Old-school gym · Penha de França
Iron,sweat,nothing else.
Machines, dumbbells and a coach who explains the why. No music on the floor, no filming, no posing — people come here to train.
Time card
No. 0961
| Day | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| MON | 07:30 | 22:00 |
| TUE | 07:30 | 22:00 |
| WED | 07:30 | 22:00 |
| THU | 07:30 | 22:00 |
| FRI | 07:30 | 22:00 |
| SAT | 10:00 | 16:00 |
| SUN | Closed | |
Quietest in the morning and at lunchtime.
Penha de França · Lisboa
The factory in numbers
treadmills
“there's always a free machine, even at peak hours”
dumbbells up to
plus benches, a squat rack and cables
songs on the floor
no music, no filming
years one member has trained here
from a 2026 review
Google reviews
in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, German, Polish…
Five stations, one route
The shop floor
Everything a serious session needs, laid out like a factory line. Pick a station.
01Weight room
Lots of iron: several machines for each muscle group, a hundred-odd dumbbells, benches, a squat rack, barbells and cables. Classic machines sit next to new ones — the gym keeps replacing the old models.
- 01.1Dumbbells up to 40 kg
- 01.24 benches + squat rack
- 01.3New machines added in 2025
Station 01Weight room
Lots of iron: several machines for each muscle group, a hundred-odd dumbbells, benches, a squat rack, barbells and cables. Classic machines sit next to new ones — the gym keeps replacing the old models.
- Dumbbells up to 40 kg
- 4 benches + squat rack
- New machines added in 2025
Station 02Cardio zone
About twenty treadmills, bikes and a stepper. Members say there's always one free, even at the evening rush — and the air conditioning keeps it bearable in a Lisbon August.
- ≈20 treadmills
- Bikes + stepper
- Good air conditioning
Station 03Functional room
A separate room with mats, pilates balls and elastic bands — for mobility, core work and the warm-up nobody should skip.
- Mats + pilates balls
- Elastic bands
- Quiet corner
Station 04Personal training
Private sessions with coach Rúben Cruz: technique, biomechanics and a nutrition plan, adapted to your goals and to old injuries. And there's always a trainer on the floor to help with a machine or a movement.
- Biomechanics-based
- Nutrition plan
- Trainer on the floor
Station 05Changing rooms & lockers
A locker with its own key, showers and clean changing rooms. Nothing fancy — members call them clean and well looked after.
- Locker + key included
- Showers
- Towel on sale at reception
Before Instagram, there was iron
A neighbourhood factory
Penha de França · Lisboa
Fábrica do Físico was built around one idea: the physical and mental well-being of the people who train here. From day one the priority has been the quality of the space and the equipment — and helping each member build their ideal shape, at their own pace.
The result is a gym members call “an institution”: plenty of machines, fair prices, a family atmosphere and rules that are actually enforced. Neighbours who have trained here for twenty years share the floor with visitors on a day pass.
Be healthy with us.
Penha de França · Lisboa
It's an old-school gym with a family-like atmosphere, where there's still mutual respect among those who work out. Unfortunately, there are few places like this left.The rules members thank us for
There are rules here
Six rules. They're why nobody waits for a bench and nobody ends up in someone else's video.
Not your fancy, trendy fitness club — that's a compliment.
Internal regulations
Ref. FF-01
No brain, no gain
Coach Rúben Cruz
Personal trainer · biomechanics
The name that shows up in most of the reviews. Rúben trained in biomechanics in England and teaches you why a movement works, not just how many reps to do.
Technique first
Every exercise explained in detail — which muscle, which angle, what the brain has to control.
Nutrition plan
A plan that fits your routine, with protein explained so it finally clicks.
Adapted to you
Joint problems, old injuries, getting strong again after pregnancy — the sessions adjust.
Towards autonomy
Many members start with Rúben and end up training on their own, knowing what they're doing.
I will put 5* here as Ruben deserves 10*. He's hands down the best personal trainer I have ever met.
Stamped on the iron
Passes & prices
- 8€
Day
- 37€
Month
- 80€
3 months
- ?
Coach
- Day8€
- Day pass. Bring a towel, clean shoes and ID.
- Month37€
- Monthly membership + €10 insurance/sign-up.
- 3 months80€
- Paying several months at once is cheaper.
- Coach?
- Personal training with Rúben — price on request.
- Weekly pass available
- Towel at reception ≈ €3
- Protein shakes at the front desk
Indicative prices, as reported by members in reviews from 2025–26. Confirm the current price list at reception.
Inside the factory
People train here in seven languages
Open a locker
57 written reviews in Portuguese, English, Spanish, French, German, Polish and Russian. Six of them, behind six doors.
- EN
I've been working out at this gym for over 20 years. It's a gym for people who take weight training seriously — and when I say seriously, I'm not talking about the weights you lift, but about the commitment, discipline and dedication with which you exercise.
— S. Vieira - EN
The gym is what I'm looking for, an old style space, without any useless options. No spa, no swimming pool, no waste of time. Go, lift and leave.
— Pietro Splatters - PT
Original
Provavelmente o melhor ginásio de Lisboa para quem quer realmente evoluir a nível muscular. Tem uma panóplia de aparelhos de musculação e a nível de cardio têm sensivelmente 20 passadeiras. Preços bastante justos dada a concorrência.
TranslationProbably the best gym in Lisbon if you really want to build muscle. A whole range of weight machines, and about 20 treadmills for cardio. Very fair prices given the competition.
— Rui Pragana - ES
Original
¡Excelente gimnasio! Sin vueltas, muchas y variadas máquinas, pesos, una zona especial para cardio. Se agradece no tener que entrenar escuchando música que uno no quiere. Si te gusta entrenar sin postureos, este es el lugar indicado.
TranslationExcellent gym! No fuss, lots of different machines, weights, a dedicated cardio area. Nice not to train to music you didn't choose. If you like training without posing, this is the place.
— Pato Rodriguez - FR
Original
Bonne salle de sport qui a tout le nécessaire. De nouvelles machines sont arrivées dernièrement. Mention spéciale pour le coach Ruben qui m'a partagé de précieux conseils pour mieux réaliser mes exercices et solliciter les bons muscles.
TranslationA good gym with everything you need. New machines arrived recently. Special mention for coach Ruben, who gave me valuable advice to do my exercises better and work the right muscles.
— Jessica Elineau - PT
Original
Quando disse ao PT Rúben que não tinha ténis para treinar, não se fez de rogado e emprestou-me uns que tinha. “Não te deixo ir para casa sem treinares!”, disse-me. É por causa de pessoas assim que a casa nos conquista.
TranslationWhen I told PT Rúben I had no trainers with me, he didn't think twice and lent me a pair of his. “I'm not letting you go home without training!”, he said. It's people like that who win you over.
— Nuno Adães
Before your first set
Questions at the front desk
Yes. Buy a day pass at reception (about €8). Bring a towel, clean indoor shoes and an ID.
Clock in
Avenida General Roçadas, number 9
Penha de França, a few minutes from Anjos and Arroios. Come in, ask for a tour and train the same day.
Phone
961 781 609Time card
Opening hours
- Monday – Friday
- 07:30 – 22:00
- Saturday
- 10:00 – 16:00
- Sunday
- Closed