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Clubs · Top 10

The 10 Best Private Members' Clubs in San Francisco in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
The Battery
Direct answer

The Battery is the best private members' club in San Francisco, with The Olympic Club at #2 and Amador Club at #3. The ranking weighs the clubhouse and amenities first, then how clearly each club publishes its membership terms; most do not publish a price.

At a glance

#PickMembership costBest for
1The Battery$2,800/year (SF Standard, Dec 2022; the club does not publish rates)Founders, creatives and investors who want dining, bars and a late-night calendar
2The Olympic ClubNot publishedAthletes and families who want golf plus a downtown clubhouse
3Amador ClubNot publishedDowntown professionals who want a historic Financial District base
4University Club of San FranciscoNot publishedTravelers who want reciprocal clubs and squash on Nob Hill
5Pacific-Union ClubNot publishedOld-guard San Francisco history and a landmark Nob Hill address
6Metropolitan Club of San FranciscoNot published (request information at 415-872-7200)Women who want a pool, dining and events in one historic building
7City Club of San Francisco$1,200 initiation + $220/month (Executive); $800 + $175/month under 40Downtown professionals who want a published price and an Art Deco setting
8Bohemian ClubNot publishedArts-and-letters tradition and the Bohemian Grove camp
9Marines’ Memorial Club & HotelNot publishedService members who want a hotel, theater and club near Union Square
10Mechanics’ Institute$150/year individual, $225/year family, $80 studentReaders and chess players who want a members’ library at a low published price

Pick by what you want

Best overall
The Battery
Best for golf and fitness
The Olympic Club
Best published price list
City Club of San Francisco
Best for travelers
University Club of San Francisco
Best value
Mechanics’ Institute

The ranking

1

The Battery

The Battery
Answrs VerdictSan Francisco’s most-talked-about modern club.
Membership cost: $2,800/year (SF Standard, Dec 2022; the club does not publish rates)Address: 717 Battery Street, San FranciscoOpened: 2013, in Downtown San FranciscoHotel: 14-suite boutique hotel open to the public

The Battery at 717 Battery Street opened in 2013 and pairs restaurants and bars with a 14-suite boutique hotel open to the public. Dues were reported at $2,800/year in 2022; the club itself does not publish rates.

Go ifFounders, creatives and investors who want dining, bars and a late-night calendar
Skip ifYou want golf, a pool or a quick yes: membership is by introduction
Why #1 over #2: Its dining and social calendar beat the Olympic Club’s athletic focus for a networking crowd.
2

The Olympic Club

The Olympic Club
Answrs VerdictThe oldest athletic club in the United States.
Membership cost: Not publishedFounded: 1860Golf: Lake, Ocean and Cliffs courses; hosts the 2028 PGA Championship and the 2033 Ryder CupHotel: 18 hotel rooms at the City Clubhouse

The Olympic Club, founded in 1860, runs the Lake, Ocean and Cliffs golf courses, with the 2028 PGA Championship and the 2033 Ryder Cup coming, plus 18 hotel rooms at its City Clubhouse. It does not publish its fees.

Go ifAthletes and families who want golf plus a downtown clubhouse
Skip ifYou want a creative-industry social scene
Why #2 over #3: Its golf and athletics outweigh Amador’s downtown setting.
3

Amador Club

Amador Club
Answrs VerdictWingtip’s successor in the Bank of Italy building.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: Bank of Italy building, 550 Montgomery StreetFormerly: Wingtip, which operated 15 years before rebranding as Amador

Amador Club occupies the Bank of Italy building at 550 Montgomery Street. It is the former Wingtip, which operated 15 years before rebranding. It does not publish its membership price.

Go ifDowntown professionals who want a historic Financial District base
Skip ifYou want a published price before you inquire
Why #3 over #4: Its historic building and fresh rebrand edge out the University Club for downtown use.
4

University Club of San Francisco

University Club of San Francisco
Answrs VerdictA Nob Hill social and athletic club with 400+ reciprocal clubs.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: 800 Powell Street, Nob HillFounded: 1890Reciprocity: More than 400 reciprocal private clubs worldwideClubhouse: 22-room clubhouse with a squash and athletics facility

The University Club of San Francisco, founded in 1890 at 800 Powell Street, offers a 22-room clubhouse, squash and athletics, and more than 400 reciprocal private clubs worldwide.

Go ifTravelers who want reciprocal clubs and squash on Nob Hill
Skip ifYou want the newest design-led club
Why #4 over #5: Its reciprocal network and squash facility beat the Pacific-Union Club for active members.
5

Pacific-Union Club

Pacific-Union Club
Photo: Sanfranman59 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Flood Mansion club atop Nob Hill.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: 1000 California Street, San FranciscoBuilding: The former James C. Flood MansionFormed: 1889, by a merger of the Pacific Club (1852) and the Union Club (1854)

The Pacific-Union Club at 1000 California Street occupies the former James C. Flood Mansion. It formed in 1889 when the Pacific Club (1852) and the Union Club (1854) merged. Fees are not published.

Go ifOld-guard San Francisco history and a landmark Nob Hill address
Skip ifYou want public information on how to join
Why #5 over #6: Its landmark mansion tops the Metropolitan Club’s Sutter Street building for history.
6

Metropolitan Club of San Francisco

Metropolitan Club of San Francisco
Photo: Smallbones / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA women’s club with a pool and guest rooms.
Membership cost: Not published (request information at 415-872-7200)Address: 640 Sutter Street, San FranciscoOperating: A women’s club since 1915Amenities: Olympic-length pool, fitness classes, spa and salon, guest rooms

The Metropolitan Club at 640 Sutter Street has operated as a women’s club since 1915, with an Olympic-length pool, fitness classes, a spa and salon, and guest rooms. Prices come on request at 415-872-7200.

Go ifWomen who want a pool, dining and events in one historic building
Skip ifYou are looking for a mixed-membership club
Why #6 over #7: Its pool and amenities go beyond the City Club’s dining and office focus.
7

City Club of San Francisco

City Club of San Francisco
Answrs VerdictThe one club here that publishes its full price list.
Membership cost: $1,200 initiation + $220/month (Executive); $800 + $175/month under 40Address: 155 Sansome Street, 10th floorArt: Diego Rivera’s first U.S. fresco, completed after he arrived in 1931Top tier: The 155 Society, limited to 155 members: $1,200 initiation + $275/month

The City Club of San Francisco on the 10th floor at 155 Sansome Street holds Diego Rivera’s first U.S. fresco, painted after he arrived in 1931. Executive membership is $1,200 initiation + $220/month; the 155 Society is $1,200 + $275/month.

Go ifDowntown professionals who want a published price and an Art Deco setting
Skip ifYou want a pool or a golf course
Why #7 over #8: It publishes its full price list, which the Bohemian Club does not.
8

Bohemian Club

Bohemian Club
Photo: Wikophile1 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe famous arts club behind Bohemian Grove.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: 624 Taylor Street, San FranciscoFounded: 1872, by journalists, artists and musiciansMembership: Men only; bylaws require ten percent of members to be accomplished artists

The Bohemian Club at 624 Taylor Street was founded in 1872 by journalists, artists and musicians. It remains men only, and its bylaws require ten percent of members to be accomplished artists. Fees are not published.

Go ifArts-and-letters tradition and the Bohemian Grove camp
Skip ifYou want a club open to women
Why #8 over #9: Its arts tradition gives it more identity than the Marines’ Memorial Club for a general member.
9

Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel

Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel
Answrs VerdictA military club and hotel with a 650-seat theater.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: 609 Sutter Street, at MasonOpened: November 10, 1946Eligibility: Open to all United States servicemembers; about 21,000 members

The Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel at 609 Sutter Street opened on November 10, 1946. Membership is open to all United States servicemembers, and the club has about 21,000 members.

Go ifService members who want a hotel, theater and club near Union Square
Skip ifYou have no military affiliation
Why #9 over #10: It admits a defined group, where the Mechanics’ Institute is a library club without a hotel.
10

Mechanics’ Institute

Mechanics’ Institute
Photo: Daderot / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA members’ library and chess club from 1854.
Membership cost: $150/year individual, $225/year family, $80 studentAddress: 57 Post Street, Financial DistrictFounded: 1854Members: 2,900 as of 2026

The Mechanics’ Institute at 57 Post Street was founded in 1854 and had 2,900 members as of 2026. Membership is $150/year individual, $225/year family or $80 for students.

Go ifReaders and chess players who want a members’ library at a low published price
Skip ifYou want dining, bars and hotel rooms

How we ranked these

We ranked each club on its clubhouse and amenities first, then on how clearly it publishes membership terms. Prices are shown only where a club or a named source publishes them. Replaced from the old list: The Family Club (an invitation-only men’s club with no public photos of its clubhouse). Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to join The Battery?

The Battery does not publish its rates. The San Francisco Standard reported dues of $2,800 per year in December 2022, with an optional $900-per-year Battery Alliance add-on for access to about 40 other clubs.

Which San Francisco club publishes its prices?

The City Club of San Francisco: Executive membership is $1,200 initiation + $220/month, Young Professionals (under 40) $800 + $175/month, and the 155 Society $1,200 + $275/month. The Mechanics’ Institute lists $150/year individual, $225/year family and $80 student.

Is Wingtip still open?

Wingtip rebranded as Amador Club at 550 Montgomery Street after operating for 15 years.

Which clubs are open to women?

The Metropolitan Club is a women’s club. The Bohemian Club remains men only, per Wikipedia. The Olympic Club voted to admit women in 1990.

Published membership prices (USD per year) at a glance

Mechanics’ Institute (student)$80
Mechanics’ Institute (individual)$150
Mechanics’ Institute (family)$225
The Battery$2,800
Published membership prices (USD per year), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.