Photo via WS

While commoners can dine downstairs at The Tavern by WS, Wine Spectator’s exclusive club above it, WS New York, is reserved for members who are willing to pay a $15,000 initiation fee, and $7,500 in annual dues. The food, drink, and social club at Hudson Yards promises “unparalleled access to the finest wine and spirits, world-class dining, and one-of-a-kind cultural events.” The menu is curated by Chef Eli Kaimeh, formerly of Per Se and Gramercy Tavern, and the space is, as one would expect, very plush.

WS New York, 37 Hudson Yards

 

Photo via CORE: Club

The billionaire-frequented CORE: Club is so exclusive, you can’t even look at its website without a password. The members-only mainstay, which has been around since 2005, is pretty much Soho House for actual rich people, but even if you can afford the $50,000 initiation charge, plus $17,000 annually, you need to be hand-picked to get approved. Needless to say, its in-house restaurant, splashed with colorful art and featuring a chic outdoor terrace, is the ultimate pick for a power meal for those who can pony up the dough.

CORE: Club, 66 E 55th St.

 

Photo via @injeyeo

I will be celebrating my freind Flavia’s 50th Birthday here tonight and beyond excited I belong to this special community.

The infamous Japanese eatery inside Basquiat’s former studio space in Noho doesn’t require “membership,” per se, but it is as private as private gets. With only 30 seats, spread out like an intimate living room, the restaurant boasts more of a network of foodies-in-the-know, along with plenty of A-listers. Bohemian’s number is unlisted and the only way to snag a table is if you were invited or referred by a previous diner. It’s definitely worth the scavenger hunt for access. 

Bohemian, 57 Great Jones St.

 

Photo via @partowevents

Down an oft-Instagrammed red staircase behind a door in the lobby of the The Sherry-Netherland, you’ll find the spirit and glamour of Old New York alive and well at Doubles Club. The self-described “luncheon, dining and dancing club” has been favored by Old Money scions (Nicky Hilton is a regular, as was Jackie O.) since the ’70s. And though you’ll see all sorts of glittering garb on the ladies, men are still required to wear a tie and jacket.

Doubles Club, 783 5th Ave.

 

Photo via @monicasordobk

I met Omar Hernandez at The Americano Hotel Rooftop and knew he had a talent for attracting the best-curated crowd and creating a wonderful experience in dining and socializing. We were also members at his previous establishment La Ranita that closed in 2018 La Ranita known for drawing a celebrity-studded crowd, including Madonna, Marc Jacobs, Katy Perry, and Bella Hadid.

In 2020, Omar Hernandez’s recently-opened destination downtown is a restaurant, lounge, and nightclub in one. Above the gilded, subterranean “La Boîte,” Omar’s is technically the members’ dining club, though non-members are able to snag reservations for dinner, which comes complete with live music and bar-top performances. Looking forward to bringing friends together at this lively place catching up with Omar.