State of the Union: Spring Edition

LET’S TALK VIBES—AND VIABILITY.
SF BAY AREA
Tech's hybrid hangover is real. With fewer folks in the office, weekday lunch crowds have thinned, and business travel is still snoozing. But don’t cry for the Bay—luxury lives on. Michelin spots are booked solid, wine country is buzzing, and local gems are leaning into community, intimacy, and exclusivity. Think pop-ups, prix fixe, and retail restaurant joints. The playbook? Do less, but do it better.
NEW YORK CITY
NYC is strutting back into the spotlight. Business travel is rebounding, and the city's hospitality scene has leveled up. Immersive dining is everywhere—from underwater aesthetics to murder-mystery tasting menus. Private clubs and ultra-luxe hotels are thriving, while the middle market tightens its belt. Cocktails? Still king. Speakeasies and high-concept bars are tapping into our collective craving for nostalgia and escape.
WHAT’S NEXT?
The future is high-touch, high-concept, and highly curated. Spaces that make you feel something—and allow you to connect with someone. Food and beverage is no longer an amenity, it’s the star of the show. Here's what's catching our eye:
1. Chez Margaux (Paris)
A curated Parisian residency program designed to support and inspire creative women across disciplines by offering a beautifully appointed space for work, connection, and cultural immersion in the heart of Paris.
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2. The Motoring Club (SF & LA)
A membership-based social club for car enthusiasts, offering access to clubhouses in Los Angeles and San Francisco, member lounges, events, drives, partner benefits, car storage, and a public-facing coffee shop and retail space.
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3. Fly Fish (NYC)
A members-only dining establishment in Manhattan's Lower East Side, offering elevated dining and social experiences across three levels, including a restaurant, lounge, private dining room, and an exclusive omakase counter for select members. Launched initially with blockchain-based memberships.
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4. ZZ’s Club (NYC & Miami)
A private membership club by Major Food Group located in Hudson Yards, New York City, offering luxurious amenities, including a modern Japanese restaurant, a cigar terrace, and an exclusive iteration of the renowned Carbone restaurant.
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5. Crane Club (NYC)
An exclusive members-only restaurant and social club in Manhattan, created by chef Melissa Rodriguez and restaurateur Jeff Katz, offering refined dining, private event spaces, and curated cultural programming in an intimate, high-design setting.
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The common thread? Access is a new luxury.