Even though it's decked out with chandeliers, this club still gets you sweating.

by Contributor

The Scene
Serving the fitness-minded since 1872, the New Orleans Athletic Club is the city's oldest (and most lavishly decorated) fitness club, with a spacious ballroom, library, cafe and pub, sundeck and Le Salon, which offers massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and other therapeutic treatments.

The Workout
Don't let the antique crystal chandeliers and glossy hardwood floors fool you: The club's 40,000 square feet boasts state-of-the-art equipment, including elliptical machines, Stairmasters and treadmills. There's also an indoor 20-yard swimming pool, racquetball courts and Nautilus weight rooms. A diverse membership, from students to seniors, takes advantage of a slew of basic aerobics classes, as well as cardio-kickboxing, yoga, Boxercise, Spinning and aqua aerobics. For a more unique workout, there are tango lessons, dance and fencing.