The Exclusive World of Private Members Clubs: History and Icons of Elegance

Carlos Alcaraz was soaked with champagne after his stunning US Open triumph on Sunday night, before the Spanish sensation headed out to party at an exclusive private members club in New York. Digital clubs offer exclusive content and digital meet-ups, all with the convenience of never having to leave your house. There’s no doubt that a physical space for these clubs is still as relevant as ever, but these tech innovations are opening these clubs to those who might live half a world away. For those who seek unparalleled extravagance, the title of the most expensive private members club belongs to the legendary Saint James's Club in Paris. Its sumptuous interiors, unrivaled service, and impeccable attention to detail justify its steep membership fee. With exclusivity embodied in every corner, the Saint James's Club stands as a testament to refined tastes and unparalleled luxury.
The old location had seen it's fair share of royal guests, including Princess Diana and Prince Charles, and after its 2018 relocation and renovation, it's become even more exclusive. Plus, it hosts a buzzing calendar of themed events, from Valentine's Day to Halloween, its front door suitably decorated in larger-than-life, lavish installations that many flock to take a picture of. Established in 1903, the Colony Club was New York’s first women’s private social club. “The clubhouse…is used by some of the smartest women in society,” wrote The New York Times in honor of the club’s first birthday. Its first clubhouse on Madison Avenue had quite the design pedigree; it was designed by Stanford White and decorated by Elsie de Wolfe.

Annabel’s – London, UK

Enter the likes of Soho House—one of the pioneers of the modern private members’ club movement. Private members’ clubs are known for charging significant joining fees, followed by annual dues that would make most of us gasp. These fees are more than just a barrier to entry; they help maintain the club’s elite status and ensure that its members are serious about belonging to such a prestigious community.

Luxury and Exclusivity in the 21st Century: A Global Phenomenon

In fact, the “Knick,” as it’s also known, was founded on the principle of exclusivity. In 1871, members of the prestigious Union Club became dissatisfied with the institution’s newly relaxed admissions standards, so they created their own club with exceptionally high standards. The current clubhouse is located at 2 East 62nd Street in a landmark neo-Federal building constructed between 1913 and 1915. Overlooking the city of Tokyo, The Club occupies the entire 51st floor of Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. It boasts some of the most sought-after event spaces and eateries in the city.
The Dining Room is accompanied by two bars, an al fresco courtyard and terrace and the renowned wine cellar, which holds no fewer than 120,000 bottles, while the club also offers a series of rooms and suites exclusively to members. Joining the Oriental Club offers access to reciprocal clubs across the world, reflecting its international audience. The world's affluent understand the power of networking and exclusivity, and this is evident in their club choices.

The Groucho Club

As the 19th Private Club century rolled around, private members’ clubs began to evolve. The rise of the industrial revolution brought with it a new class of wealthy businessmen and professionals who wanted in on the action. Clubs became more diverse in terms of their focus—some catered specifically to political interests, while others became hubs for literary figures, intellectuals, or artists. While many old-school members’ clubs were open only to men, Chelsea’s The Sloane Club was the opposite.

London’s Best Private Members’ Clubs 2025

• Annual membership is priced at £3,200 per year, with a one-time Member Assessment Fee of £1,600.
• 1,680 euros a year with La Carte plus, 900 with La Carte, and 600 for under 30s and residents outside of France.
• The club features fine dining options, a library, and a stunning rooftop bar.
• This neat townhouse opened in 1972 as an alternative to St James’s gentlemen’s clubs.
• The late lounge also offers a stellar menu of food drinks from the brasserie downstairs, with small plates served until the early hours of the morning.
• Situated across the IJ in the north of Amsterdam, Garage Noord is an intimate club with a non-commercial feel.
• The Battery, located in San Francisco’s Financial District, offers a contemporary take on the private club experience.

This is a no-judgement space, and one where you can completely let loose. But it’s also a social enterprise which is worth supporting, heavily involved with the activism and squatting scene in Amsterdam. A club that was taken over as a squat in 1999, 0T301 is the city’s most iconic night out.

• In London, membership includes a ticket to exclusive spots like Upstairs at Langan’s, The Sloane Club and Laylow – plus the ‘Explorer Membership’ gives you complimentary access to Soho Friends, meaning you can book stays at Soho House hotels.
• The members’ clubs in our edit all have distinct selection criteria and provide different atmospheres for their members.
• As for its name, Tramp, it’s a cheeky take on the guests who were anything but.
• Think five-star fitness facilities and cutting-edge wellness treatments hidden in the middle of a bustling metropolis.
• We’re talking private performances from A-list musicians, intimate art exhibits, and even private screenings of unreleased films.
• Fast forward to the late 20th century, and we start to see a huge shift in what private members’ clubs represent.
• Members’ club, people can expand their membership with a workspace that fits their needs.

The Groucho Club has been the cornerstone of London’s bohemian elite since the 1980s. It’s famous for its unpretentious charm, art-covered walls, and celebrity members like Stephen Fry, Noel Gallagher, and Tracey Emin. Sign up today for the very best of Country & Town House, delivered straight to your inbox.

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Make sure to grab a seat by 8pm, when the house lights go down and live performances take centre stage. The late lounge also offers a stellar menu of food drinks from the brasserie downstairs, with small plates served until the early hours of the morning. Comprising a series of lavish yet discreet rooms, ideal for conversation and relaxation, there is also a roster of exclusive events, concerts, and forums, as well as impeccable food, created by head chef Giacomo Tranquilli. The spa within the hotel, which members have full access to, offers extensive facilities complete with indoor swimming pool, vitality pool, sauna, hammam, steam room and state-of-the-art fitness centre. Not so much a members’ club as a wine cellar with members, Robin Birley's Oswald’s opened on Albemarle Street in 2018, promising to serve, without ripping off, London’s most committed oenophiles. To that end, the club, named after Birley’s royal portraitist grandfather, offers big-name wines at, or even below, prices you’ll pay in the supermarket.
Ministry of Sound opened its first private members’ club a couple of years ago, providing a new space for the city’s creative community to socialise and work. A new venture that’s strictly ‘by creatives, for creatives’, this might well be the new Soho House. Robin Birley, son of the late Mark Birley – chieftain of running, owning and selling private members’ clubs – learned a thing or two from his dad.
The network gives you access to an impressive 250 private clubs in 75 cities around the world – from New York to Paris, Barcelona to Milan. In London, membership includes a ticket to exclusive spots like Upstairs at Langan’s, The Sloane Club and Laylow – plus the ‘Explorer Membership’ gives you complimentary access to Soho Friends, meaning you can book stays at Soho House hotels. You can use each facility for up to six times per year, and bring three guests. Not only that, but members have the opportunity to sign up for an array of events and experiences, from wellness activities to exhibitions and DJ sets.