The best private members' clubs in New York

While private members’ clubs aren’t a new phenomenon in New York (the Union Club and the Metropolitan Club have been around since the 19th century), the past few years have certainly seen an increase in openings. From elegantly understated haunts frequented by New York’s real estate royalty to hipster hotspots favoured by the city’s creatives, there’s now a club for just about anyone (as long as you’re on the list). Whether you’re looking to rub shoulders with the city’s elite or simply want a place to sup your wine away from prying eyes, these are the private members’ clubs to know in New York.

Housed in the iconic Battery Maritime building on the waterfront in Lower Manhattan, celebrity hangout Casa Cipriani boasts an array of opulent spaces, including the stylish Cipriani restaurant, a jazz café, bars, terraces and a rooftop pool with impressive views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Statue of Liberty. Don’t hold your breath for a member’s card: there’s currently a 4,000-person waitlist.

Opened in 2020, Zero Bond in the NoHo neighbourhood serves as a home away from home for its high profile members, with an extensive offering of amenities such as office spaces, restaurants, a sushi bar, screening room and a two-floor library. A $10 million dollar art collection that includes Warhols and Harings adorns the hallowed walls.

From the famed Aman Resorts brand beloved by the likes of Kim Kardashian and Bill Gates, Aman New York offers the pinnacle of privacy in the city that never sleeps. It features 83 rooms, a garden terrace and a rooftop pool, but the highlight has to be its three-floor spa with an integrative medicine program, a gym, hot tubs and cryotherapy chambers. Membership will set you back a cool $200,000.

Co-created by Soho House founder Nick Jones, the Ned NoMad is one of the newest private members’ clubs to arrive on New York’s social scene. And like Soho House before it, it’s a hit with the city’s creatives. Housed in the historic Johnston Building, the club features multiple dining spaces, including a luxe rooftop bar and terrace restaurant with views of the Empire State Building.

Core Club has been a stalwart of New York’s members’ club scene since it arrived in the city in 2005, but its recent move to a sprawling Midtown location has garnered the interest of a new generation of “relentlessly curious individuals” who are “dedicated to enjoying life without compromise”. Its extensive amenities include eleven suites, a wine library, rooftop terrace, beauty bar and wellness studio.

New York’s arty types flock to Chapel Bar, a members-only club that has also served as the fashionable location for events such as Vogue’s Met Gala after-party. Housed in the gothic yet unassuming Gramercy Church, the small space boasts a lofty nave from which a crystal chandelier dangles, emitting soft, moody lighting.

No list of New York members’ clubs is complete without the iconic Soho House. The original NYC Soho House, opened in 2003, is set in a former warehouse in the Meatpacking District and features a rooftop terrace, spa, members-only restaurant and screening room, as well as 44 bedrooms with chic interiors. Ludlow and Dumbo locations have since opened in the city, offering members easy access no matter where they find themselves.

For Londoners and those visiting the capital, these are the best and most exclusive private members' clubs to know...

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