About
Goldfish Swim School - UES E. 80th Street is a dedicated swim school located at 1534 2nd Ave in New York City, offering a unique learn-to-swim experience for children ages 4 months to 12 years old. It emphasizes water safety, skill development, and a fun, tropical environment designed to make learning enjoyable and effective for young swimmers.
The pool(s) at Goldfish Swim School locations, including the UES E. 80th Street branch, are consistently kept at a comfortable 90 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 32 degrees Celsius) to ensure a warm and inviting environment for all swimmers, especially infants and young children.
What are people saying (AI review summary)? Goldfish Swim School, particularly the UES location, receives overwhelmingly positive reviews. Parents consistently praise the dedicated, patient, and engaging staff, including specific teachers like Carlos, Laura, Sofia, and Bianca, as well as front desk and management teams (Anthony, Dontae, Guadalupe). Children love attending classes, showing enthusiasm and significant progress, often overcoming fears and developing strong swimming skills quickly. The facility is noted for being well-run, spotless, and having warm water. Reviewers appreciate the excellent customer service, including helpful front desk staff and generous make-up lesson policies. While acknowledging the classes are not inexpensive, most agree the high quality, positive environment, and visible results make it 100% worth the investment, especially when compared to other NYC activities. Minor drawbacks include occasional weekend crowding and tight changing areas, which are noted as typical for the city.
Location
Gallery
Amenities
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Accepts Credit Cards
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Street Parking
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Accessible Entrance
Reviews
Listing Reviews
March 31st, 2025Amanda Nater
Goldfish is amazing to say the least. My children love going to swim class and talk about their lessons all week long. Every staff member has been pleasant and welcoming. You can tell they really love working with the kids.
June 8th, 2025Graceann Blank
Goldfish on the UES side is such a well run location. The front desk people are helpful, friendly and organized. The teachers stick to the lesson plans and offer consistent practice and encouragement. Everyone is very patient and good with children. They are generous with make up lessons for the inevitable difficult days. The price per lesson without the excellent hospitality would be unjustifiable, but we love it here.
November 9th, 2024Melissa Dominguez
The best swim school ever! We love Goldfish UES 80th as they helped my daughter who had a fear of dipping her head underwater- evolve into an amazing swimmer. Carlos is her favorite teacher and we agree - he's smart, kind very funny and very good with kids. I can't believe our Maddie went from beginning to pro level 1 in less than a year. I highly recommend this school as they teach proper swim safety as well.
February 10th, 2025francky l'official
My experience with Goldfish upper east side, I can confidently say it has been absolutely fantastic! Since my son enrolled a year ago, we've been nothing short of delighted. From the moment we walked in, the friendly front desk staff made us feel welcomed and valued. The teachers are incredible—dedicated, caring, and always engaging with the kids. My son is always excited to go to his classes and comes home beaming with joy after each session. It's wonderful to see him thriving in such a positive environment. Goldfish has truly created a nurturing space where children can learn and grow while having fun. I couldn't be happier with our experience, and I highly recommend it to any parent looking for a supportive and enjoyable swimming program for their child!
April 15th, 2025Jessica Aufiero
We’ve had a great experience at Goldfish Swim School UES (80th and 2nd.) The facility is spotless, the water is always warm (good for little ones and parents!), and the staff is so welcoming. My toddler looks forward to class every Saturday—it’s the only activity that truly tires her out, which I love! She’s in the Mini 2 class, and the teachers—Laura, Sofia, and Bianca—are fantastic: patient, encouraging, and great with little ones. The managers and front desk team—especially Anthony, Dontae, and Guadalupe—are always helpful and accommodating. It can get a little crowded on weekends, and space is tight in the changing area, but that’s typical for NYC. While the classes aren’t inexpensive, they’re in line with most NYC kids’ activities and it's 100% worth it. Plus, the Mini classes are great for teaching parents techniques to practice with their kids outside of class. Highly recommend for anyone looking to get their little one comfortable and confident in the water!
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Opening Hours
| Sunday | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Thursday | 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
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