Miami’s Boutique Fitness Scene Gets High Scores for Hospitality
According to The Fit Guide’s newest report, South Beach studios outperform NYC and LA when it comes to pre and post-class services
The Fit Guide (TFG) went to Miami expecting energy, heat and maybe a little flash. What its evaluators found instead was something rarer, something beneath the gloss: a city turning fitness into a masterclass in hospitality.
Seeking to establish itself as the “Michelin Guide for fitness,” TFG is an independent rating system that anonymously evaluates top boutique gyms and studios worldwide across more than 250 standards. Each club is assessed in five areas (reception service, facilities, group class experience, technology and online presence) to identify where the best experiences truly shine.
Miami marks the third U.S. city in TFG’s growing rating series, following New York and Los Angeles, and the results were striking. The city earned the second-highest average score globally at 83.7%, with five studios achieving the coveted 5-Star Award, the second most of any city in the world.
Miami not only ranked high overall but delivered the strongest pre- and post-class service scores globally, averaging 80.6% versus the global average of 74.9%.
It’s a category that covers how staff greet, engage and follow up with fitness clients, such as check-ins, post-class interactions and any sales or membership conversations that typically happen at their reception desk.
“Our Reception Services category has consistently been the lowest-scoring area across every city we’ve evaluated,” TFG co-founder Matt Lavender told Athletech News. “Miami bucked that trend, delivering the strongest pre- and post-class service globally.”
Miami’s studios also stood out for their confidence in sales, as nearly a third tried to close a package or membership after class, against a global average of just 16%.
Pilates Rises to the Top
Pilates was another Miami highlight. The modality topped all others within the city, earning the highest scores in Miami and performing far better than it has in other global markets. Two Pilates studios even achieved 5-Star Awards
“Pilates was the highest-scoring modality in Miami, which was great to see — especially given that it hasn’t performed as well in some of our other markets,” Lavender said.
Strength and conditioning studios, meanwhile, delivered the most 5-Star clubs (three in total). Yoga, however, ranked lowest among Miami’s modalities, mirroring a global pattern TFG has seen elsewhere. Even so, the city’s yoga studios still outperformed the global average.
South Beach Standouts
TFG’s top honor, awarded to clubs scoring above 90%, went to:
- Form50 Fitness, Wynwood
- Bunda, Coral Gables
- Solidcore, Brickell
- Barry’s, Miami Beach
- Airlab Fitness, Midtown
These studios were recognized for their exceptional class experience, consistent service and standout design.
Miami also boasted 16 clubs earning TFG’s Award of Excellence (80%–89.9%):
- Pure Barre, Coral Gables
- Rhythm | Release, El Portal
- Yoga Joint, Midtown
- Agni Miami, MiMo
- JetSet Pilates, Brickell
- Rumble Boxing, Coral Gables
- Nofar Method, Miami Beach
- F45, Brickell
- CorePower Yoga, Brickell
- Fuze House, Sunset Harbor
- TruFusion, Coral Gables
- Reforming Pilates, Miami Beach
- Mimi Yoga, Wynwood
- Ahana Yoga, Design District
- Ima Yoga Studio, Miami Beach
- SOL Yoga, Sunset Harbour
The US Continues to Lead
TFG’s latest findings make one thing clear: the U.S. continues to set the pace for fitness innovation and service, and Miami’s debut only strengthens that lead.
“Miami adds to another strong showing for U.S. cities in The Fit Guide,” TFG co-founder Jack Thomas said. “The U.S. market is really leading the way globally — both in terms of innovative concepts and new brands, and, as our results show, in service standards and five-star hospitality.”
Still, even a high-performing market has room to grow. Miami scored lowest globally for instructor attentiveness to form, and only about 60% of clubs offered showers.
TFG isn’t slowing down. Following Miami, TFG will expand to Melbourne and Dubai in the new year, while preparing a new evaluation process and award for full-service, big-box clubs. Also in development is a certification program designed to help studios deliver five-star service across every touchpoint of the member experience.