New York City is a culture obsessed with the latest and greatest: trends come and go, and restaurants that were once so hot, are now so not.
But one thing has remained constant throughout all this time: the ever-so-exclusive social club.
And while these institutions have taken new shapes and forms, the DNA of the members-only club has stayed the same.
See Also: Behind The Velvet Rope: The Most Exclusive Clubs In NYC
Prestige is the name of the game, and only the crème de la crème of New York society are invited to play.
Want to learn more? We’ve got the keys to New York’s toughest doors.
Transport yourself to a fantasy world of squash courts and Champagne, and keep reading for an inside look into the private clubs we love to hate.
The Union ClubView this post on Instagram
101 E 69th St, Manhattan/Website
The year is 1836. Dwight Eisenhower and Ulysses Grant are sipping on whiskey as they smoke cigars from the designated cigar room. When they are done schmoozing, they head over to the library and skim the tattered pages of Wuthering Heights. Fast forward to 2021. The oldest private club in New York City is still standing—and as exclusive as ever. Annual fees are $5,000, which is pocket change for the people that unwind here. Women are still not allowed on the premise *Eye Roll*.
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1 E 60th St, Manhattan/Website
Similar to the Union Club, The Metropolitan Club has defined upper-echelon New York culture for hundreds of years. Old money is the name of the game here. Fun fact, the club was founded by J.P Morgan as a protest against other private clubs with stricter admission requirements. Ironically, it doesn’t get more exclusive than the Metropolitan club, but it’s a cute story. If you came here way back when you would be guaranteed to see Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Currently, the annual membership fee is $5,000, no technology is allowed, and men and women are required to dress to the nines.
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50 Vanderbilt Ave, Manhattan/Website
The name of this club is just as pretentious as its members. Unsurprisingly, this highly-coveted spot is reserved for faculty and alumni of Yale. I’m yawning thinking about the conversations they have here about Shakespeare and Monet. If you’re not an ivy-leaguer yourself, but lucky enough to be connected to one, you can join through legacy admissions. With an increased emphasis on networking, the Yale Club is an in-person version of Linkedin. With much stricter credentials, of course.
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564 Park Ave, Manhattan/Website
Who runs the world? Girls! The Colony Club is the only club in New York City created just for women. If you call that sexist you should probably stop reading here. It’s all about who you know in this all-female organization, as current members must recommend new members. In 1903, the admissions fee was $150, which is literally comical. The updated admissions fee is not open to the public, which is obnoxious yet extremely enticing.
66 E 55th St, Manhattan/Website
Although the Core Club presents itself as being more welcoming than other private clubs, you still need to pay a $50,000 initiation fee and a $15,000 annual membership fee. Maybe we have different versions of welcoming because those outrageous numbers knock out 99% of New York’s population. Just like other members-only clubs, you need to be invited to this premier establishment.
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29-35 9th Ave, Manhattan/Website
The Soho House is definitely the trendiest members-only club on this list. It’s still super exclusive, with a high admissions fee and a waiting list longer than Rao’s, but the crowd is definitely more approachable. Designed for young creatives in the media and the arts, Soho House is more for relevant socialities and influencers, rather than stuffy old men in suits and ties. With sweeping rooftop views of Chelsea, and its play on a spicy margarita, The Picante, The Soho House is the place to be seen and be seen (with no pictures allowed).
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0 Bond St, Manhattan
The name Zero Bond is ironic because you need every bond in the world to get in here. Opened in 2020, this swanky private club is designed for creatives, pro athletes, and relevant figures in the entertainment world. The steep admissions fee is totally worth it for the delicious omakase bar. A members-only hotspot with sushi? Sign. Us. Up. Plus, we heard Kourtney Kardashian and Co like to hang out here. So naturally, it’s like edgy and stuff.
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1170 Broadway, Manhattan/Website
Located in the Johnston Building, which dates back to 1903, The Ned NoMad is built upon the city’s heritage “flawless style, grand gestures, and insatiable hunger for the absolute best.” Setting The Ned apart from other premier establishments, members have a broad range of spaces to relax, connect, work, and indulge. The Ned caters to all the needs of a fast-paced life in the city, yet still feels like an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Members have access to the sophisticated dining room, the rooftop terrace, the library, the magic room, and the mezzanine at Little Ned. Besides, if it's cool enough for Drake, it's cool enough for us.
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730 5th Ave, Manhattan/Website
Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard of the Aman hospitality franchise. Taking over the world and our Instagram feeds one day at a time, Aman is the epitome of modern-day luxury. So how do you get access to this magical oasis? You can either pay $3,200 per night (yes, that’s the cost of an entry-level suite), or join the Aman Club with a very steep $200,000 admissions fee (plus 15,000 annual dues). While the cost of membership is more than most people make yearly, members will argue the Aman experience is truly priceless.
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815 5th Ave, Manhattan/Website
Overlooking Central Park in the center of the Upper East Side, Fasano Fifth Avenue is the epitome of classic New York luxury. Members can enjoy the privileges of a full-service hotel, including private dining, room service, fitness, and a personal concierge that will assist with travel, flights, access to fairs, sports, shops, and more. Treat yourself to a meal at Fasano Café, a richly furnished club lounge and garden, designed for intimate dinners, business lunches, or a quick drink with fellow New York elite. Access to the wonderful world of Fasano is by invitation only, making this one-of-a-kind experience all the more exclusive.
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110 E 25th St, Manhattan/Website
Described as the premier space for “creators, innovators, and thought leaders to gather and connect,” NeueHouse is modernizing the traditional social club one membership at a time. The Madison Square location reconceptualized its communal hub, The Gallery - now home to a new bar and café, redesigned interiors, art installations, and upgraded workspace, providing the ideal environment for members to achieve their creative potential. Members can also mingle in the Chapel Bar, a private bar that was once a 19th-century chapel.
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75 Rockefeller Plaza, Manhattan/Website
If an upper-echelon social club and an elevated coworking space had a baby, it would be Club 75. Perfect for sipping on a glass of bubbly, and networking with global business leaders, creatives and entrepreneurs, this reimagined club is the perfect blend of work and play. For an annual membership fee of $1,250, Club 75 includes all the luxury of a Soho House for half the price. Located in Midtown Manhattan, one of the world’s most influential epicenters of business, Club 75 seamlessly bridges the gap between attainability and high-brow society.
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Vivrelle, the innovative membership club providing access to a shared closet of designer handbags and luxury accessories, has opened its showroom-meets-social club in Manhattan’s NoMad District. The space offers a highly immersive and elevated retail experience, allowing members to easily browse and try on items from a luxe display of handbags, jewelry, watches, and diamonds. Members also have access to exclusive programming, such as workout classes with guest celebrity trainers, retail activations, and social events with leading brands like Barry’s Boot Camp, Caraway, Daily Harvest, and Sakara.
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420 Park Ave S, Manhattan/Website
Positioning itself as both accessible and flexible for locals and travelers, Royalton Rooftop offers a premier membership program like no other. Members can cozy up in the Ivy Lounge, where a vibrant yellow piano electrifies creative senses and a private terrace space inspires for small meetings and independent work. Additionally, gain all-day access to the heated pool set beneath awe-inspiring Empire State Building views and participate in weekly wellness classes on the Sun Deck - a perfect way to soak in the best of New York in an upscale environment.
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12 W 21st St, Manhattan/Website
Founded by renowned Dr. Jonathan Leary, Remedy Place is the world’s first social wellness club. On a mission to disrupt the healthcare system, Remedy Place has evolved into more than just a social club, but also an educational platform. Frequented by A-list celebrities, athletes, C-suite executives, and more, Remedy Place’s West Hollywood flagship has been innovating the world of wellness by introducing social self-care - the act of deepening human connection and enhancing your health through experiences with others. From tech remedies to world-class practitioners and specialist visits, Remedy Place offers an array of self-care experiences to counteract life’s stressors and enhance your natural healing journey.
Introducing the world’s first app-based social club! Parlor Social Club uses a tech-forward approach and real-time data to offer a new type of membership club, both in-person in New York City and globally, in the digital sphere. With their utilization of the latest technology and the optimization of a unique, human-powered algorithm, Parlor offers members highly-curated crowds, events, and experiences. This new-and-improved social hub incorporates the valued elements of a traditional membership club, without the outrageous price point or location-based commitment.
Photography by: Alexander Popov
