These are the best gyms in Sydney

Best for: An all-in-one offering without the hefty price tag

One Playground Marrickville is made up of a high-intensity gym upstairs, and a "Wellness Playground" downstairs, so there's something for everyone to fall in love with – hence the name, "One Playground". Upstairs features a huge range of weights and cardio equipment, a functional playground with monkey bars, expert personal trainers, and group-fitness studios for strength, HIIT and spin classes. Downstairs, the Wellness Playground looks like a Mykonos day spa, and features three studios: a luxe reformer pilates studio, a dimly lit yoga studio, and a nightclub-style barre studio. There's also a wellness lounge, infrared saunas, a creche and five-star-hotel-like bathrooms. For a surprisingly affordable membership price, One Playground Marrickville members can also access all the other Sydney One Playground gyms – in nearby Newtown and Surry Hills – as well as the 400 or so classes a week across the different clubs.

Best for: Inner East people looking for a community led by motivated fitfluencers

Flow Athletic is a chic fitness studio and gym in Paddington with a cult following. It was co-founded by 'fitfluencers' Ben Lucas and Kate Kendall. Their key focuses are group strength classes, yoga, cycling, personal training, and they also have a run club. They also run a heap of special events, and the whole thing has a real community vibe. They offer some signature fitness classes, including Bike-Asana (a 30-minute cardio blast on the bike, followed by a 30-minute yoga class focused on building strength and flexibility), which demonstrates their "balanced" approach to fitness. We tried Bike-Asana, read on for our review.

Best for: People who take their training seriously, and see the gym as an escape from their hectic lives

Walking past it, you'd have no idea that, below ground via an escalator, there's a seriously slick gym – a cool, concrete 'bunker'-like space with futuristic design elements, sexy lighting, state-of-the-art equipment and boutique bathrooms. It's no surprise that soon after the Bunker opened, it was awarded the Best Gym in Sydney by Men's Health magazine. The Bunker also prides itself on having the very best personal trainers in the business – it's highly selective about the trainers it employs, continues to provide them ongoing learning and development, and it takes a careful approach to matching the right trainer with the right client.

Best for: Strength and HIIT-style workouts with a friendly and welcoming crew on the Northern Beaches

Founded in 2014 by mates Jack Parker and Connor Pettersson, Code 5 is on mission to improve the lives of 100,000 people through training, nutrition and lifestyle changes. And they’ve done a pretty ace job, with the gym now boasting three locations: Brookvale, Balgowlah and Warriewood. Parker says: “We really strive to create a welcoming space for everyone and to truly be the world’s friendliest gym.” We’ve worked out there, and we can tell you they achieve that. Not only will you get a full-body workout, the trainers will know your name after the first class. Plus, Code 5 has raised more than $100,000 for Lifeline Australia over the last four years, and gives away 20 free memberships each year to people experiencing financial or emotional hardship. If you’re wondering what the five codes are, here goes: community, accountability, gratitude, teamwork and celebrate success. A gym that practises gratitude and helps you build muscle? That's something we can definitely get behind.

Best for: People who want to feel like part of a cool community

Multidisciplinary designer Bob Barton, who owns the 60-seat Golden Age Cinema in the heritage-listed Paramount Building, transformed the seldom used, sundrenched rooftop of the same Surry Hills landmark into a bright, LA-inspired, multi-purpose gym that’s open to the elements (as well as the Pavilion, a partially covered space with rowing machines, medicine balls, dumbbells and mats). Paramount Recreation Club aims to provide a well-rounded health and fitness experience that takes physical but also mental and social health into account.

Best for: Those who need their space to look good if they're going to turn up

This gym began as a humble local fitness space but, following multi-million-dollar redevelopments, it's transformed into one of the world’s most epic health and wellness facilities, with an ethereal greeny-blue and white palette gives you the sense that you’re training in the clouds. Even all the custom-designed equipment is white. There’s a DJ booth perched over the One Playground Newtown space, which syncs up with a huge grid of lighting that can change colours and pulse to the beat of each tune, and makes it look like more nightclub than fitness centre. So yes, it looks swish, but memberships for One Playground (which give you access to One Playground Surry Hills, Marrickville and Newtown, and the 400 or so classes that run across the clubs) are ridiculously affordable.

Best for: Those who are willing to pay to get a bit of everything

Some people just want a bit of everything in their lives (and their gyms). Sir Richard Branson understands that, and he’s got you sorted. This city club has about 100 classes a week across eight studios, a 25m pool, a spa, sauna, large gym floor and even a 10m indoor-climbing wall. It's even got sleep pods, for those who need a midday kip.

Best for: People who trust science and technology to get them the best training results 

Best for: Those who enjoy boxing-style training

UBX (pronounced "you box") was co-founded by four-time world champion boxer, Danny Green. Members get access to a mix of boxing and strength training in an ultra-flexible format (no class timetables or bookings). Their training sessions consist of 12 rounds of boxing and strength training. Six of the rounds include boxing exercises (whether that’s bagwork or one-on-one padwork with a coach), while the other six rounds include a mix of functional strength training, cardio and conditioning movements. It might sound kinda hardcore, but UBX is open to all fitness levels and skills (from new mums looking to get back into fitness to pro athletes) – they're all about meeting you where you are. Which is why they also don't have class timetables – you can kick (or punch) off your workout at a time that works for you. There are 13 UBX locations across Sydney, and a couple more in regional areas of NSW.

Best for: Those who like to do laps at the gym

Elixr Health Club in Bondi Junction offers Pilates, yoga, cardio and weight-training areas, and a 25m indoor magnesium mineral pool. They're all about providing a refuge from the busyness of life outside, so they also provide meditation and personal development seminars, and Pilates teacher training through Elixr School of Pilates.

Best for: Those who like convenient access to clubs all over the place

The Fitness First mega-chain gym is popular for a reason: it's got everything. There are classes ranging from BodyBalance to BodyPump, personal trainers and this one has a steam room. Fitness First Kings Cross Platinum (located in Potts Point) is our favourite FF club – it's a bit bougie, because it has harbour views, and it's located beneath the iconic Coca-Cola sign. Platinum membership gives you access to all Fitness First Platinum and Passport clubs, also.