New York City has restaurants where getting a reservation feels competitive. Then there are members-only clubs in NYC, where getting through the door can require an application, a recommendation and, occasionally, a bank account that looks suspiciously healthy.
The city’s private-club scene has exploded, with names including Aman Club, Casa Cipriani, CORE, Chez Margaux, ZZ’s Club, Zero Bond, San Vicente and Soho House now part of Manhattan’s exclusive social landscape.
Zero Bond remains one of the most recognizable names in the downtown private-club world. Located in NoHo, the 20,000-square-foot club features dining rooms, bars, a library, screening room and an omakase experience. Membership is application-based, with dues varying by age.
For serious luxury, Aman Club at Aman New York operates inside the Crown Building at Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Members have access to amenities including the hotel’s spa, restaurants and private spaces. Time Out reports annual membership at $15,000, plus a $200,000 initiation fee.
Casa Cipriani New York brings Art Deco glamour to the Financial District, with restaurants, bars, terraces, wellness facilities and harbor views. The club occupies the historic Battery Maritime Building, making the address almost as impressive as the membership list.
Then there’s CORE, the ultra-luxury private club at 711 Fifth Avenue. The 60,000-square-foot space includes wellness facilities, cultural programming, dining, a screening room and private meeting spaces. Reported annual membership ranges from $15,000 to $100,000.
Meanwhile, Chez Margaux brings Jean-Georges Vongerichten into the private-club world, combining dining, lounges, a library, late-night programming and a caviar room in the Meatpacking District.
For those searching for the best exclusive members-only clubs in NYC, there is no shortage of options.
Just remember: in Manhattan, sometimes the hardest reservation isn’t a table.
It’s getting invited.
