Inside 5 of the Most Exclusive Private Members Clubs in Los Angeles
Updated: July 07, 2026
There’s no city quite like Los Angeles. It’s where the worlds of art, music, fashion, and film collide. People love to love LA: The beaches, the boardwalks, the glamor, and the Hollywood hustle are all part of the city’s lasting appeal.
But there’s a side of Los Angeles that most people won’t recognize. Celebrities, business leaders, and the cultural elite meet behind closed doors at exclusive clubs known for their luxury, convenience, and discretion.
Take a peek behind the velvet rope: Here are five of the most exclusive clubs in Los Angeles.
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The Jonathan Club
About The Jonathan Club
There are few Los Angeles private clubs that are as exclusive as The Jonathan Club. Members must be invited by a current member, vetted extensively, and pay an initiation fee that can allegedly cost up to $50,000.
Members can visit both locations operated by The Jonathan Club: The main Town House property in downtown Los Angeles, and the Beach House property in Santa Monica.
The Town Club originally opened in 1925, but it looks a little different from how it did in the past. Today, the club distanced itself from some of its early admission policies, which excluded ethnic minorities and women from joining the club, or visiting some facilities. The club is now open to members from all backgrounds, and has been since the 1980s.
Inside The Jonathan Club
The Jonathan Town Club is an architectural classic: It’s a 13-story brick building from the Renaissance Revival with high ceilings and pink marble flooring. When it was first built, the clubhouse was the tallest building in Los Angeles. Today, it’s a well-maintained gem in Downtown LA: classically elegant, spacious, and full of head-turning details like wood-frame fireplaces, an extensive library, a mosaic-tiled pool, and ceilings painted by the Vatican-trained Giovanni Smeraldi. Earlier this year, the public and press were offered a rare chance to tour the Town House.
The Beach House in Santa Monica is where members go to disconnect. Just minutes from the pier, it’s more relaxed than the original clubhouse. Just be mindful of the dress code: The beach club maintains an elegant atmosphere, meaning exposed swimwear, revealing outfits, and shorts are not allowed in some areas of the club.
Why is The Jonathan Club so exclusive?
People join The Jonathan Club to be part of Hollywood history: As one of the city’s oldest and most revered clubs, members enjoy luxurious amenities from within the walls where major decisions were made, films were written, and meetings took place. It’s a magnet for the upper echelons of show business, politics, business, real estate, and society. Being part of one of LA’s most exclusive clubs comes at a high price, but some insiders insist it’s worth every cent.
Heimat
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About Heimat
Los Angeles takes fitness seriously, so it’s no surprise that one of LA’s most buzz-worthy members clubs is all about health and wellness. Since 2022, Heimat has been home to the most exclusive workout classes and trainers in Los Angeles—and the occasional Erewhon pop-up. Members can come for a workout in the state-of-the-art fitness center spread across five floors, or attend a group exercise course, including hot yoga, barre, boxing, and dance cardio.
There’s plenty of space for both work and pleasure as well: You’ll find designated workspaces, a rooftop pool, a full-service spa, and an on-site restaurant created by celebrity chef Michael Mina.
Inside Heimat
Heimat’s interior is thoroughly modern. The late founder Rainer Schaller transformed a 1930s Hollywood building with marble countertops, burnished gold doors, floral wallpapers, and natural fibers. The exercise facilities are brightly lit with tall windows that make the most of LA’s year-round sun, and the fine-dining concept Mother Tongue can compete with the city’s most famous restaurants in both style and service.
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Why is Heimat so exclusive?
Schaller was a veteran founder who launched multiple fitness chains around the world, including McFit, The Reed, and Gold’s Gym. At $350 a month, it’s more expensive than most fitness centers in the city, but with lower fees than some of the top Los Angeles clubs. This is what makes Heimat so special: The club’s concept isn’t for everyone, but wellness and fitness fanatics are everywhere in Los Angeles. If you’re one of them, Heimat is a little slice of heaven.
Griffin Club
credit@Griffin Club
About Griffin Club
Spread across four acres of land in West LA, Griffin Club is an elite racquet club for creatives, families, and amateur athletes. It’s one of the best places to enjoy the LA weather: The estate includes multiple pools, restaurants, and a sprawling fitness center, as well as eight LED-lit tennis courts where professional trainers help members improve their backhand returns.
Inside Griffin Club
Griffin Club is nestled inside a piece of Hollywood history: The space first opened as the Palomar Tennis Club in 1926. Its prime location between Sony (née MGM Studios) and Fox meant it was a favorite watering hole for film executives and actors alike, including Humphrey Bogart and Clark Gable.
Today, the club champions members from diverse backgrounds, mixing industry insiders with families and young professionals. A recent remodel upgraded the facilities, moving the Griffin Club towards what the owners call a “modern sports resort”.
Why is Griffin Club so exclusive?
Griffin Club is invite-only, meaning membership is kept to a tight circle. All applications must be approved by Griffin’s Club Board of Directors, and new members are expected to pay a hefty initiation fee of up to $12,000. Additionally, while members of all ages can enjoy the 25-meter family pool, the club has an adults-only resort pool where guests can relax away from children.
Bel-Air Country Club
About Bel-Air Country Club
Private clubs are known for attracting high-society guests and members, and the Bel-Air Country Club is at the top of the list when it comes to celebrity sightings in LA. The club has been around since the late 1920s, and in that time, it’s become well-regarded for its prestige and its discretion. High-profile members include Tom Cruise, Jason Bateman, Adam Sandler, and Larry David.
Inside Bel-Air Country Club
Bel-Air Country Club is a classic social club, with the amenities and dress code to boot. The club’s grounds include an 18-hole golf course designed by George Thomas, a 350-foot suspension bridge over a ravine, four canyons, an expansive Spanish Colonial-style clubhouse, tennis courts, a full-service spa, and overnight accommodation for guests visiting from out of town.
Unlike other LA private clubs, Bel-Air Country Club still maintains a strict dress code for all guests and members. Collared shirts and tailored trousers are required — no t-shirts, no blue jeans, and definitely no gym clothes are allowed in the clubhouse, or on the golf course at any time.
Why is Bel-Air Country Club so exclusive?
Bel-Air Country Club runs a tight ship: Guests pay for the prestige, and catering to A-List clients is a costly endeavour. Applications are by invitation only, and once vetted, members are expected to pay six-figure initiation fees, making Bel-Air Country Club one of the most expensive private clubs in the world, and one of the most exclusive private clubs in LA.
The Aster
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About The Aster
There are plenty of private clubs with a Michelin-star restaurant. The Aster in Los Angeles is one of the only private clubs to have a Michelin Key, a distinct award for hotels and resorts that raise the bar for hospitality around the world.
With just 35 luxury suites, The Aster is one of the most sought-after stays in California, and it attracts guests from all over the world. But for members of The Aster, this is a second home. The club is well-known for its network for local artists and high-profile creatives, eschewing the rigid entry requirements of other private clubs in LA.
Inside The Aster
The Aster is spread across a 95,000-square-foot property at the intersection of Hollywood and Vine, just minutes from the Capitol Records building. Founders David Bowd and Kevin O’Shea wanted an alternative private club in LA where members could enjoy the close proximity to the entertainment industry. Members enjoy educational talks, film screenings, DJ sets, musicals, and even a recording studio alongside two gyms, a wellness suite, and private workspaces.
In a way Aster is a celebration of LA, and all it has to offer: at the official opening party, Bowd and O’Shea booked Duran Duran to play a rooftop concert. The interior design is distinctly influenced by Southern California cool: Think velvet furniture, brass fixtures, marble coffee tables, and pastel pink accents.
Why is The Aster so exclusive?
While many of the club’s facilities are reserved solely for members, the public can book an overnight stay at one of The Aster’s 35 suites to enjoy the wellness center, the lounges, and the rooftop Lemon Grove restaurant. These suites are one of LA’s hottest reservations, meaning that most people will need an active membership if they want to see The Aster for themselves.
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