With a booming business district, vibrant culture, and an increasingly sophisticated social scene, Philly is undergoing a makeover. And the city’s elite are getting on board with it.
At the Modern Luxury Charity & Social Datebook party last week, hundreds of VIPs got a first look at the city’s newest private club, the Fitler Club. These are some of the best Philadelphia social clubs that you can visit for a unique experience.
- Palizzi Social Club
In the heart of South Philly, a century-old Italian social club is being saved from shutting down. It’s a relic of its former era, complete with Formica bar, vintage cigarette machine and snapshots of celebrities from the neighborhood’s history.
When chef Joey Baldino took over the place a few years back, he cleaned it up just enough so that it still felt like Frankie Avalon might walk in at any moment. He didn’t want to mess with the original concept of Palizzi, a private supper club that was limited to friends and family for nine decades.
So he made it a members only restaurant and, yes, he does make his Sicilian family recipes available in a cookbook. It’s called “Dinner at the Club,” and it’s packed with a century of recipes from South Philly’s best-known culinary institution.
- The Philadelphia Club
It’s hard to imagine a city as ritzy as Philadelphia without a few private, members-only clubs with state-of-the-art fitness facilities and stunning ballrooms. Some have been around for centuries, like the Union League, while others are just now opening their doors to the general public.
While some of the more exclusive clubs can be difficult to access, there are plenty of less-expensive options that are worth checking out. And, if you want to go all out, you can even pay thousands of dollars to be a member at one of these clubs.
For instance, you can get a membership at the Pyramid Club in Center City, which specializes in outstanding cuisine, personalized service, superb meeting and dining facilities and state-of-the-art technology. It overlooks local landmarks such as City Hall, The Pennsylvania Convention Center and both the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers.
- The Union League
Founded in 1862, The Union League of Philadelphia laid the philosophical foundation of other Union Leagues across the country. The Club’s Old-World ambiance and tradition continue today in the beautiful building that occupies an entire city block and stands eight stories tall.
The club also provides its members with many amenities, including a fitness center, business center, library, meeting rooms and three restaurants, plus overnight accommodations in the 84-room Inn at the Union League. A rich collection of art and artifacts, including historical paintings and presidential portraits, adorn the walls.
The club has a long history of supporting the community through deep civic involvement, charitable contributions, and military support. It is one of the few private clubs in the nation with this kind of history.
- The Fitler Club
Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love, but it’s also home to a growing list of elite social clubs that blend high design and urban sophistication. The Fitler Club, which opened this year in a hulking concrete-and-brick building overlooking the Schuylkill River, is one of those.
The Fitler Club aims to be the next evolution of the private lifestyle club space, combining health and wellness, social and co-working spaces and community in a modern and inviting atmosphere. It’s a membership hub with a huge two-level gym, a spa, three bars, 34,000 square feet of workspace and office space, and an event space with a bowling alley and outdoor/indoor dining and lounge areas.
As you can see, Fitler Club is a top choice for couples looking for the best of the elite social scene in Philadelphia. Wedding photographers will appreciate the large suites that allow wedding parties to change into formal attire without distracting their subjects.
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