Inside the New Wave of Members-Only Clubs in Dallas

It doesn’t take long to grasp the club-centric lay of the land in Dallas. From our city’s namesake country club and its decade-plus waiting list to the tony retreats of Park House and Petroleum Club, the exclusivity earned through connections and money has long been a part of the city’s social fabric. Naturally, the members-only madness that recently gripped the country has taken particular hold in Dallas.

“The club scene is taking off in a lot of different cities in a lot of different ways,” shares Tommy Shuey, founder of 55 Seventy, a private members club for wine lovers. “In Dallas, Park House led the way. They offered so much education on why you needed to be a member at a city club instead of — or in addition to — a country club. They did such a great job with programming. Now, people are able to fill in with their niches.” 

Today’s dense Dallas club scene offers something for everyone. The newer memberships often center around a common interest (wine, art wellness, dining) and come in at a wide range of price points. Some clubs focus on young creatives. Others cater to an older crowd looking for a reliable night out. But each one seeks to cultivate an intimate community in our ever-growing city.

Ahead, we’ve mapped out a guide to the best private clubs across Dallas.

Park House Dallas

When it comes to the new wave of private clubs in Dallas, Park House led the way. Opened in 2018 and inspired by top members-only spots in London (such as Anabel’s and The Arts Club), Park House picks up where the country club leaves off, offering a posh perch in Highland Park Village for coffee, cocktail hour, and a stylish dinner with friends. “There was much research carried out late at night at these London clubs!” says Park House co-founder Deborah Scott, who belonged to several of the city’s clubs during her tenure living there, including Casa Cruz in Notting Hill (a favorite of Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss) and 5 Hertford Street in Mayfair, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle famously had their first date.

The key to Park House is how the club and its varied lush spaces (designed by architecture firm Studio Collective) evolve throughout the day with the dim of a switch or the addition of a DJ. Programming is also killer, filling member calendars with private art tours, book clubs, master classes, and wine tastings.

Biggest Member Perks: Access to an inspired retreat atop Highland Park Village, exclusive events, and solid member programming.

55 Seventy

The members-only jewel box opened in the Park Cities at the end of 2022, catering to Dallas wine lovers with rare labels (minus the restaurant markup) and luxury bottle storage, though little food was on the menu beyond charcuterie. Today, 55 Seventy is in the process of adding 4,000 square feet to their Preston Center footprint, which includes a bigger kitchen for executive chef Joshua Sutcliff (formerly at Mirador and chef de cuisine at FT33) to craft the club’s increasingly popular lunch and dinner menus.

“It was originally just going to be lite bites,” shares owner Tommy Shuey. “Now food is a huge part of what we’re doing.” 

And though 55 Seventy is becoming more known for its dining, wine is still the club’s centerpiece. Fairly priced and hard to find, all bottles are selected by 55 Seventy’s sommelier team and can be poured by the glass with a Coravin. The original buildout included a variety of wine lockers and private cellars set to 55 degrees and 70% humidity, though with most now occupied, the addition will include more storage that can be accessed 24/7 by members. 

“Everything pertaining to wine is our specialty,” says Shuey. “From stemware to the way bottles are decanted, to the temperature at which the wine is served.” 

Biggest Member Perks: 24/7 access to your luxury wine storage units, which can be enjoyed at the club without a corkage fee. Plus, hard-to-find artisan wines without the restaurant markup. “If you can find it at the grocery store, we probably don’t sell it,” Shuey adds.

Golightly

Hidden on the seventh floor of the gleaming new Hôtel Swexan, Golightly may be Dallas’ most private club yet. The service is white-glove, the cigar collection is immaculate, and phones cameras are covered in taped upon arrival, but ask any lucky friend-of-a-friend who’s secured an invite and they’ll tell you the same thing: the experience is next-level.

Le Sol House

No private members club in Dallas has cultivated a community of cool quite like Le Sol, a dreamy corner of Oak Cliff known for throwing killer parties (occasionally attended by Leon Bridges). Owner Taylor Madison’s flair for hosting out of her dreamy, vintage-filled bungalow first led to workshops, wine nights, and a sought-after lineup of wellness classes, such as gentle yoga, reiki, and New Moon circles. Word-of-mouth spread and private membership options launched in 2022 as a natural next step.

“I know that I can create spaces that feel good for people and where people naturally feel safe and seen,” Madison says. “Many of our classes and parties are open to the public, but people still want to belong and have the membership, and I think it’s because of the community.” Options include a wellness-specific membership, “working from Sol,” and the newly launched (and more approachably priced) Creative Membership for artists, which offers access to all the amenities at the original Le Sol House bungalow as well as the newly acquired Le Sol Château, a two-story 1925 home located next door. The latter’s fully gutted, European-inspired interiors are being slowly unveiled, though its pool and infrared sauna are currently available for members.

“Sol House was very DIY — we had no idea it would become what it has,” Madison shares. “With the Château, we’re being way more thoughtful and spending money on good vintage pieces… I think it’s going to be next level.”

Biggest Member Perks: A 20% discount on events and classes, as well as access to the strictly members-only Château Le Sol.

T Bar M Racquet Club

Since opening off Preston Road and Dilbeck Lane in 1972, the private racquet club has earned a prestigious reputation for its top-tier staff and killer tennis academy, but despite its devoted membership, T Bar M isn’t widely known around the Dallas area.

That may change in the coming years when WoodHouse, the hospitality firm behind Park House in Highland Park Village, begins their slick $70 million renovation of the 13-acre campus, adding restaurants, a spa, a resort-style swimming pool (complete with poolside margarita bar), and a brand new 20,000-square-foot clubhouse designed by lauded Texas architects Lake | Flato. Or perhaps the tennis-centric club will remain a hidden North Dallas treasure reserved for those in the know. Only time and several phases of renovations will tell.

Biggest Member Perks: Access to the club’s top-tier staff of pros and the promise of WoodHouse’s elevated makeover.

Maplewood

The by-invitation-only membership to Maplewood, aptly named based on its convenient location at Maple and Inwood Road, is designed to offer a socially-focused country club alternative. The stylish club and its outdoor patio cater to a small but tightly-knit group with tastings, live music, holiday parties, and the occasional Casino Night.

Biggest Member Perks: A sense of community and a stylish place to grab a drink.

More Under-the-Radar Dallas Private Clubs

Though they’ve served the city for years, the following clubs offer distinct experiences for their members, from bourbon tastings to late-night sushi with a view.

The Crescent Club

Situated at the top of the luxurious Hotel Crescent Court in Uptown, the Crescent Club has long offered a lavish reprieve, fine dining, and killer views of downtown Dallas. But after the property’s $33 million facelift in 2018, the biggest current draw may be The Crescent Club’s wellness membership (with monthly dues of $245 if over 35), which includes full access to the Crescent’s high-tech fitness center, complimentary fitness classes, discounted spa rates, and access to the hotel’s luxurious outdoor pool. That being said, dinner or drinks in the Main Dining Room are a true Dallas treat if you can snag a reservation or attend an event.

Biggest Member Perks: The customizable memberships can be tailored to dining or wellness, but they’ll all include an eternal excuse to visit the luxurious Uptown hotel any day of the week.

The Park City Club

Fine dining and phenomenal views are the two tenets of the Park City Club, which hosts wedding receptions and corporate events perched atop Sherry Lane Place neighboring the Plaza at Preston Center — a perfect fulcrum point for Highland Park and University Park.

Membership at the Park City Club, established in 1984, is especially attractive to professionals (there’s a due reduction for corporate memberships) and includes access to private meeting rooms, reciprocity with more than 200 clubs (including the Palmetto Club in South Carolina and the Briar Club in Houston) weekly entertainment, quarterly wine dinners, and access to golf, tennis, and swimming the club’s partnerships within the community.

Biggest Member Perk: An opportunity to play golf and tennis without going the country club route.

Dallas Bourbon Club

True to its name, the club was created to be a premier haven for bourbon enthusiasts. Though it launched in 2013, the Dallas Bourbon Club didn’t begin seeing true success until 2017, when it was transitioned into a 501c3 nonprofit with a renewed focus on giving back to the Dallas community. But for those looking to join the intimate group for regular tastings and annual field trips, arm yourself with patience — as of last year, there were reportedly about 150 members of the Dallas Bourbon Club, with about 3,000 hopefuls on the waiting list.

Biggest Member Perk: Feel-good bourbon.

Tei-An

In addition to being one of the most reliably fantastic restaurants in the city for over a decade, Tei-An is also home to a small but lively private club (there are just over 100 members) of local and international regulars. Members gain exclusive seats at the bar and a private room to enjoy chef Teiichi Sakurai’s masterful omakase, along with greater reservation and parking ease. But the greatest perk of all may be the rooftop lounge, with late-night hours and killer views from the Dallas Arts District. However, you won’t find much information about submitting an application online — the private membership is invite-only.

Biggest Member Perks: A killer outdoor patio to keep the party going into the morning hours — and great sushi of course.