THE JOURNAL
The Drawing Room at Home House, Marylebone. Photograph by Ms Astrid Templier, courtesy of Home House
The members’ club has come a long way from the secretive, stuffy, male-dominated dominion to the multifaceted status-symbol hangouts of today. And defining what makes a successful one has always leant much heavier on art than it does science.
A loose recipe might suggest something like “a place to meet/work/eat/drink/relax” mixed with “the welcoming know-your-name service of your local bar” muddled over “interiors that make you want to redecorate your house” and served with “a well-curated crowd of people you just have to meet”.
There’s exclusivity, of course, but a good club should be aiming for like-minded and in-the-know rather than impenetrable elitism. Once you’re through the door, you want them to be buzzy, sure, but not so busy you can’t find somewhere to perch. There’s a sliding scale from decorum to debauchery that befits each premises accordingly but, on either end, it should be a place you can truly feel at ease in; a community spirit should prevail.
But as the outsized leader of the current pack, Soho House, announces it’s taking no new members this year, we felt it was time to cast our eye around at the alternatives – new, old, big, small, formal, fashionable, for work and for play – to see where you might want to switch that direct debit.
N E W Y O R K
01. ZZ’s CLub, Hudson Yards, Manhattan
The headlines might have fixated on the fees (according to reports, it’s a $20,000 initiation fee, and $10,000 annually after that), but rather missed the point of this ultra-exclusive offshoot from the Carbone family tree. At the top of said tree are Mr Mario Carbone, Mr Rich Torrisi, and Mr Jeff Zalaznick (for whom ZZ’s is named) who, as Major Food Group, have shaped some of the city’s very best dining and drinking experiences. ZZ’s levels it up, though: a Japanese restaurant, a velvet-curtained private version of Carbone, the centrepiece Clam Bar with sweeping raw bar, the Founder’s Lounge where founding members can test the skills (and the patience) of “we’ll create any meal you desire” culinary concierges, and Leo’s live-performance lounge where legendary NYC DJ Stretch Armstrong oversees the music. Cough up the cash to join and you may never need to eat anywhere else again.
Dress code: When not in their whites, the three founders are a stylish bunch – think casual-chic classics with some modern tailoring twist – so follow their lead and you’ll fit right in. Relaxed separates from modern luxury brands such as The Row or Dries Van Noten would strike the right note.
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02. Casa Cipriani, Battery, Manhattan
Private terrace in the Premier River View Suite, Casa Cipriani, New York. Photograph courtesy of Casa Cipriani
It was always going to need some heavy hitters to make good of the beautiful Beaux-Arts Battery Maritime Building, which hangs over the water next to the Staten Island ferry terminal. Enter the first family of Italian hospitality, the Ciprianis, who used the space to open their first member’s club (a Milan outpost followed). If that weren’t enough, they enlisted none other than Mr Thierry Despont to oversee its renovation (he’s best known as the man responsible for restoring the Statue of Liberty). The result is truly a showstopper of a space. Italianate luxury in excelsis, all polished wood panelling, gleaming chrome and brass, sumptuous velvet seating, oyster and caviar jazz dinners… If you want to woo – a date, a client, that friend whose birthday you forgot – Casa Cipriani, with some of the best views in the city, is the place to do it.
Dress code: Places this aesthetically pleasing must maintain certain standards, so take note: jackets for dinner, no tees unless under a jacket, no dirty shoes (clean, smart sneakers are acceptable), no shorts, no garish logos. Aim for the impeccable: we’d look towards classical tailoring of TOM FORD or Brunello Cucinelli.
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03. Montauk Club, Park Slope, Brooklyn
As Brooklyn became a global byword for things that were “new”, “cool”, or “disruptive”, its history often got overlooked. A shame, really, as it meant people missed the low-key allure of Park Slope’s most eye-catching old building, the 1891-built, Venice-inspired redbrick home of the Montauk Club. Despite its age, the Montauk was always one of the more progressive social clubs, reverent of its Native American links, open to immigrant communities, and the first in the city with a ladies’ entrance. Today it boasts a genuinely eclectic membership, an analogue approach, and its own bylaws (“a place of resort and entertainment… to establish therein a library and collection of works of art for their improvement”) but it makes for an alluring change of scenery if you want to escape the city hubbub and get stuff done. The balcony is a great spot for a drink, too.
Dress code: Its old-timey charm makes wearing a jacket seem apt even if it isn’t a rule by decree. As a regular filming location (much of HBO’s Boardwalk Empire was shot here), it might aid your chances of appearing on screen, too. But we’re in Brooklyn, so park the blazer and feel free to take a more modish approach. A lightweight jacket from BODE or Bottega Veneta would be just right.
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04. Zero Bond, Noho, Manhattan
The Grill Room at Zero Bond, Manhattan. Photograph by Ms Natalie Black, courtesy of Zero Bond
“I’m a New York guy doing a New York version of a London social club,” said Mr Scott Sartiano by way of explaining his latest creation. “I wanted athletes and actors mixing with finance and doctors and fashion.” Since opening mid-pandemic, Zero Bond has quickly established itself as one of the city’s hottest addresses (which is, quite fabulously, 0 Bond Street) and has drawn everyone from Sir Paul McCartney to Mr Tom Brady to mayor Mr Eric Adams. Inside, there is plenty of space to work across its two dimly lit and handsomely styled floors, food is presided over by culinary director Mr Alfred Portale of Gotham Bar and Grill fame, and there’s a vinyl-stocked record bar fitted with a covetable McIntosh hi-fi among its many well-crafted details.
Dress code: Staff here are kitted out in suits by Brooks Brothers and there’s a dressed-up feel all round, albeit with a New York edge. So, think smart-casual and sophisticated: tailored trousers with a Thom Browne sweater would ensure you look the part.
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05. The Malin, Soho | Williamsburg | West Village
The idea of a members’ club carries all sorts of louche connotations, but they’re often needed more prosaically as a place to work. The Malin, a self-described “work-focused members’ club”, has caught the eye with its design-magazine-cool spaces geared towards the creative crowd. Each outpost splits up its floors into several zones designed to stimulate different modes of working, and you can choose between general access or a dedicated desk. If you’re one to be inspired by a view, the Malin in Williamsburg sits on the ninth floor of the William Vale hotel, looking back across the city skyline.
Dress code: Your usual office attire, but try to make as much of an effort as the interior designers have. A cashmere crew neck from The Elder Statesman or a neat cardigan from Auralee will ensure you blend in.
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LONDON
06. George, Mayfair
The Main Bar at George Club, Mayfair. Photograph by Mr Ryan Wicks, courtesy of George
In any history of London’s members’ clubs, you’ll find the Birleys writ large. Mr Mark Birley founded Annabel’s in 1963, Mark’s Club a decade later, and George in 2001 (and some non-mononym ventures in between). After some Succession-ish squabbles with his heir apparent son, Robin, Birley sold his group of clubs to another hospitality heavyweight, Mr Richard Caring, just before he died in 2007. And it was Caring who personally oversaw the extensive refurbishment and reopening of George (named after Birley’s dog) last year. A younger, dare we say “vibey”, Mayfair crowd has been charmed by the lavish canine theme – dog’s head taps in the gents, greyhound lamps, Ms Jill Berelowitz’s giant dachshund sculpture as you descend from dining room to the Hound Bar nightclub – pedigree Mediterranean menu, and, of course, dog-friendly door policy. Indeed, some of the most well-groomed guests at George are the four-legged kind – they even get their own menu. Not that it ever tips into themed parody, mind: there’s enough burnt gold tiling, starched white tablecloths, and the occasional Hockney to make sure of that.
Dress code: This is not a place for sportswear, streetwear or anything distressed, but it is marginally less prescriptive than Annabel’s or Mark’s. Jackets aren’t compulsory, rather encouraged when dining. Stick to the classics: a sport coat from Drake’s with flat-front trousers and boots from Tricker’s would look smart, but not stuffy.
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07. Maison Estelle, Mayfair
Estelle is currently the capital’s hottest name to drop, even if very few people actually get to slip beyond her Grafton Street door (number six, if you’re wondering). Operating a husher-than-hush-hush policy since its inception has meant a rather refreshing air of mystique to the Maison. No photos, no social media, no sales-patter show arounds. We do know it’s the brainchild of Mr Sharan Pasricha, founder of Ennismore (Hoxton hotels, Mondrian hotels, Gleneagles etc), and his wife, Mrs Eiesha Bharti Pasricha, who serves as artistic director. And you can also head to the less secretive sister country club, Estelle Manor in the Cotswolds, to pick up a few style clues (namely high-touch English luxury through a modern lens). But this much is a given: find a way to furnish yourself with a Maison membership and you’ll become the most popular man around.
Dress code: We were told, in suitably vague terms, that members and their guests “can decide how to dress depending on the occasion”. But the interiors style skews toward the classic, so we wouldn’t pitch up in anything too wacky. Instead, look towards the subtly distinctive style of brands such as LEMAIRE.
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08. The Pavilion, Knightsbridge | Kensington | City of London
Pavilion Knightsbridge. Photograph courtesy of Pavilion
If you were driven wild by ever shrinking “laptop zones” at your local workplace, put your name down for the Pavilion and you’ll be well catered for. It has sites in Kensington, the City and, most impressively, in the striking former bank nudged up against the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. All three straddle work and play seamlessly, with ornate phone booths, meeting rooms and well-proportioned desks alongside vibrant bars, well-equipped gyms and, in Knightsbridge, a checkerboard-tiled terrace overlooking Hyde Park. Live events aim to stimulate, too, with Mr Louis Theroux one of the upcoming speakers.
Dress code: Again, nothing is proclaimed, and the City outpost skews toward tailoring, but otherwise it’s a smart-casual place from day to night. All three locations are in smarter parts of town, though, so if you’re going to wear sneakers, wear smarter styles from the likes of ZEGNA.
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09. The Dally, Islington
Much is made of north London’s cultural contributions, but it’s never really had a club to call its own. Until this April, anyway, when The Dally takes root on Upper Street. Neighbourhood in intention, but global in conception (its Islington-resident club-veteran founders drew inspiration from stints in Sydney, New York, Ghana, Edinburgh and more), it’s conjured a refined three-storey all-day hangout from what was once the Medicine Bar, designed to encourage a lively community spirit for those who live, work, or just enjoy spending time in the area. Dine, drink, drop in for a coffee and some emails – meeting the neighbours just got more fun.
Dress code: A step up from pyjamas or dog-walking gear, but this is a come-as-you-are kind of venture. We’d use it as an opportunity to show off your cultural know-how, in insider brands such as CHERRY LOS ANGELES or Blue Blue Japan.
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10. Home House, Marylebone
The House Lounge at Home House, Marylebone, London. Photograph courtesy of Home House
At more than 25 years old, Home House is another veritable veteran of the post-Mayfair scene. Sat on the northwest corner of Portman Square, its three Georgian townhouses hide some quite fabulous architectural flourishes behind their sober facade, a fitting metaphor for the club itself, which is decidedly more Saltburn than Shoreditch House. Enter past a rather camp portrait of the late Queen and you’ll soon be staring upwards in awe at the Mr Robert Adam-designed, dome-topped spiral staircase. Off it you’ll find 23 baroque bedrooms and a warren of drawing rooms, lounges, restaurants, bars, events spaces and a sizeable terrace garden out back. Hedonism has long been the order of the day here; it proudly proclaims its “there are no rules” rule, and recent parties have courted a new generation of members including Mr Lennon Gallagher and Mr Daniel Lismore. But the sprawling country house layout means you can always find a quiet corner for a meeting and there’s a gym in the basement.
Dress code: “Appropriately dressed” is as far as any formal code goes, and from all-black Balenciaga to sensible sweaters and slacks, you tend to encounter the full fashion gamut here.
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11. The Conduit, Covent Garden
If some clubs seem a little unsure of their stance on overt networking, the Conduit positively embraces it. Pitched squarely at investors, entrepreneurs and those in business adjacent professions – with an admirable focus on social and environmental impact – it hopes the six-storey space it provides and the events it programmes will help its members connect, click, and create something meaningful. It first popped up in Mayfair but its new home at the top of Covent Garden marks a cleaner break with tradition, the rooftop restaurant proving quite the draw in summer.
Dress code: “Come dressed” is all they impress upon members but typical Conduit costumes are suits (though mostly with no tie), stealth-luxury staples and ethical brands. Wear a suit, but feel free to wear something a little more interesting: the sharp lines of a SAINT LAURENT jacket would certainly fit in.
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12. Quo Vadis, Soho
The Club Lounge at Quo Vadis, Soho. Photograph by Mr Alexander Baxter, courtesy of Quo Vadis
The convivial fiefdom of London’s most beloved chef Mr Jeremy Lee, Quo Vadis has long channelled the (sadly dwindling) spirit of true Soho. Many of its characters, real and imagined, are immortalised in the drawings of Mr John Broadley, which line the bijou street-level restaurant. It doubled in size thanks to an extensive refit last year, but members have always had the luxury of spiriting themselves away upstairs where more dining tables await at the back of a quietly decadent art-lined lounge. Foodies, luvvies, Soho sybarites – this is a club that draws a larger-than-life crowd. And plenty who pop in for a quick meeting, stick around for the very reasonable martini happy hour, and end up settling in for some of Lee’s finessed British fare and a bottle or three. Just as it should be in these parts.
Dress code: Nothing is dictated but casual, contemporary British labels would chime with the ethos of the place.
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13. The Groucho Club, Soho
Named for the Marx brother who wanted no part of any club who’d have him, stuffed with enough works from the YBAs to be worthy of gallery status, famed for 1990s nights out those present are still trying to piece together – the Groucho was vital in redefining what a members’ club could be. Like much from that era, it’s currently enjoying something of a renaissance, now under the guidance of Hauser & Wirth’s hospitality offshoot, ArtFarm, and soon to install its first ever female CEO. Elsewhere, Mr Mark Hix has been drafted to punch up the menu (the Groucho Club sandwich has quickly become a classic). And the upstairs Soho bar is once again a buzzy daytime workspace for all manner of music, fashion, media, comedy, stage, screen and arty types.
Dress code: The house rules, penned by one Mr Stephen Fry, permit anything besides string vests (“There is enough distress in the world already”), but you can expect to see plenty of selvedge denim, well-kept workwear, statement glasses and some dandyish flair.