Soho has a vibrant reputation. This eclectic slice of the capital, found between Marylebone and Piccadilly, boasts beautiful bars and restaurants as well as late-night drinking holes and eccentric clubs. The 1960s saw the area flourish, as creatives flocked to destinations like Carnaby Street to experience new cultures, exciting music and sample Soho’s rebellious identity, drawing in the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and style icons Brigitte Bardot and Elizabeth Taylor. Fast forward 60 years and Soho’s reputation is largely the same: fun, vibrant and cool. And where better to sample this atmosphere than from the exclusivity of one of the best private members’ clubs in Soho? Catering for the neighbourhood’s still thriving creative community, these are the best boltholes you’ll find on Greek Street, Dean Street and beyond. 

The Quo Vadis Private Members Club

The Quo Vadis address has taken on many iterations in its time. 26-29 Dean Street formerly housed a notorious Soho brothel and was once a city bolthole for Karl Marx, who began writing Das Kapital in one of its storied rooms. In 1926, restaurateur Pepino Leoni established Quo Vadis on the site, quickly growing it to become one of the best restaurants in Soho and attracting its fair share of high society (as it still does today). So, with such a star-studded reputation, Leoni thought it only natural to add a private members’ club to the establishment. 

Featuring art by Julian Roberts, Elena Heatherwick and John Broadley, as well as plush velvet-green seating, marble tables and low lighting, Quo Vadis provides the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of one of London’s most eclectic boroughs. The second floor is for members only, boasting a Club Lounge and a Member’s Restaurant with a choice of three dining rooms – Leoni, Marx and Blue – all of which double as co-working spaces during the week. Waiters are on hand to serve tea, coffee or a carafe of wine as you while away the hours, or pick from a daily-changing menu offering a Pie of the Day, chicken, cep and bacon terrine, and onglet with asparagus and horseradish. Culture vultures can also take advantage of Quo Vadis’ extensive events programme, including live talks with the likes of Hugh Bonneville, personalised fitness classes, the cycle club and, of course, the quarterly parties. 

Address: 26-29 Dean Street, W1D 3LL

Membership: £600 per year, £330 for under-30s

Membership requirements: Applicants need to be nominated by existing members

Visit quovadissoho.co.uk

Soho House

Probably one of the most notable establishments in the capital – largely due to its enviably chic decor and never-ending list of sister establishments – Soho House is the private members’ club for millennials. When it first opened on Greek Street in 1995, founder Nick Jones wanted to do away with traditional, stuffy gentlemen’s clubs in order to create a space appealing to the creatives of Soho. It’s fair to say he hit the nail on the head, with the brand having since expanded to Shoreditch, White City, and Notting Hill, as well as further afield to Oxfordshire, Brighton, New York and Barcelona (to name a few). 

The Soho outpost was the first and, therefore, the most elegant. Modern decor meets historical flourishes inside the converted Georgian townhouse, with rooms boasting open fires, wood flooring and intricate architraves as well as leather banquettes, striking art and modern lighting. An all-day club menu is served from the House Kitchen, while the Red, Blue and Yellow Drawing Rooms have relaxed dining areas perfect for co-working or sampling the signature two-course high tea. The third floor is home to the Courtyard Bar, which has a large outdoor terrace with sliding glass doors that open up in warmer weather. Go upstairs again and you’ll find the Roof Deck hosting a rotation of food and drink pop-ups, showcasing the best culinary fare London has to offer.  

Address: 40 Greek Street, W1D 4EB

Membership: From £100 per month, £50 for under-27s

Membership requirements: Applicants need nominations from two existing Soho House members, and must be deemed to be part of the creative industries 

Visit sohohouse.com

Century Club

Billed as London’s ‘best kept secret’, the Century Club first opened on Soho’s Shaftesbury Avenue in 2001 behind a concealed door in the West End. Taking its name from its 100-step staircase, the club is huge, boasting 20,000 sq ft of bars, restaurants and event spaces across three buildings that were once home to the flagship Ford car showroom, making it the largest private members’ club in London. Step inside to discover several opulent dining rooms (all available for private hire), a cocktail lounge, outer terrace with views across Soho and the rooftop terrace, the focal point of the building which hosts live music performances and serves flowing cocktails. 

The Century Club is hugely versatile, catering for members who are traditionally from theatrical, advertising and TV backgrounds but, in recent times, also from the media and tech sectors. The Broadwick room is perfect for meetings and presentations with its mood lighting and plasma screen, whereas the Green Room, basking in London’s natural light, is the ideal event space ready for weddings, business conferences and product launches, to name just a few. Fancy a bite to eat? Head to the Dining Room for Maldon rock oysters, braised lamb breast, char siu pork collar, and ricotta and courgette tortellini, where the chefs can also cater for meetings and events too. 

Address: 61-63 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6LQ

Membership: £875 per year, £495 for under-35s, plus a £250 joining fee

Membership requirements: Applicants must complete an application form and attend an informal meeting with the head of membership

Visit centuryclub.co.uk

1 Warwick

Don't be fooled by its New-Baroque mansion surrounds, 1 Warwick is a thoroughly modern members' club. Set over six floors, there's very little it doesn't cater for. Need somewhere quiet to get down to business? Head to one of its elegant communal workspaces or private studies. Looking to host a party? 1 Warwick's event spaces are equipped for everything from a board meeting to chic dinners and cocktail hours. There's also an on-site gym and studio offering complimentary classes and bookable personal training sessions, rooftop restaurant Yasmin, where chef Tom Cenci serves up Middle Eastern delicacies, and Nessa, a playful British-inspired bistro.

Address: 1 Warwick Street, W1B 5LR

Membership: From £100 per month, plus a £250 joining fee

Membership requirements: Applicantions are open to all but referrals preferred

Visit 1warwick.com

Club 64

Privacy is at the core of Club 64, one of Soho’s most exclusive private members’ clubs. Catering for the 21st-century socialite, membership is highly sought-after with only 300 applications accepted each year. Once you do get inside though, you’ll find a number of low-lit rooms in the underground, speakeasy-style bar, which is kitted out with black-out blinds and facial recognition door cameras to keep identities hidden. The roaring fire pits are at the club’s epicentre, where members socialise and sip cocktails in their glow. Mixologists are on hand to create whatever tipple takes your fancy, and ask you to describe your favourite flavours so they can create the exact drink of your dreams. 

Elsewhere in the maze that is Club 64 you’ll find the Private Vault, tucked away on the lower ground floor behind a secret corridor. Here, members can enjoy privacy away from the buzz of the main club while the area also serves as the perfect photo spot at events and parties. The vault is ever-changing in appearance thanks to a roster of award-winning set designers who transform it into their version of an ultimate creative hideaway. Also look out for the four Polaroid cameras around the club, available for members to document and share their in-club experiences on the members-only Instagram.  

Address: 14 Bateman Street, W1D 3AG

Membership: £380 per year

Membership requirements: Applicants must complete an application form, which are reviewed by committee members on a monthly basis

Visit club64.co.uk

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