Reciprocal Club Reviews
Hear what your fellow members are saying about some of our reciprocal clubs!
Domestic Clubs
Chicago
University Club in Chicago
2022 Reviews
Centrally located, facing Lake Michigan, the view from its dining rooms is magnificent. The food and service are excellent too. I can recommend it without reservations.
University Club of Chicago has the incredible Parliament restaurant w/ rooftop terrace with sweeping views of Millennium Park and the Art Institute and the Living Room lounge space – I cannot recommend a visit there enough.
Wonderful service and great facilities. Great location, nice people and accommodations.
2021 Reviews
Central downtown location, adjacent to Grant Park (with parking available at low cost). Athletic facilities (squash, cardio/weights, pool) are very good. There used to be a very active squash ladder here, open to guests. It should be easy for a traveling member who’s interested in a friendly match to be accommodated. Bedrooms are spacious and updated. Dining room is very good. Bar areas are pleasant, particularly the balcony area overlooking Lake Michigan.
In Chicago we enjoyed the University Club (meal and overnight) several years ago. Nice alternative to big city hotel.
I left a piece of computer equipment in the lobby. The staff was exceptional in helping get this back to me. They are always very very professional and welcoming. The food has also always been a real treat.
Honolulu
The Outrigger Canoe Club
2022 Reviews
Outstanding vista while dining outdoors; very friendly staff even for “visitors”.
Really enjoyed the Outrigger! Amazing location and the staff was great. Definitely a great addition to your reciprocal clubs.
I have been to lunch twice at this club. The location is great and the ocean view is impressive. (see the picture from our table). The staff was polite and attentive. The food was fresh and healthy. I think they are a good addition to your list of reciprocal clubs.
Los Angeles
The Los Angeles Athletic Club
2022 Review
The LA Athletic Club is a refuge in downtown LA. Good selection of workspaces and a banquet staff that is capable and easy to work with.
Providence
Hope Club
2022 Reviews
Five enthusiastic stars for The Hope Club, a gem of an institution in one of the world’s most beautiful neighborhoods. We loved staying there.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at the club, which provided a delicious menu and innovative fall drinks.
San Francisco
The Marines Memorial Club
2022 Review
Convenient location, nice facilities, includes breakfast with a great view from the breakfast room area.
University Club of San Francisco
2022 Reviews
Great squash courts and friendly members.
Dusty, old, elevator broken, seemed behind the times.
2021 Review
Very good location on Nob Hill, near the Fairmont Hotel. Athletic facilities (squash, cardio, etc.) are separate but convenient and well maintained. I thought the bedrooms were a little spartan and could use sprucing up. Dining and conference/entertaining areas were also a little tired. Still an excellent value in San Francisco and I’d happily stay there again.
Seattle
Washington Athletic Club
2022 Reviews
Great location. Very nice rooms/suites. Fantastic athletic facilities. Good food options.
Accommodations were nice. But there were no golf-related privileges that come with the stay.
2021 Review
Excellent, friendly and attentive service. Very impressive rooms. Would strongly recommend it.
Washington, DC
The Cosmos Club
2022 Reviews
Great stay, although the dress code is quite strict. Accommodating with a great restaurant and bar!
Everybody was very welcoming once I was there.
Good location, room was very comfortable, excellent staff, parking available.
More stuffy and guarded than it need be.
The staff was friendly and helpful. The building is elegant and the location is convenient. Our room was comfortable and quiet. The continental breakfasts we enjoyed were delicious and ample. We always like to see the historical photographs and items about famous members. The separate business center is a convenience and was uncrowded when we used it briefly.
This Club’s exhibitions provided a sense of American history.
The food and service were fine. My guests enjoyed the afternoon very much.
Rooms are outdated and some services are not available, but overall OK.
Best to stay in the newer wing – the old wing had small rooms and older bathroom.
Unfortunately, I visited during the depths of COVID, when many of the Club’s amenities weren’t available. Nonetheless, the staff was extremely accommodating.
Outstanding classic club in Washington DC.
Based on prior visits (during which I was actually allowed to enter the clubhouse!), the Cosmos Club offers good drinks and a nice Sunday brunch. The location is convenient for anyone visiting the nearby embassies.
I have stayed at the Cosmos Club overnight, and my wife and I had a small dinner party there. The facilities and the service were outstanding. I highly recommend the club.
The Cosmos is a historic spot in DC, with excellent indoor and outdoor dining services. The food is reasonably priced, for the quality of the dining experience. I try to go to the Cosmos for business meetings as well as social events. Highly recommend!
A very tired old club; Shabby Room that was very hard to access….seemed like it was part of the staff quarters years ago.
Beautiful club with spacious rooms. Quiet and slow paced. Athletic facilities were lacking, which was the only drawback.
Guest rooms were small, musty and needed new furnishings.
The only problem was that the Cosmos rules for Covid were somewhat too strict, unlike the reasonable ones of the HCNYC. For example, they did not do the rooms or the bathroom until the guest checked out. Also, the breakfast was not as good as previous Cosmos breakfasts in the past, or certainly as the HCNYC sumptuous breakfasts. Otherwise, the Cosmos Club is a fine establishment.
2021 Review
I always stayed at the Cosmos Club and totally loved the library, the wonderful brunches and round table lunches. The rooms were plain but a couple of years ago we had dinner there and saw that the club was totally remodeled so I have no idea about the rooms. However, staying there was always a total joy. Right around the corner from the Phillips Museum and so close to Dupont Circle and transportation throughout the city.
The University Club of Washington DC
2022 Reviews
Wonderfully accommodating and clean.
Great location, nice rooms, good bar.
They don’t allow you to check luggage– as a traveling member visiting a reciprocal club this becomes a headache.
Great facility, good location, nice room, good food.
Pandemic-related staffing issues aside, this club is one of the most luxe reciprocal offerings on the HCNY’s list. Excellent location, high quality room fixtures, friendly service staff. Classic upscale DC lodgings, doesn’t have that run-down feel at all. Swimming pool could use an update but the locker rooms are spacious and well-stocked.
International Clubs
Barcelona
Círculo Ecuestre
2022 Reviews
Beautiful club with a ton of history. Athletic facilities were very cool with rooftop pool, sauna, and steam room. Amazing location in the city, and guest rooms were extremely reasonably priced.
The original part of the Barcelona club is AMAZING! Not to be missed architectural gem from Moderisme movement which includes Antonin Gaudi. The restaurant is closed for now on the weekends so we missed that. Daytime staff lovely, nighttime staff member was grumpy and I actually complained to management. The rooms are in a glass “hotel” built for the club in the early 2000 and while bathrooms are large and modern, the carpets were a bit stained, the furniture strange in that it’s “antique” but the details of the hotel are all quite modern so it’s strange. The price was very good. The wifi was very slow. The neighborhood lovely. They replied to my concerns and said they are staring to renovate rooms, a floor at a time and are aware of the grumpy staff person.
Edinburgh
The New Club
2022 Reviews
The Club was a delight. Good menu (in a UK sense). The Club Secretary came and introduced himself, guided my wife and I to vantage points we would not have found on our own, and made us feel most welcome. A charming space to dine, relax, and view Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is super weird but not to be missed. Like stepping back into 1970 bond. But with all the furniture from the 18th century. Crazy idiosyncratic but very good restaurant. You order before you go in at an ancient high table on a form in triplicate, you give it to maître d on the way in and they hang it on fishing line at a desk inside restaurant. Entrance is a nearly unmarked door next to an atm in a strip mall across from Edinburgh castle.
London
The Lansdowne Club
2022 Reviews
The Lansdowne Club is centrally located in Mayfair with excellent access to Underground (Green Park) and bus lines. A small part of the clubhouse is the remnant of an 18C house designed by architect Robert Adam. An excellent breakfast is included in the room rates. The club has an excellent swimming pool. Request a room on a high floor.
For many, this location (in Mayfair) will be more convenient than the clubs in St. James. Elegant club. Good spread of age ranges.
The pool is good and quite empty. The reception is not terribly friendly, but efficient.
Basic but comfortable room and bath but great common areas (courtyard) and workout facilities. Also a great location.
Very good. Services close rather early not on weekends.
Lovely club and amazing pool with perfect Mayfair location, steps from Green Park Tube station. Staff was wonderful. If staying in Summer check that the room has air conditioning (that works!)
Great indoor pool.
The system you set up makes it easy to create the introduction and visit this club. They were extremely helpful and welcoming, especially Sam who is available to show you around.
Oxford and Cambridge Club London
2022 Reviews
The Oxford & Cambridge Club is a nice, quiet and comfortable Club, ideally located and distinguished in its style.
Lovely. Dress code burdensome in warm weather and lacks gender parity.
Wonderful Dover sole, whole fish, reasonably priced and excellent wines. Perfect service and environment.
Beautiful library and working spaces. Bar and dining options a little sparse.
Enjoyed my stay. Great location. Room was tiny but got the job done.
Excellent location on Pall Mall next to St James Palace. Guest rooms are small but well furnished with ensuite bath, dining hall, libraries and other public areas are excellent and worth seeing.
Great for an elegant dinner – Georgian Silver/Decanters, Mahogany tables – wonderful service!
Slower pace than at the RAC, superb library with a dedicated librarian; more likely to strike up an acquaintanceship than at the RAC.
2021 Reviews
Good facilities for athletics (squash courts), pleasant dining room, lovely library and sitting- and game (chess, backgammon) rooms. My bedrooms have been on the small side – I stayed in a tiny single room (barely enough space for a twin bed and a suitcase) for five days. Clearly a second-best option, but worth considering if the traveler wants to stay in the Pall Mall / Mayfair-Picadilly area!
Very fine dining and a fabulous library. The whole club experience was great. Rooms were fine but you had to go up steps to the bathroom. On Pall Mall. I would stay there again.
Food at the Oxford-Cambridge club and the Royal Automobile Club is great fun: interesting settings, excellent service, especially the whole Dover sole with bones-in at the Oxford-Cambridge.
Royal Automobile Club (RAC)
2022 Reviews
Excellent location on Pall Mall and top both service. I highly recommend to HCNY members planning to be in London for a short visit.
The RAC is a nice place in a very good location on the Pall Mall. One thing that was suboptimal is their insistence on a dress code for women guests. The dress code for women is not very well explained on their website, so you don’t really know what they want. I noticed that different employees had different views on what was required.They required women to wear dresses to breakfast, which was annoying.
Well managed, clean rooms, central location.
We tried to play squash and they were very rude and very expensive on court rentals and racket rentals.
Excellent club in an unbeatable location…staff is very helpful.
They charged non-member rates. I wish they would charge the same rates as for their membership.
Large, historic English club. Excellent breakfasts and lounging areas for tea and reading the paper.
Swimming pool straight out of a movie set. Good location close to the National Gallery of Art.
This is the 3rd or 4th time that I have used the Reciprocal Clubs in London – Royal Auto and Oxford and Cambridge, and every time has been an outstanding experience. They are located in the center of London, not far from Piccadilly and easy underground access. Service is always terrific, and the amenities are top notch. And of course, pricing is incredibly reasonable compared to local hotel options. I would recommend them to anyone and plan to continue to use them regularly on visits to the UK.
Very interesting bar and dining room: did not see Antony Blanche (from Brieshead revisited) but he could have been there! Good food and drinks. Unusual bar with swimming pool underneath.
One of my favorite clubs in London. Stunning aesthetics, excellent food, great location, and friendly service.
Elegant, prestigious, and centrally located London club.
RAC is an excellent club with beautiful amenities and exceptional service. Enjoy the beautiful pool and saunas before heading to the glamorous cocktail bar. I had a decadent stay!
Beautiful club – great reception by staff. They have limited meal service on Sundays, and there was a bit of confusion arranging dinner, but otherwise perfect. Lounge was great – service very slow, but apparently they’re still short staff due to covid. Strongly recommend the experience.
The RAC is physically beautiful and there is always a vibrant hum of activity. The guest rooms are nicely decorated, the clubrooms are gorgeous, and food is good, the staff is well intentioned, it’s always a treat to stay there. First thing I do is head to the Club Room, order a pot of tea, and read all the British newspapers spread out on the entryway table. A delight.
Rooms similar to Harvard Club. Great central location and rate compared to London hotels. Room rates include breakfast.
Impressive facility and excellent service.
Fantastic facilities in heart of London. Wonderful old world ambience and great food.
High level of service and efficiency. For the busy visitor who is used to hotel standards in a club.
2021 Reviews
Far and away my favorite club for a few nights’ stay in London. This reciprocal club is a genuine destination. Impeccable dining room (particularly for a British breakfast) and bar, superb library and outdoor seating area with beverage and snack service. Stunning below-ground pool modeled on a Roman bath. Turkish steam bath and frigidarium for those who enjoy thermal treatment. Squash courts, weight room and cardio exercise area are all top-notch. Rooms vary in size and modernity, but all are serviceable. The entry rotunda automobile display, which changes roughly weekly, is always a treat. Very helpful staff in all departments. Squash lessons are available, often at short notice but better to book in advance. This club is better, and a far better value, than most of the hotels I’ve stayed in in London.
Royal Automobile Club, also on Pall Mall. Olympic or larger gorgeous swimming pool (indoors). Two dining areas, one more casual, the “Brooklyns” dining room? The main dining room very formal and beautiful and food great. But for a simple dinner, the more casual restaurant is just wonderful.
The staff are very professional, helpful and courteous.
Royal Society of Medicine
2021 Review
As a longtime Fellow of Royal Society of Medicine (RSM), I have stayed here many times, most happily. RSM is well situated, near Oxford Street (tube station New Bond). The Domus has modern, comfortable (albeit small bedrooms). A good breakfast is included. There are several lounges and a bar with food service. Dinner on weekday nights is very good and an excellent value. On my last visit, pre-pandemic, there was an arrangement for day passes to a nearby Marylebone health club, with pool, which I enjoyed. And, of course, should you wish to consult, there is a superb Medical Library. Medical meetings take place on the main floor throughout the week (usually open to Fellows only).
The Sloane Club
2022 Reviews
I have visited a dozen times as a reciprocal visitor. It shows a sense of humor with its use of gentle caricatures directed at the gentry from the British countryside. This is the slowest pace of all and Americans may feel most at home in a club where the target clientele is ostensibly the occasional visitor to London from a comfortable home in rural Britain.
Lovely environment – very “Royal”. Quiet, excellent meals, nice working area. Not a happening place if you are looking for action.
2021 Reviews
Stayed at The Sloane Club and liked its location as well as its food service.
Sloane club is great and we also enjoyed renting one of their apartments.
Paris
Saint James Club
2022 Review
The whole staff was AMAZINGLY friendly and welcoming and the venue is beautiful. We are lucky to have access to it.
The Saint James was a delightful place to spend 4 nights while in Paris. We have been to Paris on other occasions so the location being about 15 minutes’ drive from the center was fine and actually offered a nice, serene ambiance, with easy access to the Bois de Boulogne. The service was impeccable, the main dining room Michelin starred and amazing, and the room beautiful and very clean.
Exquisite restaurant with extraordinary staff, beautiful location in Paris, outstanding terrace in the summer, great library for work and meetings.
Spectacular location, rooms, service and food. Highly recommend to any club member visiting Paris.
Very disappointed in their dinner reservation system. Requested main dining room and was told tables were not available when we arrived even though reservation had been made well in advance. We dined in their outdoor garden area which was fine but not our plan.
My wife says–and I agree–that this is probably the nicest hotel we have ever stayed in.
Our stay at the Saint-James was exceptional. It is a chateau hotel in Paris, which is rare. The building dates from the late 19th century, and was used for a long time by the Fondation Thiers, before becoming a club-hotel. The rooms have been brought up to modern day standards, and they exude luxury and good taste, with an extraordinary attention to detail. The service was impeccable. In the charming courtyard in front the building, your car is parked at no extra cost. There is a terrace in the courtyard, where you can enjoy food and drinks. The restaurant is very good, and the lounge in the library room, where the bar is, is beautifully appointed. It offers simpler meals, as an alternative to the fancier Michelin-star restaurant. There is a spa (which we did not use), which must be up to the high standards of excellence we experienced in that establishment. The Saint-James deserves our highest recommendation.
The St. James is expensive and stunning. The highest end hotel I’ve ever had the pleasure to spend a night in. I was upgraded to a magnificent room. Service, amenities, décor, food were outstanding. An average neighborhood, but the property and grounds are spectacular. Can’t wait to stay there again. Michelin starred restaurant on site and high end spa and exercise club.
2021 Review
We dined two times at the Saint James Club Paris. Giant building and great cuisine. A delightful experience.
Singapore
The Tanglin Club
2021 Review
My wife and I used the Tanglin Club in Singapore for a Christmas get together with my son and daughter-in-law who were living in Singapore a few years ago. The Club is fantastic. The rooms are large and very well appointed. The bath was lavish. The view was out to the large outdoor swimming pool and deck area.
We swam every day in the pool and sat around afterward to socialize with family. The weather in Singapore is hot always so it was nice to be outside under shade canvass and having drinks and food.
I would make a trip back just to stay again at the Tanglin Club!
Syndey
Royal Automobile Club of Australia – Sydney
2021 Review
I stayed here for a week in 2014 as the guest of a colleague who was an RAC (London) member and who stays at this club in Sydney whenever he goes, which is at least annually. My bedroom was spacious if a little dated. I only used the dining facilities for breakfast, but they were good, and the dining room was bathed in morning sunlight. I’m not sure why our listing shows no athletic facilities: maybe there is some kind of cooperative arrangement with an athletic club there? In any case, I used the very good cardio and weights facility (absolutely crucial for overcoming jet lag!) and although I didn’t use them the squash courts looked to be in good shape. This is a worthy recent addition to our roster of reciprocal clubs. (assuming access to the sports facility).
As you may imagine from my remarks, the reciprocal clubs are an important HCNY membership benefit to me and I’m particularly grateful for the expansion of these privileges in recent years!
Tokyo
Tokyo AmericaN Club
2022 Reviews
Very well managed, nice quiet library, good athletic facilities. NOTE: location is a little remote, rather a long walk to Roppongi. (If you desire a hotel in close proximity to shops and restaurants, this might not be the best choice – you would need to take a cab everywhere, unless you are an eager walker.)
Excellent bilingual club with both adult and family-friendly activities. Gorgeous athletic facilities and amazing kid-friendly areas including a small rooftop water park for kids. Full size pool, excellent child care. Great people, great club.
Toronto
University Club of Toronto
2022 Reviews
Great service, great location. One block away from the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.
It’s okay. Not much happening here, even before the pandemic. Some staff and club leadership extremely rude to reciprocals.
Some nice and welcoming members. Good mix of young and old. Younger crowd professional, educated and well dressed.
Vancouver
THE Vancouver Club
2022 Review
Beautiful dining room and bar. Formal atmosphere and service style in the main dining room. Easy walking distance to Convention Center, Cruise ship boarding, 3 main Fairmont Hotels in Vancouver, and float plane terminal.
If you would like to submit a review, please email it to Debbie Press at dpress@hcny.com