Social Studies
America has long been a nation of social clubs. As early as the 1700s, people united in community groups over similar social interests. These organizations played an important role in the still nascent American democracy by offering solidarity regardless of class or socioeconomic status.
“Americans of all ages, all conditions, and all dispositions, constantly form associations,” observed French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville on a visit to the United States in the 1830s. “There are not only commercial and industrial associations ... but others of a thousand different types — religious, moral, serious, futile, very general and very limited, immensely large and very minute.”
From Freemasons to bowling leagues, social clubs brought people together. Although memberships have waned in the last half-century, America’s club scene has begun experiencing a revival in recent years. Stylish, members-only spaces are rising in popularity, especially for an increasing number of hotels that are strictly restricting access to in-the-know travelers. These private accommodations are often as exclusive as they are luxurious. Here are a few of our favorites.
SOHO HOUSE
The modern resurgence of members-only hotels can trace its roots to London’s Soho House, which was created in 1995 by restaurateur Nick Jones, who originally wanted to open an eatery in the three-story house above his French bistro Café Boheme. The building’s front door was too small for a restaurant but Jones decided the entryway would be perfect for a private club that was “creative and like-minded, and for people who were at ease with themselves,” he explained in 2017.
Today, there are 43 Soho Houses worldwide and membership allows access to any of them. Many locations feature lounges, salons and spas in addition to hotels (“bedrooms”) that range from cozy cabins to luxury apartment accommodations. Anyone can visit Soho’s public-facing restaurants, but nonmembers can only book Soho House hotel rooms as guests of paying members. Come for the big attractions: Rooftop pools, private screening rooms showing classic films, 8,000-plus rotating art works by the likes of Damien Hirst, Mark Bradford, Catherine Opie and others. Stay for the little touches that have become Soho House hallmarks, such as warm welcome cookies and fresh limes on the minibar.
THE ASTER
In the heart of Hollywood, The Aster may be the new kid on the block, opening less than two years ago at the iconic intersection of Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. But this dashing hotel and members club has quickly built a reputation as a trendy hot spot to work, play and stay. The Aster is an elegant throwback to the Golden Age of the silver screen with vintage rotary-style phones, plush furnishings, and cool, muted interiors. Nonmembers can book any of the Aster’s 35 all-suite bedrooms; hotel guests are invited to enjoy all the amenities of club membership during their stay. This includes access to the outdoor pool, cabaret room, a 36-seat cinema, recording studio, private workspaces, two gyms and a wellness suite.
Don’t skip Lemon Grove, the Aster’s market-to-table restaurant named for the actual lemon groves that grew all over Hollywood (before the buildings moved in). This rooftop eatery offers dashing views of the circular Capitol Records building nearby and the Hollywood sign in the distance. The Aster also hosts a variety of unique programming for members, from educational talks to live performances. These shows go as big as the likes of Duran Duran, which performed a private concert on the Aster roof in 2022 — talk about a view to a kill.
THE BATTERY
Equal parts boutique hotel, art museum, social club, and entertainment hall, The Battery in San Francisco is a jack-of-all-trades that focuses on leisure. This may be slightly ironic given its location in a 58,000-square-foot former factory in the city’s financial district. But The Battery pulls it off, with help from its four bars, outdoor garden, library, 1,600-bottle-strong wine cellar and wellness center with a gym and spa. In a city that has become dominated by tech in recent years, The Battery encourages guests to put down the iPhones and skip the shop talk in favor of meaningful, person-to-person interaction.
Luckily, that’s easy to do at a variety of events that are held here on any given night, such as film screenings, interviews, comedy and cabaret shows, author readings, dance performances, wine tastings and formal dinners. (If you’re staying at the hotel during these events, yes, you’re invited to the party.) Each of The Battery’s 14 guest rooms — including a penthouse that boasts panoramic views of the bay — is whimsical and unique, from gold velvet couches to bowler hat-lampshades. Whether you’re exfoliating with Malin + Goetz skin essentials in your room’s Japanese soaking tub or admiring the eclectic art and taxidermy display while enjoying a cocktail made with the club’s own custom Buffalo Trace bourbon, The Battery is worth the visit.
TEN TRINITY SQUARE
If you mistake London’s Ten Trinity Square — with its powerful Corinthian columns and statue of Old Father Thames wielding a trident — for a government building instead of a hotel at first glance, you wouldn’t be wrong. This historic Beaux Arts building was originally built in 1922 to house London’s Port Authority. After surviving bombing runs during World War II, hosting the reception for the inaugural General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946 (and a boring subsequent stint as an insurance brokerage), it became the Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, serving as both a hotel and member’s club.
Ten Trinity Square looks like the sort of place where James Bond might spend time. (Or, at least visit, the building’s front entrance was featured in 2012’s Skyfall.) You can too: Membership to the Ten Trinity Square Private Club includes river boat excursions, museum tours, private concerts, Château Latour sampling experiences, and access to the club’s 18,000-square-foot spa and 46-foot lap pool, sauna, steam room and cigar lounge. The hotel features 89 rooms and 11 suites that encircle the building’s gleaming marble rotunda. Located in the center of London, Ten Trinity Square is both near the city’s attractions as well as an attraction unto itself that is not to be missed.
FASANO
In Brazil, the famed Fasano hospitality group is synonymous with sophistication. An Italian immigrant from Milan, Vittorio Fasano brought with him a pioneering spirit and sense of pride (not to mention recipes) when he opened a brasserie in São Paulo in 1902. A century after that first restaurant, fourth generation owner Gero Fasano expanded his family’s restaurant chain into a successful hotel brand with locations throughout South America.
Interested in experiencing Fasano but haven’t renewed your passport? Don’t fret: Fasano Fifth Avenue opened in Manhattan in 2021, offering luxury residences for private members. There are four floors of amenities, including a private dining salon, bossa nova bar, courtyard garden, gym and sauna. The guest rooms, a mix of duplexes and clubhouse suites, are 3,600-square feet, adorned with Parisian- and Brazilian-style furnishings (think cashmere walls and heated marble bathroom floors), and look out over Central Park and the New York City skyline. Members enjoy world-class lifestyle services, such as private shopping appointments with fashion brands, early access to Christie auctions, a dedicated wine and spirits program, use of a house car with chauffeur, private tastings, and more. For anything else, a 24-hour club concierge is on call. What more can you ask for?