Hotels join the private club

Forget the days of basic club lounges, luxury hotels are now launching members' clubs with standalone restaurants, plush workspaces and exclusive events.

Hotels were once simply a place to rest your head. Then came personalised pillow menus, opulent restaurants and vast wellness spaces. Having levelled up the overnight guest experience, luxury hotels are now turning their attention to the local community – launching private members' clubs with dedicated social spaces, jam-packed events programmes and access to the hotel's existing five-star facilities. It's a no-brainer for well-heeled locals seeking a discreet yet deluxe home-away-from-home, while hotel guests can often experience the club life for the duration of their stay – without the need to apply or make a convincing case to the decision committee.

Aman New York

The light-filled yoga and pilates studio within Aman New York's spa has a reformer bed and a trapeze table (Image: Robert Rieger)

The Aman group is the epitome of exclusivity, so imagine securing membership to its club – where you're instead referred to as a 'founder'. The club launched at Aman New York in 2022, the stunning property set within the landmark Crown Building on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. If you're not staying the night, then club membership is your only route into the hotel's ultra-luxe facilities – from a whopping three-storey spa to sleek dining venues and a leafy terrace. 'Founders' also enjoy exclusive entry to two lounges, a cigar humidor and wine room – plus invites to artists' studio visits and gallery previews. The club has sister sites in Tokyo and Bangkok, with more destinations to come.

Six Senses London

Whiteley's Bar at the Six Senses London serves cocktails mixed with seasonal cordials and house-made ferments

As Six Senses sets its sights on urban destinations, the brand has become increasingly familiar with the members' club scene. Nowhere is this more apparent than London, a city steeped in centuries of club culture – so it made perfect sense to launch Six Senses Place as part of the brand's London debut in 2026. Residing across the fourth floor of the Grade II-listed Whiteley Building in Bayswater, the club abides by the very same wellbeing pillars as the hotel. Expect serene dining spaces – including the foliage-strewn Dome Bar, named for its stunning skylight – and use of the sustainable Earth Lab. The standout perk is the hotel's underground wellness sanctuary. Spanning 2,300 sqm, it doesn't compare to your average London gym, boasting a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, thermal spa and biohacking treatments courtesy of the onsite Hum2n longevity clinic. The club's membership is invitation-only, unless you buy one of the Six Senses residences which grants automatic access.

The Woodward, Auberge Collection, Geneva

As piano lounge, Bar 37 at The Woodward, Auberge Collection in Geneva has live music performances

This Belle Epoque mansion on the banks of Lake Geneva is already highly exclusive thanks to its all-suite accommodation, Guerlain Spa and two-Michelin-starred L'Atelier Robuchon restaurant. Rather than build a separate members space, Club Woodward instead opens up the hotel's existing spaces to distinguished Swiss residents. There are three memberships promising varying levels of access, with the top-tier Premier including entire use of the hotel's facilities, priority reservations at its dining venues, and invites to exclusive experiences. The catch? It's supremely selective, based "not only on credentials, but on character". Make of that what you will.

The Leela Palace, Bengaluru

The Indian hotel group marked its 40th anniversary by launching Arq by The Leela, an invite-only members' club that adds even greater opulence to its palatial properties. The club debuted in Bengaluru in 2026, with subsequent sites in New Delhi and Chennai. Step inside the lavish design maze of Indian craftsmanship and your eyes dart from one intricate detail to the next – think hand-finished brass inlays, Udaipur Green marble, eclectic wallpapers and embroidered textiles. Design studio Avroko's proudly loud interiors leave no surface untouched – from the custom-made water fountain centrepiece in the entryway, to gold-hued bookshelves in the Reading Lounge, and whimsical decor in the Humidor. The spaces set a striking backdrop for fireside chats, while members are also treated to after-hours museum visits and offsite retreats. If that doesn't strike you as exclusive enough, the club's restaurant doesn't even have a menu – with meals instead personalised to members' tastes.

Conrad Athens at The Ilisian

The indoor pool at the Conrad Athens at The Ilisian has a Finnish sauna, cold plunge pool and a steam room

The Conrad hotel shares the luxury Ilisian development – and its mid-century design language – with members' club House of Nynn. The 8,500 sqm club features four airy spaces adorned with Greek ceramics, soaring tapestries and organic textures. Described as "anti cookie cutter", the club features inspiring spaces that cater to creatives and entrepreneurs alike – from the aptly named Forum where members can exchange ideas over debates and talks, to a vinyl-lined listening room, plush cinema room and podcast studio. Members are also invited to use the hotel's epic fitness and wellness facilities – including a rooftop running track and pickleball court – before recharging in the celestial-themed napping room. The club's open-air restaurant, meanwhile, serves locally sourced, organic produce – free from added sugar.

Saint James Paris

This regal chateau-like hotel in Paris' 16th arrondissement is a fitting site for a members' club – gated and tucked away from the buzzy boulevards. Saint James Paris is no stranger to high society, set up to house the Thiers Foundation for intellectuals in the late 19th century, and ultimately transforming into a club in the 1990s under Peter de Savary – the brains behind sister clubs in London and Antigua. Members can host events within ornate meeting rooms, discuss discreet deals in the historic library-turned-bar, or attend illuminating talks by acclaimed literary figures. Plus, membership comes with preferred room rates, priority bookings at the Michelin-starred Bellefeuille restaurant, and access to the Guerlain Spa.

Rosewood Hong Kong

With plush velvet seating and gleaming brass fixtures, Cafe Carlye at Rosewood Hong Kong brings speakeasy glamour to socialising

Crowned The World's Best Hotel in 2025, Rosewood Hong Kong needs little introduction – but few know about its uber-exclusive members' club on the upper floors of the Kowloon skyscraper. Inspired by Rosewood's New York outfit, Carlyle & Co features playful design, dedicated restaurant and bar concepts, and both a barber and tailors – plus 100 experiences on an annual basis. The club's take on Cafe Carlyle gives members the chance to mingle like they're in Manhattan over late-night jazz, cabaret or soul soirées – followed by a sleepover in one of the eight bedrooms. Carlyle & Co is "less interested in what you have or what you do" and instead drawn to your "personality, interests, passions and stories". Get started on an inspiring anecdote for your application.

Estelle Manor, Oxfordshire

The Glass House at Estelle Manor serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with views of the walled garden

Occasionally you need to balance city life with a rural escape – and the Estelle ecosystem promises just that. Ranking No.47 on The World's 50 Best Hotels in 2025, Estelle Manor is the countryside counterpart to London-based clubs Maison Estelle and Celeste. The Estelle Membership grants access to all three, allowing members to retire to the Grade II-listed landmark after meetings in Mayfair and networking in Notting Hill. Set amid 3,000 acres of parkland, Estelle Manor has 108 plush rooms, four restaurant concepts and a peaceful 3,000 sqm Roman-inspired bathhouse – plus a Clubhouse with a workspace, state-of-the-art gym and kids' club.

Delano Miami Beach

The lobby at Delano Miami Beach has an original Lucite grand piano once played by Lenny Kravitz (Image: Robert Rieger)

A fixture of South Beach's social scene for more than three decades, the Delano is a natural fit for a members' club. Introduced in 2026 as part of the hotel's grand reopening following a six-year closure, the Delano Members Club signals the start of the brand's glamorous new era. Set across the fourth floor, the club includes dedicated members' spaces, a private pool and fitness studio, plus the only US outpost of Dubai hotspot Mimi Kakushi – a contemporary Japanese restaurant reserved for hotel guests and club members. Members also have spa access, a complimentary two-night stay, and a lively programme of talks, masterclasses, DJ residencies, gallery tours and gigs. Benefits extend beyond Miami, with preferred room rates and dining reservations at any Delano, automatic room upgrades, flexible check-in/check-out, and reciprocal benefits at partner clubs.

Header image credit: Kris Tamburello

The World's 50 Best Hotels 2026 will be unveiled at an awards ceremony at Les Salles du Carrousel on 15 September.