Manhattan Plaza Health Club

This remains one of the best places to swim in Manhattan. The lanes are divided by swim speed. The pool is clean, despite heavy use. The water temperature was 82ºF (28ºC). The locker room was clean and the lockers do not require padlocks.

I have been a member here for more than 20 years. It's a great pool for New York City; I love the glass ceiling and fresh air when it's open.

Check the online schedule for when you want to swim, as there may be fewer than four lanes available during some classes and kids’ times.

It seems the free passes no longer exist, but there's still a discounted $25 daily pass available from the club's website. In NYC's high-cost health club scene, this seems like a decent deal, especially for a great swim experience with swimmers who "self-sort" into the posted lane speeds very well. When many New York clubs are closed to out-of-town visitors, this is a great option for the traveling swimmer. More about my experience HERE.

Like every private club in NYC, the pool at the Manhattan Plaza Health Club opens too late and is too pricey. HOWEVER, they have a free pass available and I was able to use that with my out-of-country driver license. I found this to be one of the best open lap swimming pool experiences in a 'health club.' With the exception of one guy who could barely manage a 30 second, 25 yard swim in the 'fast' lane, people seemed to do a very good job of segregating themselves by speed. There was a pace clock and the water was pretty cool (maybe 81º/82º). Bonus in the summertime on a sunny day is that they had the roof open. The only goofy thing is that they took the backstroke flags down around 7:15 AM; apparently, they believe only their 'swim team' (e.g., a masters-aged group) swims backstroke. Highly recommended in the otherwise pretty crappy swim town of NY.

My Dad has been a member for years, and I'd often come with him to this pool, which has stuff for everyone. Not only are there four lanes with designated speeds, but also two alcoves for free swim (be aware they may sometimes be reserved for group lessons). There's one in the shallow end, with a minimum depth of 45" that is very kid-friendly, and another alcove in the 12-foot-deep area great for diving; I wish it had a board. The pool also has huge skylights with views of the Midtown skyline. One thing I don't like so much: The locker rooms are not in an efficient location.

The pool is in terrific shape, it was recently tiled throughout. Another bonus: TWO Jacuzzis® poolside!

The club and pool are kept in very good condition. Lap swimmers are sometimes looked upon as entertainment for the sunbathers.

I had a perfectly adequate swim and recommend this pool to anyone looking for a clean, pleasant place to swim laps.