The island of Manhattan is home to the greatest concentration of private clubs in this country, and no, we are not talking about the velvet-roped doors of the Meatpacking District. These elite institutions date back to the early nineteenth century, modeled after the gentlemen's clubs of London and retain the codes of behavior from that era. The buildings are reverent but nondescript, the fees are astronomical, and the dress code is de rigueur. Here are 7 members-only clubs, where the upper echelon of New York Society can freely mix business with pleasure.

[Hurlingham Club, London, via]

From London to Abu Dhabi and everywhere in between, we've rounded up the most exclusive clubs where you can play a match of tennis, a game of cricket, or even a round of mahjong.

Beno Lavaud is a former L'Oreal manager turned DJ who throws exclusive parties every month in Tokyo with his co-founder Cedric Alberge. Their party is the new party to be seen at with it's members-only guest list, comprised of Tokyo's top executives, celebrities and foreigners. CNN has recently coined it the "Facebook of the Tokyo club scene," where friends, and friends of friends are invited. Operating in the cities most luxurious clubs, the dynamic Frenchmen draw in a super trendy crowd to the most sought after, exclusive rave. From how Blacklist evolved, to how to get on the guest list, Beno gives his insight on the Tokyo nightlife. More»

The Parlor Club first sent out invites in 2009 stating their exclusivity: "The club is not for everyone: we seek members who are intelligent, professionally ambitious, and never boring - whether in style or in conversation."
Scheduled to open in March 2010, it was pushed back again and again. They finally opened their doors just last month to 100 friends and family. They're accepting new members now and have been sending out applications once again, seeking the same sorts. We managed to get our hands on one. Let's take a look at how difficult the process is: More»