The Most Beautiful and Delightfully Disorganized Gym in America

On returning and reintegrating

The New Orleans Athletic Club is a gym in the French Quarter. It’s old and beautiful and dirty and disorganized and the vibes are immaculate. There’s a swank library where you can read or work, all sorts of free classes from yoga to acting, a marble steam room, and a full bar just past the cardio area—not a smoothie bar, a bar bar. I’d visited a couple times either as a guest or with a day pass, but since moving back last week, I started a full membership. It’s been one of the most exciting parts of my fresh return to New Orleans.

The building has gorgeous historic architectural details, which goes a long way for me as someone who basically can only breathe properly in pretty places. It’s definitely enough to make up for the awkward layout of the rooms and equipment. The building dates back to 1929, when exercise gear was smaller and less specialized. These days, equipment seems to just live wherever it can fit, organized according to vague but not at all strict themes. There’s a room that has five different leg machines and one lat pulldown (decidedly not a leg machine).

So far I’ve found that to be perfectly fine, and even a bit lovely. It takes longer to find what I’m looking for, which has meant my workouts last longer than I’m used to. Luckily I’m in no rush these days. Wandering through each room looking for the right machine has allowed me to really soak in the atmosphere and get a feel for the place. And even when the novelty someday wears off, I’ll have been around long enough to know where things are and not wander. Funny how things just work out.

Pictures below to give you an idea.

Marble edge lap pool—small but mighty.

My favorite, the turf room, with high ceilings and lots of space to breathe.

The ballroom, where they have all sorts of classes.

The ballroom, featuring yoga.

Keep reading for a few thoughts on what coming home has felt like, plus what I’ve been reading and listening to lately.