In the nation’s capital, private clubs have long been more than places to dine or play cards—they’re institutions of power, diplomacy, and tradition. From William Howard Taft shaping the University Club’s founding ethos in 1904, to Nobel laureates and presidents frequenting the Cosmos and Metropolitan Clubs, Washington’s elite gathering places have helped define the city’s social fabric for more than a century. Yet, even as these legacy institutions endure, a new generation of clubs—like London-born Ned’s Club and the recently launched Executive Branch—are reshaping exclusivity for modern tastes. The result is a capital city where tradition and reinvention now sit side by side, offering insiders a mix of old-world prestige and contemporary cultural cachet.
The Traditional Pillars
The University Club of Washington, D.C.
Founded in 1904, the University Club emerged from an inaugural gathering of alumni at the Willard Hotel, under the leadership of William Howard Taft—then Secretary of War, later President and Chief Justice—who also bestowed its memorable motto: “Enter all of ye who have a degree of good fellowship and learning.” Its first clubhouse was at 930 16th Street NW; by 1936, it merged with the Racquet Club and moved to its current 1135 16th Street NW location.
Today, the Club is celebrated as a Platinum Club of America and a Distinguished Club of the World, offering fine dining, athletics including squash courts, cultural programs, guest rooms, and the annual presentation of the coveted Tewaaraton Award for collegiate lacrosse excellence. Its historic structure gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.
The Cosmos Club
The Cosmos Club, dating to 1878, was founded by luminaries in science. Nestled near Dupont Circle in its Beaux-Arts limestone home, it has been a haven for Nobel laureates, Supreme Court justices, diplomats, and scholars. Early in the 20th century, the Cosmos Club divided applicants into 11 groups including writers, doctors, military officers, government officials, and foreign diplomats. Its members have included three presidents, two vice presidents, 14 Supreme Court justices, 36 Nobel Prize winners, 61 Pulitzer Prize winners, and 55 recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The remodeled Hillyer House—added in 1997 via a glass connector—now houses guest accommodations.
The Metropolitan Club
Established in 1863 by Treasury officials, this venerable institution—two blocks from the White House—boasts historic grandeur, literary salons, squash courts, a rooftop venue introduced in 2021, and an illustrious membership spanning Ulysses Grant to Henry Kissinger. Its members have included Robert Todd Lincoln, John Hay, Henry Morgenthau Jr., Walter Lippmann, Dean Acheson, Adm. George Dewey, Paul Mellon, Henry Cabot Lodge and William Howard Taft. Ten of its members have been nominated for president; six of them, along with Taft, won the highest office in the land, including Grant, Warren Harding, Herbert Hoover, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Cosmopolitan Favorites: Georgetown Club, Army & Navy, National Press Club
The Georgetown Club, founded in 1966, welcomes white-glove diplomacy, notably extending honorary memberships to foreign ambassadors. It serves as a gathering place for politics, business, and academia. The Army & Navy Club, since 1885 and renamed in 1891, remains a military officer's mainstay and offers discreet spaces for diplomatic and international programming. The National Press Club, founded in 1908 and situated atop the National Press Building, continues to act as a hub for journalists and diplomats—hosting Embassy Night among other high-profile events.
The New Wave: Modern Private Clubs Emergent in the Past Four Years
Ned’s Club
Opened in winter 2024, Ned’s Club Washington, D.C. occupies the top three floors of the Walker/Milken Center overlooking the White House. Conceptualized by the Soho House founders, the club features multiple restaurants, lounges, a two-story library, music rooms, and a terrace with sweeping views toward the Monument. Membership begins at around $5,000 annually, with an elite “Founders” tier costing up to $100,000–$125,000 with higher dues. The club emphasizes discretion—phones are restricted, photography prohibited—and draws a dynamic crowd: C-suite leaders, journalists, political influencers, and creatives under 45 seeking both polish and vibrancy.
The Executive Branch Club
Launched in 2025 in Georgetown, this ultra-private, politically aligned club was co-founded by Donald Trump Jr., Omeed Malik, and others. With a striking $500,000 initiation for founding members and a later tier at $150,000, it has attracted tech billionaires, cabinet secretaries, and high-caliber political figures. The club forbids media access and prioritizes ideological alignment, offering plush spaces for an exclusive, like-minded community.
The Landscape in Perspective
Despite their age and venerable traditions, even stalwarts like the Metropolitan and Cosmos are experiencing renewed interest. Alongside those, newer entrants like Ned’s Club and the Executive Branch are rapidly gaining traction, with waitlists and buzz reflecting a demand for both modern luxury and ideological solidarity in hospitality spaces.
Final Word
From the scholarly elegance of the University Club to the glamorous reinvention of Ned’s and the ideologically charged exclusivity of the Executive Branch, Washington’s private-club ecosystem is blending tradition and transformation. They remain sanctuaries of discretion, connection, and influence—now offering versions that resonate with both heritage and modernity.
