It is a quiet, red-brick townhouse on East 62nd Street. You’ve probably walked past it. Most people do. There is no flashing neon sign, no velvet rope, and certainly no social media manager tagging "vibes" on Instagram. This is the Links Club Manhattan, and if you aren't already on the list, you likely aren't getting through the door.
Exclusive? Incredibly.
For over a century, this spot has served as a sort of gravitational center for American industry, finance, and old-school diplomacy. It’s not just a place to grab a drink; it is where the people who own the companies that run the world go to escape the noise. Honestly, the club's staying power is a bit of a miracle in a city that constantly eats its own history. While other clubs have modernized or folded, The Links remains stubbornly, almost aggressively, traditional.
What is the Links Club Manhattan anyway?
Founded back in 1916, the club wasn't actually built for "business" in the way we think of it today. It was built for golf. Or, more accurately, for the love of the game. The original founders—names that still carry weight like C.B. Macdonald—wanted a central hub in the city where members of the country's elite golf clubs could gather without having to trek out to Long Island or Westchester.
But here’s the thing: it quickly became about much more than putting greens and handicaps. It became a clubhouse for the "Who's Who" of the American establishment. Think Morgans, Rockefellers, and Mellons. It was, and in many ways still is, the ultimate "insider" space. If the Knickerbocker Club is for lineage and the Union Club is for tradition, the Links Club Manhattan has always been for the people who actually move the levers of power.
You won't find a website. You won't find a public membership application. The club operates on a "propose and second" system that is famously rigorous. If you have to ask how to join, you probably can't. It’s that simple. The atmosphere inside is often described as a lived-in English manor house. Lots of dark wood. Deep leather chairs. Fine art that isn't there to be trendy, but because it has been there since the Coolidge administration.
The Architecture of Secrecy
The building at 36 East 62nd Street is a masterpiece of understated wealth. Designed by Cross & Cross—the same firm responsible for the Aetna Building and several other iconic New York structures—the clubhouse is a neo-Georgian gem. It doesn't scream. It whispers.
Inside, the layout is designed for privacy. There are small dining rooms, a main dining hall, and nooks where two people can settle a multi-billion dollar merger without being overheard. The art collection is legitimately world-class, focused heavily on sporting art and portraiture. It feels permanent. In a world of glass skyscrapers and coworking spaces with "disruptive" furniture, the Links Club Manhattan feels like an anchor.
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Interestingly, the club has managed to maintain this vibe despite the massive shifts in New York’s social fabric. While many private clubs struggled during the late 20th century, the Links stayed the course. They didn't chase trends. They didn't install a gym with Peloton bikes. They stuck to what they knew: excellent service, total privacy, and a peer group that values discretion above all else.
Why Does It Still Exist?
You might wonder why a bunch of titans of industry still want to sit in a quiet room with no cell phone access. It's about the "frictionless" life.
When you are at the level of a Links member, every interaction in public is a transaction or a performance. At the club, the staff knows your name, your drink, and exactly how you like your steak. More importantly, they know who you aren't supposed to be bothered by. It’s a sanctuary.
The Power of the "Quiet Room"
In the 1950s and 60s, it was said that more of the American economy was decided at the Links than in Washington D.C. While that might be a bit of hyperbole, the sentiment holds. When Dwight D. Eisenhower was looking for advice, he often found it among the members here. The club has always had a deep connection to the Republican establishment, though it’s less about partisan politics and more about a shared worldview of American exceptionalism and fiscal conservatism.
But don't mistake it for a museum.
Even today, you’ll see the younger generation of finance—private equity partners, hedge fund managers—occupying the same chairs their grandfathers might have used. They value the gatekeeping. In an era where "access" is sold as a subscription service, true exclusivity is the only currency that still holds its value.
The Rules (And why they matter)
If you are lucky enough to be invited as a guest, there are things you simply do not do.
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- No phones. If you take a call in the dining room, you might as well pack your bags.
- Dress the part. We are talking suits and ties. No "tech bro" hoodies here.
- Discretion is absolute. What is said at the table stays at the table.
This level of formality acts as a filter. It ensures that everyone in the room has agreed to a certain set of social contracts. It creates a level of comfort that you just can't get at a "hot" new restaurant in Chelsea where the tables are two inches apart.
Comparing the Links to Other New York Clubs
New York is a city of tiers.
The Harvard Club or Yale Club? Those are about where you went to school. The University Club? That’s for the professional class. The Soho House? That’s for the "creative" set who want to see and be seen.
The Links Club Manhattan sits in a different category entirely. It belongs to the "Big Three" or "Big Four" of old-line clubs, alongside the Knickerbocker and the Brook. But while the Brook is known for being perhaps the most reclusive, the Links has always had a slightly more "active" feel because its members are often still in the thick of their careers. It’s a working club for the ruling class.
The Future of the Links
Can a place this traditional survive another fifty years?
Probably.
There is a recurring theme in New York social history: the death of the private club. People have been predicting it since the 1970s. And yet, the waiting lists are longer than ever. Why? Because as the world gets more digital and more public, the value of a physical, private space goes up.
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The Links has slowly, very slowly, adapted. They've had to navigate the changing demographics of wealth and the evolving expectations of membership. But they've done so without losing the core of what they are. They aren't trying to be "cool." They are trying to be the Links.
Is It Just a Boys' Club?
Historically, yes. Like almost all the great New York clubs, it was founded as a male-only space. This is a point of contention for many today, and the club has faced the same pressures as the Union or the Metropolitan to modernize its membership policies. While the "old guard" remains, the conversation around inclusivity has reached even these hallowed halls. However, the club remains intensely private about its internal policies, and any changes happen at a glacial pace. It's a place where "tradition" isn't a buzzword; it's the law.
What People Get Wrong About The Links
Most people assume these clubs are just places for rich people to sit around and smoke cigars. (Well, the smoking has mostly moved to the designated areas or been curtailed by law, but you get the point).
The reality is that the Links Club Manhattan is a networking engine of unparalleled efficiency. If you are a member, you have a direct line to the heads of the world's largest banks, law firms, and cultural institutions. It’s not just about the lunch; it’s about who is sitting at the next table. It’s about the "soft power" that comes from being part of a 100-year-old lineage.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re fascinated by the world of New York’s private clubs or find yourself needing to navigate these circles, here is the reality:
- You can't buy your way in. Don't try to "apply." You need to be known by the people already inside. Networking in this world is a marathon, not a sprint.
- Respect the venue. if you are ever a guest, be the most invisible version of yourself. Follow the dress code to the letter. Leave the phone in your coat pocket at the cloakroom.
- Understand the history. If you’re meeting someone there, knowing the club's connection to figures like Robert A. Lovett or the early days of USGA leadership can provide genuine conversational fodder that shows you belong.
- Look for the "Links" connection elsewhere. Many members of the Links also belong to the National Golf Links of America in Southampton. Understanding that "city-to-country" pipeline is key to understanding the New York elite's social calendar.
The Links Club Manhattan remains a testament to a specific kind of American power—one that doesn't need to shout to be heard. It is a quiet, powerful reminder that in the heart of the most frantic city on earth, there are still rooms where time, for a price, stands perfectly still.