It was a mark of distinction when I first got my Soho House membership. I was in Patmos, Greece so the email came in at almost midnight, finding me several glasses of house white wine deep. The crowd at this hilltop village’s local cafe was uproarious, made up of mostly Londoners and Italians. With almost all of them claiming to be creatives in one way or another, everyone either had a Soho House membership or was dying to get one. The acute feeling that maybe, just maybe, the party didn’t have to end bubbled up and I let out a laugh, turning to exclaim loudly “Guess who’s the newest Soho House member!”

It was a good start to a good run. The year was 2021, and Soho House was still hot, even if just barely. Besides, in London, a city that thrives on members’ clubs, there was simply no other option. Much to the chagrin of the city’s hospitality industry, the members’ clubs there take up so much oxygen that there’s hardly anything left for independent restaurants or bars. In a city where exclusivity rules, everyone needs a place to call home. A spontaneous Plan A, or a built-in Plan B.

In 2021, Soho House’s parent company, Membership Collective Group, went public and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange. An expansion plan followed, as did online complaints from those who felt the brand had lost its cool.

2021 and Soho House ring a bell, it’s because that’s also when the company went public. There is much to be said about the correlation between Private Equity shareholders and a decline in quality, but this specifically holds true for a business model like a private members’ club. Very rarely does exclusivity and great service result in big returns for investors. To the point that, you wouldn’t be remiss to wonder why Soho House thought it was a good idea to go public in the first place.

But, go public they did. It doesn’t take a crystal ball to guess what happened next. A suite of new houses cropped up, service sharply declined, a wave of new members influxed, and then, like clockwork, some good old-fashioned complaining started coming in.

Now faced with longer wait times and busier houses, members aren’t smiling as much anymore. Coupled with the increasing online perception that Soho House is no longer cool, many members may be looking for a new place to spend a few nights a month. With shifting expectations, a new wave of clubs is stepping in to offer fresh experiences and renewed exclusivity.

Members’ clubs still hold a substantial appeal, and many more are now competing for new members. Herewith, our round-up of some of the best private members’ clubs on the global scene – both new and those worth revisiting.

London

We have to start with the mecca of all members’ clubs, of course. While the Big Smoke certainly has its pick of clubs, a relative newcomer on the scene, Maison Estelle, has been stealing the show since it first opened in 2021. With the additional opening of its countryside clubhouse, Manor Estelle in Oxfordshire in 2023, Maison Estelle upped the ante by competing against Soho House’s Oxfordshire Farmhouse.

Both Soho House and Maison Estelle go after the younger members’ club crowd, but that’s where the similarities end. Visiting Maison Estelle, located in a spot right off Berkeley Square, is always a fantastic experience. The multiple subterranean floors are covered in white carpet and have a sexy, 1970s feel to them. With the amount of dancing, drinking and general carousing that goes on there, it’s a wonder the carpets always look so clean. Walking up and down the house, there’s always something remarkable in each room, corridor, and corner. And with the big, black sticker they place on the back camera of each phone (back camera only, lest one be barred from taking a few selfies!), privacy is assured, and lighthearted amusement reigns. Maison Estelle’s secret sauce lies in its great homage to the sexy and secretive vibe of 1970s London, which draws in the young and chic crowd while keeping exclusivity and privacy to the highest standards.

Paris

Paris revels in its own history. With that in mind, members’ clubs here are a bit different. There’s not nearly as many as in London, and the ones that do exist are not primarily for partying (though, of course, there’s always a bit of that).

Be that as it may, they make up for it with their jaw-droppingly stunning interiors. The perfect example: the storied The Travellers Club. Located on the Champs-Élysées, it’s easy to pass by its discreet front gate completely unaware of the treasures inside. It was originally called the ‘Hotel de la Païva’ after the famous French courtesan who lived there in the 19th century, renowned for hosting fantastically hedonistic parties on its premises. Transformed into a ‘gentlemen’s club’ in 1903, it is still, to this day, men-only, yet women are welcome as guests at the invitation of a member. The soaring ballroom’s red ceiling was painted by Isodore Pils, the same painter who did the Opéra Garnier. The adjacent bar-room, blue plant-filled corridor and games rooms are decadent in their Italian Renaissance style. Not to mention, you can still smoke indoors here.

The Traveller’s Club is the epitome of old-world elegance and charm, which is the esprit de corps of the city. If you want to spend time upon a brocade chaise and underneath a painted canopy, lost in meandering conversation with a lackadaisical cigarette in hand, Paris’ The Traveller’s Club is the place for you.

New York

Despite New York and London being on par on the world stage, New York has always been less of a members’ club city than its overseas competitor. That is, until recently. These days, an influx of clubs has recently descended upon New York. 

Among them are a few offshoots of London clubs, namely the 22, and one from LA, the recently opened San Vincente Bungalows club in the West Village. While both are great, they aren’t quite New York enough to really capture the city. Enter Chez Margaux, which opened in 2024 in the Meatpacking District. It has everything a good members’ club needs: stylish interiors, great dining and, most importantly, a fantastic little dancing spot named Gaux Gaux. It has the rich warmth of some of Europe’s best clubs, while also bursting with the energy and dynamism that makes New York, well, New York. 

Chez Margaux excels because it seamlessly blends old-world charm with some of the more sought-after aspects of American social life. Want to have a casual drink with your friend while slyly one-upping them? Bingo. Want to go dancing with your girlfriends without having to get eyed up by a bouncer? Winner again. It insulates New Yorkers from all the trials and tribulations that come with a traditional New York night out, while still preserving all of the excitement and fun.

Los Angeles

It’s as if the San Vicente Bungalows heard their name being whispered coast to coast. They may not be rooted in New York, but they embody the essence of Los Angeles sophistication. For a discerning few, LA holds little appeal without long, languid hours spent poolside at the original SVB retreat—or now, at its newly unveiled, equally exclusive Malibu sanctuary.

In a city where celebrities are everything, there is something very special about a place where they are nothing. Or, at least, pretend to be. That’s the magic behind the iconic San Vincente Bungalows, a stringent no-photography policy and a strong emphasis on discretion, it takes hard work to cultivate an aura of normalcy over a venue filled with A, B and C-listers. Yet, the hard work has paid off, with many celebrities, such as Harry and Meghan, Leonardo DiCaprio and Miley Cyrus reportedly claiming SVB as their ‘safe haven’. 

Malibu’s newest club opening wasn’t just another event, it was the event. When names like Laura Dern and Cindy Crawford are singing its praises, it’s clear that San Vicente Bungalows isn’t just thriving in Los Angeles; it’s quietly reshaping the city’s social landscape in its own image.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s no stranger to members’ clubs and it has seen many clubs come and go. Originally, Hong Kong’s clubs were centred around members’ interests in sports and politics. 

Today, they combine the best of both past and present, blending a range of Hong Kong’s cultural influences. And no club does it better than the late David Tang’s The China Club. A Hong Kong institution that’s been around since 1991, the club’s artful 1930s-era Shanghai interiors occupy the 13th, 14th and 15th floors of the old Bank of China building. Its contemporary Chinese art collection is unparalleled while the attention to detail is evident in every single room, from the Long March Bar and the dining rooms, to the mahjong room and the library. Combined with the impeccable service and highly-rated food (the dim-sum is known to be delicious), you’d be forgiven for forgetting you were in the middle of one of the busiest cities in the world. 

If a members’ club’s highest ambition is to transport its guests to a more refined time period, The China Club excels.

Mumbai

Move over New York, Mumbai is the city that truly never sleeps. Alive with colour, noise and constant excitement, the city is as energising as it can be draining; the perfect conditions for a private members’ club. 

The newest is The Penthouse at Mumbai’s St. Regis Hotel, which opened in October 2023, Its wide array of amenities and designs, including the Equus business center, four different dining concepts and an incredible New York-inspired event space called 38 Manhattan, gives it an edge on Soho House Mumbai. Not to mention, members get access to the St. Regis’s palatial wellness centre, complete with an outdoor pool and the serene Iridium spa. 

In a city as energetic as Mumbai, having a spot to find a little calm and quiet is a must for most city-dwellers. The Penthouse delivers this and more–peace for doing business and making calls as well as a beautiful view to soak in as you have an after-hours drink. 

As for the future of social life? It won’t be found in the chaos of the crowd, but in intimate, invite-only spaces where curation and community reign supreme. For more thought-provoking stories and exclusive content, subscribe to 3 magazine’s print and digital editions today!