Join the club

Private clubs have long been ingrained in Hong Kong’s society. Historically catered to the society’s elite, now everyone with an interest in sports, socialising and even creating can sign up.

Dreamt up by Maggie Bolger and Rose Astor back in London in 2006, Maggie & Rose is a modern family private members’ club which offers a unique and creative space for children to play, in surroundings that appeal to grown ups too. Since its opening, Maggie & Rose has grown to include two Hong Kong locations – Repulse Bay and Causeway Bay. Kids are spoilt for choice with an outdoor play area, movie room, soft play and creative classes which include cooking with real

chefs, listening to jazz and getting messy on canvases. hk.maggieandrose.com

Founded in 1890, this is one of the largest yacht clubs in the world and is the only Hong Kong club to keep the ‘Royal’ in its title post-handover. Training programmes are open to all abilities and ages. Membership is contingent on an interest in rowing or sailing.

Known as the ‘friendliest club in Hong Kong’, ABC has been a key location for film shoots with scenes from movies including Enter the Dragon (1973) starring Bruce Lee. The club also offers great watersports including dinghy and keelboat sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, dragon boating, SUP, fishing and scuba diving, as well as land-based activities include golf, karate and yoga. abclubhk.com

This friendly Sai Kung-based club is ideal for boating, yacht racing and watersports enthusiasts, offering easy access to some of Hong Kong’s best sailing waters and beaches. It actively promotes youth sailing at its sail training centre and runs regular sailing courses for adults too. hhyc.org.hk

Established in 1982, this prestigious country club is the perfect place to bond with fellow Clearwater Bay residents. With a 18-hole golf course, outdoor swimming pool and two restaurants, the club provides a great space to relax and socialise. cwbgolf.org

Established in Happy Valley in 1889 by 13 golfing enthusiasts, the Hong Kong Golf Club has a nine-hole golf course in Deep Water Bay as well as three 18-hole golf courses in Fanling. Home of the Hong Kong Open since 1959, the waiting list for this exclusive golf club is said to be about 20 years. The club prides itself as having the largest ladies golf section of any club in Hong Kong with over 500 women playing. hkgolfclub.org

Sports and recreation are the lifeblood of the HKFC, fantastic facilities make it one of the best sports clubs in the region. While football and rugby continue to be core sports, other sports include netball, field hockey, tennis, lawn bowls and squash and also offers a good range of leisure facilities. The Club presently has approximately 3,300 members and sports membership is open to individuals who are able to play sport at a team level.

offers a small taste of home to Americans (the burgers are particularly good), with membership options for non-US citizens as well. Patrons can visit two clubhouses, one in Central and one in Tai Tam, both providing luxurious dining, fitness centres and a country store with products shipped in from America. The renovated bar in Central is actually a 130-year old bar brought from the first family-owned restaurant in New York, which hosted patrons including Marilyn Monroe.