Metal Cave Gym is a serious barbell gym. It sits on Road No. 2 in the Baitul Aman Housing Society area of Adabor, Dhaka 1207, spread across the 3rd and 4th floors of House No. 836, and it holds a 4.4 rating from 455 Google reviews. If you want a quiet boutique studio with scented towels, keep walking. If you want to squat heavy at 8pm on a Tuesday surrounded by people doing the same, this is one of the better addresses in west Dhaka.
The gym has a real claim to fame. Its owner, Atiqur Rahman, is a certified personal trainer and powerlifting coach who serves as deputy general secretary of the Bangladesh Powerlifting Association, and he started the gym in 2016 after selling a plot of land to fund it. The Business Standard credits Metal Cave as the first commercial gym in Bangladesh to install a deadlift platform and calibrated plates. That heritage still shapes the room. Members who lift competitively gravitate here, and the coaching culture reflects that.
Facilities and Equipment
Two floors, and they're used differently. One is air-conditioned, the other is not, which comes up in reviews constantly and which I'd call the single biggest thing to know before you sign up. Members describe plenty of weights and machines split across both levels, with cardio kit alongside the iron rather than shoved into a corner.
The photo on the listing shows exactly what you'd expect from a working strength floor. Machines packed close together, mirrored surfaces, and equipment that's clearly used rather than staged for a brochure. Several reviewers say the machines sit a little too close for comfort, so if you like a wide setup lane for your deadlift, plan around the busy hours.
What's actually verified here: squat, bench, and deadlift stations that lifters rate highly; calibrated plates; a deadlift platform; a large stock of free weights; cable and selectorized machines; treadmills and bikes for conditioning; and a steam room that members praise for quality. One reviewer notes the steam room runs on a limited schedule, roughly two days a week, so don't turn up expecting it nightly. Washrooms come in for praise. There's a coffee vending machine and electrolyte drinks on site. Lockers and showers are there. Fingerprint entry handles access at the doors.
Male and female facilities are both available, which is not universal for gyms of this type in Dhaka.
Classes, Coaching and Membership
The center of gravity is strength coaching. Atiqur Rahman holds certification from the US-based National Council of Strength and Fitness and works as a certified powerlifting referee, and the gym has produced a stack of national-level lifters, including Adib Jihan, Aditya Parvez, and Tasbihun Noor Tulona. Members repeatedly describe the trainers as attentive and the environment as motivating rather than intimidating, which is a harder trick than it sounds.
Reviews also mention yoga, aerobics, and Zumba sessions, so it isn't purely a powerlifting room.
Pricing is where I have to be careful with you. Metal Cave doesn't publish rates anywhere I could verify. Members' own reviews scatter across a wide range, with some reporting an admission fee in the low thousands of taka plus a monthly charge, and others quoting figures well below that. Treat any number you read online as a rumor and call +880 1911-770208 for a current quote. Extended-hours or off-peak access may carry an extra cost, based on what members say, but again, confirm it directly.
Is that annoying? Yes. It's also standard practice for Dhaka gyms, where rates get negotiated in person and change with the season.
Location and Getting There
Adabor sits in west Dhaka, on the Mohammadpur and Shyamoli edge, right beside Ring Road. That road access is the main story. The gym is a straightforward CNG or rickshaw ride from Mohammadpur bus stand, Shyamoli, and the Ring Road corridor, and traffic here is heavy but not central-Dhaka heavy.
Don't plan on the metro. MRT Line-6 runs east of here through the Agargaon and Shewrapara corridor, and while you can reach it from Adabor, it's a ride away, not a walk. Anyone telling you this gym is metro-adjacent hasn't made the trip.
The gym occupies the 3rd and 4th floors of a residential-style building, so look for the signage rather than a shopfront. Plus code Q9C5+8HJ will drop you on it.
Hours and Practical Tips
Saturday through Thursday it opens at 07:00 and runs to 23:00. Friday is different, with a 16:00 opening and the same 23:00 close, following the standard Bangladeshi weekend rhythm.
Peak crush is evening, roughly 18:00 to 21:00, when the working crowd arrives. Morning sessions are calmer and you'll get the platform to yourself more often. Bring your own towel. Bring a water bottle, though electrolyte drinks are sold on site. And bring a lifting belt if you have one, because you'll want it here.
My advice for a first visit: go on a weekday morning, ask which floor has the AC running that day, and train on it. Then decide.
FAQ
Does Metal Cave Gym have separate facilities for women?
Yes. Male and female facilities are both available, and the gym describes itself as a fitness solution for both.
Is the air conditioning a real problem?
It's the most common complaint in reviews. One floor is air-conditioned and the other isn't, and members regularly flag the non-AC level as tough in Dhaka's humidity. Ask before you commit.
Is this gym only for powerlifters?
No, though powerlifting is its identity. There's cardio equipment, machine work, and group sessions like yoga and Zumba. Beginners train here too.
How much does membership cost?
No official rate is published. Member reports vary widely. Call the gym directly for a current price.
Is there a steam room?
Yes, and members rate it well. Availability appears limited to certain days of the week, so check the schedule on arrival.