Welcome to 
The Clubhouse Buenos Aires
The Clubhouse Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires, Argentina | aka a sort of a Porteño version of SOHO House in Palermo SOHO. Tucked away in a quiet, walled garden, their pool is Palermo’s best place to cool off during the hot Buenos Aires summer, if you happen to be away from some of the few hotels or short term rentals in the city offering a cool happening social outdoors pool.
Housed in a converted four-story residence in Buenos Aires’ chic Palermo Soho neighborhood, The Clubhouse is an urban Members’ Club offering a lounge, terrace, two bars, pool and garden and three Guest Rooms. The Clubhouse hosts a calendar of events including private dinners with international chefs, film screenings, rotating art exhibitions and pool parties.
This was born and conceived, as its name describes, as the clubhouse for all the short term rental tenants using the services of their sister company Oasis Collection, which offers mid to luxury properties at some to the main destination in South America. A place where all tenants can meet, socialize and network with other foreigners or most important locals.
Far from the exclusiveness and sophistication of some of the best Member’s Clubs around the globe, The Clubhouse opens the door to a redefined concept in Buenos Aires, that others have tried in the past and failed. The key to their success, is that they already have the international clientele staying at their short-term rental apartments, to whom they offer this service as a competitive advantage.
Very basic food service which includes flavors from all South and Central America – like Ceviche, Sliders, or Quesadillas – during most weekdays, and the star of a traditional “Asado” during the weekends. I spent a lovely lunch along with Parker, the founder of The Clubhouse, and Rachelle, Manager of Partnership and Sales for Oasis Collection. This project is not stoping in Buenos Aires, they are already looking for other destinations in South America, to extend the same concept, like Sao Paulo, Bogota and Punta del Este to just name a few.
Hot summer Sunday in Buenos Aires, and you don’t know where to go ? there are a few options in town without a doubt, but some of them are rather trashy and certainly not cool. Sunday Pool parties at The Clubhouse, promise to be chic and fun, with a very mixed crowd. Gay or Straight, nobody cares. Expect a rotation of resident and guest DJs, refreshing weekly cocktail creations and food to keep you fueled.
There are several types of memberships, if you are not staying at one of their apartments. Day Membership (from Pesos 150 / USD 30). Month Membership (from Pesos 400 / USD 81). Year Membership (from Pesos 250 x month / USD 51 x month ). Now if you ask me, would I get myself a membership ? Well during cold seasons certainly NOT. During warm times, if I were visitng Buenos Aires, hmmmmm probably I would but just go for the Day Membership. Memberships are by appointments and screening interviews.
Same as many other Member’s Clubs they offer limited accommodation options. This is one of the points I was not sold at. I would not recommend anyone to stay there, unless they are either the Ultra Social or Party type. Second option would be, if you would take over the whole house, which you could if you happen to be traveling with 6 other friends. If I would have been them, I would have used that space to build a rocking fitness center/spa and on the top floor, a lovely restaurant overlooking the pool.
The points I found that I did not like were: (1) The garden, the grass and some of the common areas looked a bit tired. (2). I feel that it could become extremely overcrowded. (3). Service was very informal, which is fine, but when I was presented with the product as a private Member’s Club, I raised my standards I guess a bit too high and I was a bit deceived by the informality in the service. (4). They kept me waiting outside ringing the door bell for over 10 minutes, before someone let me in. (5). I order drinks which were on the menu and they didn’t have all the needed items available to prepare it, so the bartender kept trying to push on me a basic plain Caipirinha, when all I wanted was a refreshing Campari Spritz. But hey, as I always say, this is old spoiled me, so sometimes I can be a bit too harsh on my taste, choices and critics. They already have the seal of approval by the Wallpaper, Conde Nast Traveler, Black Book among many other international renown publications. So go, have your own experience and decide. More at www.theclubhouseba.com and Happy Summer whichever hemisphere you are.CM @ Carlos Melia Recommends
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