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Clubs · Top 10

The 10 Best Private Members' Social Clubs in New York City (2027)

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 4 min read
Casa Cipriani
Direct answer

Casa Cipriani is the best private members' social club in New York City, with The Ned NoMad at #2 and the Union Club of the City of New York at #3. The ranking weighs prestige, clubhouse and access, then published fees.

At a glance

#PickMembership costBest for
1Casa Cipriani~$2,000 initiation + ~$3,900/year (reported)Glamour, Cipriani dining and a hotel downtown
2The Ned NoMad$5,000/year + $1,500 joining fee ($4,000 under 30)A London-style club with rooftop and hotel
3Union Club of the City of New YorkNot publishedThe city’s oldest social club
4Metropolitan ClubNot publishedGrand Gilded Age rooms
5Century AssociationNot publishedArtists, writers and thinkers
6Harvard Club of New York CityEntrance fee = one year of dues (minimum $250)Harvard alumni
7Yale Club of New York CityNot publishedYale alumni
8University Club of New YorkNot publishedGraduates of many universities
9Colony ClubNot publishedWomen who want a historic club
10Racquet and Tennis ClubNot publishedRacquet sports with a club

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Casa Cipriani
Best new club
The Ned NoMad
Oldest
Union Club of the City of New York
Best for the arts
Century Association
Best for women
Colony Club

The ranking

1

Casa Cipriani

Casa Cipriani
Photo: Photograph by Mike Peel (www.mikepeel.net). / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNew York’s most glamorous new club.
Membership cost: ~$2,000 initiation + ~$3,900/year (reported)Opened: August 2021Building: Battery Maritime Building, Lower Manhattan

Casa Cipriani opened in August 2021 in the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan, with a hotel and club. Membership is reported at about $2,000 to join and about $3,900 a year.

Go ifGlamour, Cipriani dining and a hotel downtown
Skip ifYou want a quiet, old-line club
Why #1 over #2: Its waterfront landmark and hotel beat The Ned NoMad’s rooftop.
2

The Ned NoMad

The Ned NoMad
Photo: Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe Ned’s London formula in Manhattan.
Membership cost: $5,000/year + $1,500 joining fee ($4,000 under 30)Address: 1170 Broadway, NoMad

The Ned NoMad at 1170 Broadway costs $5,000 a year plus a $1,500 joining fee, or from $4,000 a year under 30.

Go ifA London-style club with rooftop and hotel
Skip ifYou want old New York tradition
Why #2 over #3: Its rooftop and hotel are livelier than the Union Club.
3

Union Club of the City of New York

Union Club of the City of New York
Photo: ajay_suresh / CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNew York’s oldest social club.
Membership cost: Not publishedFounded: 1836Address: 101 East 69th Street at Park Avenue

The Union Club of the City of New York, founded in 1836, is the city’s oldest social club, at 101 East 69th Street on Park Avenue.

Go ifThe city’s oldest social club
Skip ifYou lack a member sponsor
Why #3 over #4: Its 1836 founding outranks the Metropolitan Club.
4

Metropolitan Club

Metropolitan Club
Photo: Tdorante10 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictJ. P. Morgan’s club on Fifth Avenue.
Membership cost: Not publishedFounded: March 1891, led by J. P. MorganLocation: Upper East Side (Fifth Avenue at 60th Street)

The Metropolitan Club was founded in March 1891 by a group led by J. P. Morgan, on Fifth Avenue at 60th Street.

Go ifGrand Gilded Age rooms
Skip ifYou want a young crowd
Why #4 over #5: Its Gilded Age rooms edge the Century Association.
5

Century Association

Century Association
Photo: Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe arts-and-letters club.
Membership cost: Not publishedFounded: 1847Address: 7 West 43rd Street

The Century Association, founded in 1847, is an arts and letters club at 7 West 43rd Street.

Go ifArtists, writers and thinkers
Skip ifYou want a party scene
Why #5 over #6: It is open to more than one school’s alumni, unlike the Harvard Club.
6

Harvard Club of New York City

Harvard Club of New York City
Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe best alumni club in the city.
Membership cost: Entrance fee = one year of dues (minimum $250)Who can join: Harvard alumni, faculty and board membersLocation: Midtown Manhattan

The Harvard Club is for Harvard alumni, faculty and board members in Midtown; the entrance fee equals one year of dues, minimum $250.

Go ifHarvard alumni
Skip ifYou did not attend Harvard
Why #6 over #7: It publishes its entrance rule, where the Yale Club does not.
7

Yale Club of New York City

Yale Club of New York City
Photo: Jim.henderson / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictYale’s big Midtown clubhouse.
Membership cost: Not publishedWho can join: Almost entirely Yale alumni and facultyLocation: Midtown Manhattan (Vanderbilt Avenue)

The Yale Club, almost entirely for Yale alumni and faculty, is on Vanderbilt Avenue in Midtown.

Go ifYale alumni
Skip ifYou did not attend Yale
Why #7 over #8: Its big clubhouse edges the University Club for alumni.
8

University Club of New York

University Club of New York
Photo: Patrick Nouhailler's… / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA landmark clubhouse on Fifth Avenue.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: 1 West 54th Street at Fifth Avenue

The University Club of New York sits at 1 West 54th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Go ifGraduates of many universities
Skip ifYou want a casual club
Why #8 over #9: It is open to more members than the women-only Colony Club.
9

Colony Club

Colony Club
Photo: Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNew York’s first women’s social club.
Membership cost: Not publishedFounded: 1903, by Florence Jaffray HarrimanMembers: Women only

The Colony Club, founded in 1903 by Florence Jaffray Harriman, is a women-only social club.

Go ifWomen who want a historic club
Skip ifYou are not a woman
Why #9 over #10: Its social life is broader than the Racquet and Tennis Club’s sporting focus.
10

Racquet and Tennis Club

Racquet and Tennis Club
Photo: Beyond My Ken / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictPark Avenue’s sporting club.
Membership cost: Not publishedAddress: 370 Park Avenue, MidtownType: Social and athletic club

The Racquet and Tennis Club is a social and athletic club at 370 Park Avenue in Midtown.

Go ifRacquet sports with a club
Skip ifYou want a nightlife scene

How we ranked these

We ranked each club on prestige, clubhouse and access, then on published fees where clubs share them. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

How much is a Casa Cipriani membership?

Reported at about $2,000 to join plus about $3,900 a year, with a lower tier for members under 30.

How much does The Ned NoMad cost?

$5,000 a year plus a $1,500 joining fee; under 30, from $4,000 a year.

What is the oldest private club in New York City?

The Union Club of the City of New York, founded in 1836, at 101 East 69th Street.

Year founded / opened at a glance

Union Club of the City of New York1,836 year
Century Association1,847 year
Metropolitan Club1,891 year
Colony Club1,903 year
Casa Cipriani2,021 year
Year founded / opened, 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.