Inside la's newest power hub: san vicente santa monica
Forget velvet ropes and predictable champagne lists. Jeff Klein, the hospitality titan behind Sunset Tower and the City Club, is redefining exclusivity with San Vicente Santa Monica, a meticulously crafted haven now open on Los Angeles’s Westside. It’s not just a club; it’s a carefully curated experience, a testament to Klein’s decades-long obsession with hospitality and a keen eye for detail.
The application question that reveals everything
The key to unlocking membership? It’s not about wealth or connections, though those certainly don’t hurt. Klein’s favorite question on the application—and a surprisingly effective filter—is deceptively simple: “Name your favorite restaurant in the world, and describe why you like it.” As Klein explains, “It catches people off guard. But we’re trying to learn who you are and what you’re attracted to.” A mention of a ubiquitous chain like Hillstone might raise an eyebrow, while a passionate endorsement of Le Club 55 in St.-Tropez or Sexy Fish in London signals a discerning taste—or, conversely, a potential mismatch with the club’s ethos.
Klein’s journey to becoming a master of ambiance began humbly, as a bellboy at the Franklin Hotel in New York after graduating from Tulane with a degree in French literature. He steadily climbed the ranks, eventually becoming a general manager, a path he believes is essential for anyone aspiring to the hospitality industry. “It’s important to learn all aspects of hospitality,” he states, a philosophy that clearly informs his current ventures.
Beyond the decor: a legacy of impeccable taste
The San Vicente clubs—West Village, Santa Monica, and Bungalows—are not conceived as fleeting trends but as enduring institutions. Klein achieves this through a rigorous nomination process and a rotating committee of twelve members at each location, a form of “social engineering,” as he puts it. But the decor, undeniably, plays a crucial role. Klein, collaborating with interior designer Lisa Koch (who previously refreshed Sunset Tower and helped design his French manor home), aims for a timeless elegance, drawing inspiration from legendary New York establishments like El Morocco and the Stork Club. “A great club should feel timeless but never overly designed,” he explains. “It should be somewhere you’ve known forever and yet you can’t quite place it.”
San Vicente Santa Monica, resurrected from a drab office building, exemplifies this vision. The sweeping Pacific views are framed by intentionally mismatched furniture, aged surfaces, and a collection of antiques, many sourced from Klein’s personal trove. A billiards room boasts a Stark cheetah carpet, pink Loro Piana chairs, and a plush Rose Tarlow couch, while fireplaces by Jamb evoke the charm of English country houses. Even a tiny, former AV closet has been transformed into a cozy alcove, tented in a vibrant Pierre Frey fabric and illuminated by custom-made lighting.
The details, Klein insists, are everything. He recently experienced a revelation in Milan, observing waiters using cordless irons to smooth tablecloths between seatings. “The restaurant wasn’t all that good, but the iron was fucking fabulous,” he admits. “Was I losing members because there was a small wrinkle in their tablecloth? I doubt it. Does it enhance their experience? Yes. That’s my job.”
Annual dues average around $4,000, with initiation fees ranging from $3,000 to $15,000, a price point reflecting the exclusivity and meticulous attention to detail that define the San Vicente experience. As Elle Decor A-List designer Mark Sikes, a member of all three clubs, puts it, “You always know that you’re going to see familiar faces and you’re going to have good food. There’s a sense of belonging and being a part of something.”
Klein’s relentless pursuit of perfection, down to the smallest wrinkle, suggests that San Vicente Santa Monica isn’t just a club—it’s a statement. And the statement is clear: impeccable taste and unwavering attention to detail are the new currency of exclusivity.