Rejected: The Secret Committees Deciding Who Gets Into Manhattan’s Private Clubs

Money gets you an application to a Manhattan private club. It does not get you in. Here is how the committees, sponsors and waitlists really work, and why a billionaire can be turned down while a gallery assistant gets a yes.

How getting into a NYC private club works, at a glance

Scott Sartiano, who founded Zero Bond in NoHo, once said someone offered him $250,000 to get into his club, according to Dan’s Papers, citing the New York Post. At the time, joining Zero Bond cost a few thousand dollars a year. The offer was roughly 60 times the price, and the club still did not need the money.

That is the first rule of the Manhattan membership committee. The fee is the smallest part of the deal. What the club is really protecting is the room, and one wrong member can cost it a dozen right ones.

So who decides, and what are they looking for? The answer is less mysterious than the clubs would like you to think, and more human. (If you are still choosing which door to knock on, start with our ranking of the best private clubs in NYC.)

How do NYC private clubs decide who gets in?

Most Manhattan private clubs decide through a membership committee that reviews written applications, checks references from existing members, and votes. Payment comes only after approval. Casa Cipriani’s bylaws, for example, set out that initiation fees and dues are paid after an applicant is accepted, according to The Pricer.

The committee is usually a mix of staff and long-standing members. They are not checking whether you can afford the club. Almost everyone who applies can. They are checking whether the room gets better or worse with you in it. It is a bit like a Manhattan co-op board, except instead of your tax returns, they want to know who you will be sitting with at the bar.

The published standards are vague on purpose. Zero Bond told Artnet News it accepts members who show integrity and can contribute to its community. Nobody can measure that, which means the committee never has to explain a no. Read more in our story on why NYC clubs turn down millionaires.

Why isn’t money enough to join?

Money is not enough because almost every applicant has it. When everyone at the door is wealthy, wealth stops being the thing that separates people. Clubs look instead for balance: the right mix of industries, ages and personalities to keep the room interesting.

Think about it from the club’s side. A room full of people who all work in private equity is not a social club. It is a conference with better lighting. So a committee that already has 40 fund managers will pass on the 41st, however impressive he is, and say yes to a chef, an architect or a young gallery owner who will make those 40 fund managers want to come back.

Consider a composite applicant many club insiders will recognize. Call her the Founder. She sold her company last year, she has a beautiful apartment, and she applied to two clubs with two references she met once at a conference. Both applications stalled. Nothing was wrong with her. Nobody inside knew her well enough to say what she would add. She will get in next year, after a year of actually spending time with members. That is the system working.

Does a sponsor really help you get into a club?

A sponsor is the single biggest factor in most club applications. A sponsor is an existing member who vouches for you, and committees treat that vouch as a promise: if you cause problems, it reflects on the person who brought you in.

That is why a sponsor who barely knows you is worth very little, and a sponsor who has known you for ten years is worth almost everything. In plain terms, a sponsor is the person who tells the committee, “I will make sure this one behaves,” and means it. The best sponsorships are never asked for directly. They happen when a member suggests it first. Our story on the art of the club sponsor explains how that conversation usually starts.

How long are the waitlists at NYC private clubs?

Waitlists at popular Manhattan clubs can run from months to years, and many clubs never say where you stand. Zero Bond’s founder said in 2021 that more than 5,000 people were waiting, according to the Robb Report. Galerie reported that The Twenty Two had a waitlist soon after it opened in 2025.

Silence is common, and it does not always mean no. Sometimes the club is waiting for a member to leave. Sometimes it is waiting for the right mix. Sometimes the answer really is no, and the club is too polite, or too busy, to say so. Being on a club waitlist is a lot like waiting for a text back after a first date. You can check your phone all you want. It will not help. See our story on what the silence on a club waitlist really means.

What does the doorman actually notice?

At most clubs, the door staff are the first committee. They notice who you arrive with, how you treat the person at the desk, whether you know the rules, and whether members come over to greet you. They see far more applicants in a week than the committee meets in a year.

The most common mistake at a club door is trying too hard: the oversized logo, the loud name-drop, the insistence on being recognized. The people who walk in easily are usually the ones who look like they would be fine if they did not. Our story on what the doorman knows covers the details, and our field guide to the people inside shows who you will meet once you are through.

Can a private club cancel your membership?

Yes, and they do. Most club rules allow the club to suspend or end a membership for behavior it considers harmful to the club. Soho House’s published house rules list reasons that include taking photos or videos inside, letting someone else use your membership card, sharing details about members or private events, and approaching people who may not want the attention.

Renewal is not automatic everywhere, either. Page Six reported that Casa Cipriani declined to renew some memberships as it reshaped its crowd, a story picked up by Esquire Australia. Getting in is a test you take once. Staying in is a test you take every time you walk through the door. Read our story on what gets members banned.

The real application started years ago

Here is the good news buried in all of this. The committee is not really judging your application. It is judging the reputation you built before you ever filled it out: the people who would vouch for you, the way you treat a room, the favors you did without being asked.

That means the best preparation for a club application has nothing to do with the club. Be the person others are glad to see. Introduce people who should know each other. Show up for friends when it is not convenient. Do that for a few years, and one evening a member will lean over and say, “You should really join.” That is when you will know the application is already done. For the full picture of Manhattan’s club scene, read our guide to the velvet rope wars.

Frequently asked questions

Can you buy your way into a private club in NYC?
Not reliably. Most Manhattan clubs approve members through a committee before any money changes hands, and committees look for fit, character and references rather than wealth. Zero Bond’s founder has said he once turned down an offer of $250,000 to let someone in.

Do you need to know a member to join a private club?
At most selective Manhattan clubs, it helps a great deal. Applications usually ask for references, and an existing member who will vouch for you is often the deciding factor. Larger clubs such as Soho House accept applications from people without close connections, but a strong reference still improves the odds.

Why do private clubs ban photos?
Private clubs ban photos to protect members’ privacy, which is a large part of what members pay for. Soho House’s house rules prohibit cameras and recording devices, and staff may confiscate photos taken inside. At the Aman Club, photos are not allowed in the bar.

Sources

• Dan’s Papers: New York City’s most prestigious private clubs
• The Pricer: Casa Cipriani membership cost
• Artnet News: Zero Bond
• Robb Report: Inside Zero Bond
• Galerie: The Twenty Two New York
• Soho House: House rules
• Esquire Australia: Why a club is banning uncool members
• South China Morning Post: Inside the Aman Club