Five of the best private members clubs in Singapore, where diversity is the buzzword
- Forget golf and barbecues at the country club, or socialising with people from your profession – a new breed of private clubs attracts diverse memberships
- Shared interests and lifestyles is what brings businessmen, professionals and entrepreneurs together behind closed doors for drinks, dinner and deal-making
Private members clubs in Singapore have come a long way since the country clubs of the 1980s, where the rich went to socialise and play golf and family members could enjoy the facilities, and the social clubs of the ’90s for members of an industry or trade.
“Both types of clubs conjure up very homogeneous environments,” says Wee Teng Wen, co-founder of Straits Clan, a members club that opened in 2018 in Singapore’s historic Chinatown district, “not necessarily composed of like-minded people, but literally those from the same background and social status.”
Junny Lee, founder of members-only business club Mark by The Work Project, says: “Today there is a new breed of clubs curated for the individual rather than the family, and catering to a more diverse set of lifestyle or professional interests.”
For Leslie Lim, co-founder of Cicil, a start-up focused on helping underserved Indonesian university students access financial support, joining private members club 1880 has been a worthwhile investment. “I have access to a beautiful space to wine, dine, work and host friends,” he says. “Being a part of 1880, I get the opportunity to interact with very diverse and interesting members regularly, and it allows me to expand my social circle,” the 31-year-old says.
The founder of 1880, Marc Nicholson, says one reason members clubs in Singapore are special is the range of people the city attracts. “Whether it’s the tech sector, finance, venture capital, education, medical, creative, fitness or any other community you explore, you’ll find brilliant minds, daring entrepreneurs and wonderful people trying to bend history in their direction. That's just exciting,” he says. “The club scene is simply the vehicle for these misfits to flourish.”
From establishments with a rich history to recent arrivals, these are some of the Lion City’s best private members clubs.
