These 5 Paris hotels hide ultra-exclusive private clubs, and here’s how to get in
Booking a room at a Parisian palace is already a privilege. But some hotels with private clubs go much further, reserving their finest spaces for a hand-picked community of members. From Paris to the Riviera, five French addresses embody this very closed-circle trend, with membership formulas as varied as their worlds.
Private clubs rooted in history, from Mediterranean beach clubs to Parisian palaces
Before we get into membership fees and sponsorship requirements, it’s worth understanding that these hotels with private clubs were not born of a recent trend. The Monte-Carlo Beach Club, for instance, has existed since 1928. Located in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, a stone’s throw from Monaco, it embodies the grand Mediterranean resort club, the kind where the same families return every summer to their rituals. Its seasonal five-star hotel has 40 rooms and suites, almost all facing the sea. The Olympic-size saltwater pool, 1,000 m² of private beach and 179 waterside tents make up a setting that architect India Mahdavi reimagined in 2009. For summer 2026, the collaboration with designer Jacquemus, renewed for a second season, dresses the pontoon, parasols and towels in the colours of 1950s beach clubs.
In Paris, the Saint James Club also boasts a remarkable history: founded in 1987, it predates the hotel as we know it today. It wasn’t until 1991 that the address became a hybrid, part château-hotel, part private club. Behind its gates in the 16th arrondissement, the Saint James unfolds a neoclassical silhouette amid formal French gardens. Architect Laura Gonzalez dressed its 50 rooms and suites in velvet, wallpaper and vintage furniture, striking a balance between Parisian townhouse and country château.
Five hotels with private clubs, five ways to get in
Each establishment has its own rules of entry, and the differences are significant. At the Saint James, joining the Saint James Society requires sponsorship from two existing members, followed by approval from the management committee. Annual membership ranges from €1,650 to €5,300 depending on the package, plus a €1,650 joining fee. The circle had around 700 members in 2025. In return, members have round-the-clock access to the Bar-Bibliothèque, the gastronomic restaurant Bellefeuille, the Guerlain spa with its 15-metre pool, and a calendar of members-only events.
At Soho House Paris, which has been installed in Pigalle since 2021 in a 19th-century townhouse connected to the family of Jean Cocteau, the approach is different. Applications are submitted online, specifying your profession and motivations. The club, founded in London in 1995, has always favoured a young, cosmopolitan community drawn from the creative industries. The Paris membership starts at €208.33 per month, with a reduced rate for those under 27. Membership can extend to the international network, which now spans 48 Houses across 19 countries. In 2026, the address used its 50th anniversary to refresh its spaces: a new martini bar inspired by Jean Cocteau, a revamped brasserie and a redesigned Health Club.
- Saint James Paris: sponsorship by two members, membership between €1,650 and €5,300 per year, joining fee of €1,650
- Soho House Paris: online application, from €208.33 per month, network of 48 Houses in 19 countries
- L’Aventure: sponsorship required, selection by management, basement club with DJ sets and events
- The Circle – Maison Villeroy: personal interview with management, €1,500 joining fee, €5,000 per year
- Monte-Carlo Beach Club: seasonal membership, €50,000 joining fee for a tent
L’Aventure and Maison Villeroy, two new definitions of the Parisian club
Opened in February 2026 at 4 avenue Victor-Hugo, L’Aventure is the project of the Costes brothers and the Beaumarly group. This five-star hotel with just 15 rooms brings together under one Haussmann rooftop a restaurant, a private club and accommodation. Architect Martin Brudnizki designed the social spaces in a maximalist register, while Vincent Darré infused his surrealist imagination into the bedrooms. The club, housed in the basement, plays on deep velvets, low lighting and mythologically inspired mosaics. DJ sets, performances and private evenings follow one another in quick succession, while talks and tastings also punctuate the daytime calendar. To join, you must submit an application and provide the name of one or more existing members as sponsors.
Maison Villeroy, in the Triangle d’Or, offers an even more discreet vision of hotels with private clubs. Its 11 rooms, suites and apartments in a 1908 townhouse have been awarded three Michelin Keys. The Circle, its private club, is built around a deliberately small community and a highly personalised service. Members enjoy exclusive access to the bar Grapille until 5:30pm, a meeting room available for two hours per week, and one hour of private use of the wellness space. Membership even extends to New York, with access to the gym and spa at Maison Hudson. Joining this circle requires a personal interview with management: expect a €1,500 joining fee, then €5,000 per year for an individual membership.
Concrete benefits that justify the investment
Beyond the sense of belonging, these hotels with private clubs offer very tangible perks. At Maison Villeroy, the first year includes a night in a signature suite for two, a six-course dinner at the Michelin-starred restaurant Trente-Trois and a treatment. Three complementary options allow members to tailor their membership: the Épicuriens, the Sportifs and the Hédonistes, each priced at €3,000 per year and combinable. At the Monte-Carlo Beach Club, on the other hand, selection operates primarily through budget: new members wishing to have a tent must pay €50,000 in joining fees, on top of the seasonal membership. This model, very different from the urban Parisian club, is a reminder that the private hotel club takes many forms depending on the establishment.
