I think most people won't like this gym. I don't mind it because it is "my kind" of gym. It's old, fairly big (located in a warehouse), and has an old-school feel which I quite like. So don't expect Fitness First state of the art new equipment when you visit this place. The ancient equipment is reflected by the price tag. It's very cheap compared to other gyms, but you get what you pay for. The last time I visited, I saw a few meatheads and no women. You get the picture :)

I have been dining here with my mates for many years. I'm not the biggest fan of Malaysian food but the food here is pretty good. I rated their value as 3 stars, but only because their prices are reasonable. They don't pretend to be a dirt cheap Asian restaurant. The atmosphere is clean and pleasant, and the staff are really really friendly, especially if you get to know them. I'd recommend you give this place a go. Oh, and they also do takeaway.

Approximate cost: $20

I usually go here to have a few drinks with my mates. I've never ordered food. The place has a classy feel to it. You can tell by simply looking at the front section, and the sliding the door open reveals a dark, vintage but welcome interior. I thought the drinks were a bit overpriced but I guess they want to market themselves as classier than the other bars you find in Fitzroy. Overall, a nice place to chill out if you're not poor like me :)

Madame SouSou seems like it wants to be a posh restaurant, but doesn't quite understand that it takes more than just an expensive menu. I like the way the menu is small. They don't make a lot of stuff, but what they do, they do very well. The staff were friendly enough. Overall, I wouldn't be rushing back but by the same token, it's not too bad to try at least once.

Approximate cost: $25

This place can be really busy and really understaffed at times. The food quality is what you'd expect from a pub and the prices are reasonable. The staff are friendly and there are some great beers behind the counter. What I love most about The Fox is that it's big. Bigger than what you'd expect after walking through the front door. A quick stroll around the place will reveal how big it is, and don't forget the beer gardens, both upstairs and down. There are also couches and a fireplace. There's a pool table inside with a pinball machine, and a ping pong table outside. So plenty of places to sit and be merry although the winter chill might be too much for some over the cold season. If you ask politely, one of the staff will turn on the gas heater at your table. The Fox has a relaxed atmosphere that you'd expect in Fitzroy, although it is technically located in Collingwood. Overall, worth a visit!

Approximate cost: $18

I'd recommend this gym if you live close by. It is massive, located upstairs on top of a business or factory of some sort. There's a big room in the middle for aerobics if you're interested in that. The old and outdated equipment doesn't put me off. They all work so that's all I care about. The girl at the desk is really nice and friendly in a genuine way. I can tell by now that she's not just doing that to get more people to sign up - this isn't a Fitness First after all. Overall, I like this place but it's not my favorite gym.

Now before you race to this gym thinking that it must be the best gym ever, be aware that my rating is based on what I expect from a gym. Firstly, it's huge! They expanded it recently so now it's massively huge! It's an ex-warehouse BTW. There are plenty of weights and equipment. The gym is geared towards serious bodybuilders so you can expect a lot of meatheads. There's a separate chicks section if you prefer that. Heaps of cardio machines and an area for aerobics makes this gym well rounded. It is also very very cheap, but on the downside it attracts a lot of people who can lift heavy weights but have absolutely no gym etiquette. Overall, I love this place and I wish I lived closer to it.

Approximate cost: $3.30

This gym has a real bodybuilder vibe. It is clearly tailored towards boys who wanna get big so you can expect a few meatheads. Most are friendly though. They have a separate boxing ring which is great if you need it. The whole gym is quite big, which I like. My biggest gripe is that it costs you money to put your possessions in a locker. My second biggest gripe is that a lot of the weights are in kgs and not lbs. Apart from that, I like this gym a lot.

This is a great gym depending on what you're looking for. There's a separate chicks area if you don't want blokes staring at you while you sweat it out. The gym is more tailored towards boys who wanna get big so you can expect a few meatheads, but most are friendly and I've never had a problem with anyone there. They have a separate boxing ring which is great if you need it. There's also a small room downstairs that's dedicated to leg workouts. This place is always empty as the meatheads don't care about their legs. I couldn't give the gym a higher rating because it is quite small for my liking. Get's ridiculously busy during peak hours, especially in summer. Membership prices are fairly cheap compared to other gyms.

I started frequenting this place after getting bored of the Retreat, which is just across the road. The Green, as me and my mates call it, has an easy going feel to it. As you walk into the door, there's the bar and on the right are tables. Walking through you'll see heaps of comfy couches and then you can step out into the beer garden which is delightful in summer. They have enough decent beers to keep me interested. The food is quite cheap but also standard as you would expect for the price. Nothing much to holler about. Overall, a good place to chill out with some mates while knocking back a few.

Approximate cost: $10