11 Most Exclusive Clubs in the World—and How to Get Into Them
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No photos, please. The world of membership clubs is one that functions—nay, thrives—on the concept of maintaining mystery and intrigue. While a new restaurant or bar that just opened in your city will likely encourage photography, these exclusive clubs seek just the opposite. That’s because of the members they attract—the famous, the wealthy, the well-connected, the influential.
Membership clubs might be seemingly popping up everywhere today, but they originated back in 18th-century Britain as sought-after spaces where aristocrats, politicians, and intellectuals gathered to discuss ideas, socialize, and conduct business. The first clubs, like White’s and Brooks’s in London, were deeply tied to social class and usually centered around shared interests, such as politics and literature. London is still a hub for these exclusive spaces (wait until you see No. 1 on our list), but stateside cities like New York and Los Angeles have also built up robust membership club offerings of their own.
As these clubs have continued to open in metropolitan hot spots all over the world, they still provide their members with a bubble that’s as aspirational as it is inaccessible. With waiting lists often stretching years and rigorous application processes, they’re reserved for the select few who meet their criteria, and likely know someone who is already a member. That sounds like a lot to measure up to, but joining (most) of these clubs is not entirely unattainable as it seems. Read on to learn about some of the most exclusive membership clubs, and what makes them worth the humbling experience of applying. Maybe we’ll see you there?
11. San Vicente Bungalows
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Los Angeles, CA
San Vicente Bungalows is a discreet hideaway for Hollywood’s elite, tucked away in West Hollywood. This club prioritizes privacy with a no-photo policy and strict confidentiality agreements, allowing members to enjoy its lush garden settings, with palm trees and a pool in privacy, making it a favorite for celebs and industry insiders. Despite having just opened its doors in 2019, the club’s reach is quickly growing as well, with two additional locations in the works for Santa Monica and New York City’s West Village neighborhood.
Application & Pricing
Annual membership reportedly starts at $4,200, with a one-time initiation fee of $1,800. Applications are not accepted publicly, making a personal connection essential.
10. Club Bardo
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Savannah, GA
For Savannah residents and those who frequently visit the charming Southern city, Club Bardo and the namesake hotel it calls home are meant to function as an oasis—decorated in a cheery peach hue with plush furnishings and a long, palm-lined pool. Members of the sophisticated and stylish club enjoy use of a private clubhouse, access to the pool, pool bar, and fitness facilities, as well as perks like personal training, preferred room rates, complimentary valet and Camp Bardo, a kids club for children ages 5 to 12.
Application & Pricing
Anyone can apply for membership at Club Bardo, and applicants are chosen based on “what they can contribute to the scene.” If accepted, they pay a $4,800 one-time initiation fee, plus $200 in monthly dues and a $200 minimum monthly resort spend.
9. The Elwood Club at the Pendry Newport Beach
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Newport, CA
Orange County’s Newport Beach is an elite locale to begin with, so how elite can a membership club located inside one of the coastal city’s best hotels be? The answer is extremely. The club occupies its own wing within the Pendry Newport Beach, and features The Pub, a clubhouse space stocked with televisions playing sports; fireside board games and a Topgolf Swing Suite; Viamara, a swanky Italian restaurant; and The Cabaret, a darkly colored lounge with live music and performances.
Application & Pricing
Catering to Southern California’s elite, this club is highly selective, favoring local residents and influential figures, with an invitation-only membership application. Fees are estimated at $5,000 per year, plus an initiation fee that varies by applicant.
8. Soho House
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Multiple Locations Worldwide
If there’s one membership club you’ve probably heard of, and might even know a member, it's Soho House. First established for the creative community in London in 1995 by restaurateur Nick Jones, Soho House now owns over 40 locations globally, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the company has redefined the modern membership club. In fact, it's even a publicly traded company at this point (SHCO). Designed for those in creative industries, the clubs offer stylishly appointed clubhouse spaces, exclusive events, and exceptional dining options, all with no photos allowed. Each location seeks to act as a reflection of its local culture, from the industrial chic of Soho House Berlin to the palatial, sunny location in Mexico City.
Application & Pricing
Soho House requires applicants to work in creative industries and share its ethos (no suits allowed), and membership is capped at each location to maintain exclusivity. Fees vary by location, starting at around $2,500 annually, with access to all houses available for an additional cost. Those accepted under 27 years of age pay half price until they’re thirty. Application includes an online form and requires referrals from current members.
7. Silencio
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Paris, France
Designed by David Lynch, Silencio was inspired by the sinister theater that appears in the director's 2001 film Mulholland Drive. Found in Paris’ 2nd arrondissement, Silencio is both a cultural hub and a sanctuary for Paris’ creative elite. Until around midnight, Silencio functions as a member club with a private theatre, art exhibits, and a 60s style bar. Late at night it transforms into a wild night club with an ever-present line. Silencio’s membership is curated to include top-tier creatives, offering them an intimate space to exchange ideas and party, and also includes a co-working space, a complimentary birthday dinner or club table, and access to partner clubs such as NeueHouse, Matador, Arts Club Dubai, and JNcQUOI Club. A very red room-inspired location of Silencio was also opened recently near New York City’s Hells Kitchen neighborhood.
Application & Pricing
Anyone can apply for the membership, and the application requires a recent photo. Members pay approximately €1,200 annually, with a half-off discount for those under 30. Applications are submitted through the club’s website.
6. NeueHouse
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Los Angeles, CA & New York, NY
NeueHouse is a sophisticated workspace-meets-social club designed for cultural vanguards, known for expansive industrial clubhouse spaces. With locations in Hollywood, Venice Beach, and Madison Square, the club offers modern design, wellness-inspired dining, private workspaces and offices, podcasting studios, curated art exhibitions, and ample inspiring programming (we’re talking between seven to 10 events each night at the Madison Square location). Members here are well-connected, both in their fields and with one another, thanks to a more relaxed communal attitude and well-attended programming.
Application & Pricing
NeueHouse caters to creative professionals, with limited memberships to maintain a collaborative environment. Membership fees range from $3,000 to $6,000 annually, depending on access levels. Applications can be submitted online with referrals.
5. Core Club
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New York, NY & Milan, Italy
This female-founded club is synonymous with high-powered networking in New York City. Its ultramodern design, Michelin-starred dining, and exclusive wellness facilities make it a sought-after enclave for financiers and thought leaders in all fields. Originally opening its doors in 2005 at its first location in Manhattan's Upper East Side, its second location in Midtown just opened in 2023—in an elegant 11-story tower no less. The new space is all about opportunities to seek wellness (a buzz word at all member clubs right now), including the opportunity to create tailored, anti-aging skincare regimens and enjoy a sleek juice bar. Core Club also has a location in Milan, and is potentially opening in San Francisco’s Transamerica Pyramid (though a legal dispute may mean otherwise).
Application & Pricing
Memberships are highly coveted and selective, focusing on individuals who excel in one of 13 key industries such as art, biotech, finance, fashion, entertainment, and hospitality. Annual fees start at $15,000 with an initiation fee that can range from $15,000 all the way to $100,000. Prospective members must secure an invitation from a current member.
4. Yellowstone Club
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Big Sky, MT
A membership club unlike any on this list, and potentially any in the world, Yellowstone Club is the only private ski and golf community, with the apt tagline Private Powder. Members enjoy pristine slopes, luxury mountain lodges, and unparalleled access to outdoor adventures. The exclusivity is matched by breathtaking natural surroundings, making it a haven for the ultra-wealthy. You can only apply for membership if you live in the private community. For instance, Bill Gates is a member, as well as Jennifer Lopez and supermodel Gisele Bündchen.
Application & Pricing
The first hurdle is owning property in the Yellowstone community, and the second is the fact the club can only ever have 864 members at a time. Next comes the fees. Membership includes a $300,000 initiation fee and annual dues of around $36,000.
3. Yacht Club de Monaco
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Monaco
This membership club was literally founded by royalty—Prince Rainier III, to be exact, who declared “the future of Monaco lies with the sea” during its inauguration in 1953. Its new clubhouse space was opened in 2014 and was designed to look like a giant yacht, inside which members can take advantage of everything from a library and glamorous ballroom to a gym and rooftop pool. Members also enjoy use of the private marina for their boats, are able to participate in sailing lessons and social events like high society balls, as well as an annual regatta.
Application & Pricing
Membership is exclusive, and reserved for yachting enthusiasts with a direct connection to Monaco’s maritime community. Membership costs are undisclosed but require sponsorship by two existing members and approval by the club’s board.
2. The Knickerbocker Club
New York, NY
Founded back in 1871 as a gentlemen’s club, it doesn’t get much more exclusive than “The Knick,” with famed past members including the Rockefellers and both Teddy and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The first barrier to entry today, for half the population, is the fact it stands as one of only two membership clubs in the city that still accepts only male members. Infamous for its secrecy, not only does the club not publish its application process online, it doesn’t even have a website. Much like Hogwarts or Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, you must wait for your golden ticket to arrive. There is nary a photo of the inside of their clubhouse, on 5th and 62nd, online.
Application & Pricing
This club remains one of Manhattan’s most private, with membership limited to an elite circle. Membership is invitation-only, and fees are not publicly disclosed.
1. Hurlingham Club
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Fulham, London, UK
Rounding out our list is the Hurlingham Club—also known as the place where Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, plays tennis. Set on 42 acres of immaculately landscaped grounds bordering the River Thames, it's no shocker that the club has been a royal favorite since it first opened in 1869. The club literally established the rules to the game of polo, and has hosted tennis matches for the Olympics, as well as the Grand Prix Ball and other high-society events. Members can enjoy its stately Georgian Clubhouse, swim in an outdoor pool, take tennis lessons (Prince George reportedly does), wander the botanical garden, and more.
Application & Pricing
Membership here is so highly coveted that prospective members must contend with a waitlist reportedly spanning 30 years. Annual fees are thought to start at £1,300, with an undisclosed joining fee.