Big Apple brands.

Across all brands surveyed, the average class experience score jumped to 84 (out of 100), an increase of 3.3% compared to last year.

Barre saw the largest improvement of any fitness modality tracked, with a 5.7% increase in class experience scores. Cycling was the only modality to see a decline in class experience scores, dropping by 4.7%.

Reception services continue to be a slight pain point for NYC boutique fitness studios. This year’s average reception score was 74.9, just a 0.5% increase from last year’s rating.

Yoga was the lowest-scoring modality overall for the second year in a row.

“We’re delighted to see the standard of New York’s boutique clubs improve this year, but there is still a lot of room for improvement, especially in yoga and cycling,” The Fit Guide co-founder Jack Thomas told Athletech News. “Pilates and barre have seen considerable gains in terms of experience and service, which is perhaps no surprise given the recent success of many brands in these spaces.”

Launched in 2023 by Thomas and Matt Lavender, The Fit Guide provides independent, anonymous evaluations of boutique fitness studios across the world. The company assesses studios across 250 standards in five key categories: reception service, facilities, group class experience, technology and online presence. The Fit Guide evaluates studios in five fitness modalities: barre, cycling, HIIT/strength, Pilates and yoga.

Designed to serve as the “Michelin Guide for fitness,” The Fit Guide has released reports on studios in markets including New York, London, Singapore, Dubai and Sydney. In March, the service will launch in Los Angeles, with a Miami report planned for later this year.

Athletech News breaks down more key data from The Fit Guide’s 2025 New York report:

Studios scoring over 90, averaged out across all categories, earned The Fit Guide’s coveted 5-Star Award. Eight boutique fitness studios in NYC received this honor for 2025.

Eager to see more insider data on the fitness and wellness industry? Register here for the ATN Innovation Summit 2025, a can’t-miss two-day event to be held on June 17th and 18th in New York City featuring the biggest names, brands and ideas across fitness, health and wellness.