Guest FAQs

Visiting the Club

Where exactly is the club located?
We’re at 50 Vanderbilt Avenue, on the corner of East 44th Street, directly across the street from the Met Life Building, within a block of Grand Central Station.

What are the club hours?
The Clubhouse is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to midnight. After midnight, only registered room guests will be admitted.

Is there parking nearby?
Valet parking in front of the Clubhouse is available 24 hours a day. Self parking is available at 200 Park Avenue. Hourly and daily rates apply.

Are children welcome?
Yes. We have children's menus in all of our dining rooms, and children's events throughout the year.  Children over the age of 10 are required to abide by the dress code. The Club does not recommend a particular baby sitting service, however, we do offer our guests the number of the Baby Sitting Guild at 212-682-0227.

What is the Dress Code?

Traditional business attire (jackets and neckties for men, equally appropriate attire for women) is always welcome.

Business casual dress, as defined below, is required in all public rooms except for the athletic facilities, library and Grill Room at all times.

Business casual dress for men includes: collared shirts, turtlenecks or sweaters; dress slacks, khakis or corduroy trousers; and socks.

Business casual dress for women includes: collared shirts; blouses, turtlenecks or sweaters; and skirts or tailored pants.

Denim: neat, clean, and in good repair – is acceptable in the Library and in the Grill Room.  Denim is also acceptable in the Roof Dining Room on weekends throughout the year and at all times during the summer.  All other above restrictions apply.

Not permitted are: shorts, tee shirts, casual sandals, athletic wear of any kind (including footwear and caps), and torn, provocative or revealing clothing.

At all times a reasonable standard of neatness should be observed.

What is the policy about the use of cell phones and laptop computers?
In consideration of Members and guests, the use of electronic devices in the House is discouraged. Upon entering the House, mobile phones should be set so that incoming calls are received on vibrate only/silent. Actual use of or conversation on a mobile phone is permitted only in areas directly adjacent to the public telephones, enclosed stairwells, and the lobby. In all other areas of the House, mobile phone ringer volume should be turned off. The use of personal computers is not permitted in public rooms with the exception of the Grill Room on weekdays and the Library at all times.

Are reservations required in the dining rooms?
Reservations are recommended in the Roof Dining Room (by phone or e-mail), and are also accepted for the Grill Room.  Reservations are not required for the Tap Room.

How are my dining room charges billed?
At the end of the month, you will receive a house statement with all current charges. Your dining room charges will include a gratuity and applicable taxes.

Membership

Who can join the Club?
Anyone who has attended Yale University for a minimum of two years and holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, current full-time Yale faculty, or current full-time Yale graduate students.  These qualifications also apply for Dartmouth, DKE and University of Virginia.

What are the categories of membership?
The dues rate schedule is designed so that recent Yale College graduates receive reduced rates.  The rates increase up to the point of 9 years past graduation.  Membership is also divided by geographical location: Resident (live/work within 30 miles of the Clubhouse), Suburban (live/work within 30-60 miles of the Clubhouse), and Non-Resident (live/work over 60 miles from the Clubhouse).

Can my spouse or partner be a member?
Yes.  There are family signing privileges for spouses and domestic partners. The cost is $114.32 per year and a new membership card/number will be issued.

Can my parent be a member?
Yes. Parent memberships are available at the regular membership rate. 

Can my children become members?
Yes. We have a legacy membership for children/grandchildren of current Yale Club members.  The cost follows the regular dues rate schedule. 

Do you have special rates for seniors?
We offer a Retired Category for members who are over 70 years old, fully retired, and have been members of the Yale Club for over 35 years.

Is there a special rate for those who rarely use the Club?
No.

How long does the approval process take?
Please allow one week for processing. The Yale Club Membership Department must verify the information submitted on the application as well as verify your status as a graduate. Prospective members are unable to utilize the club during the application approval process.

Is the Yale Club of New York City affiliated with any other Yale Clubs?

No.  Yale University has a network of local alumni chapters around the world. University alumni are members of these local chapters to get together at events sponsored by the individual club or chapter to network on jobs and careers, have fun, reminisce, and cheer for their alma mater. The Yale Club of New York City is the only Club that is an actual clubhouse/facility and membership is not centralized to just New York Alumni. Membership is available to Yale graduates from all around the world. The facilities at the Club fulfill the original ideals of the founding members to provide a “home away from home,” where members can dine, relax or entertain friends and colleagues in a warm and inviting atmosphere.  For more information about membership at the Yale Club of NYC, please call 212-716-2131. For information on Yale clubs and associations in other areas, please refer to the AYA website (www.aya.yale.edu/clubs).

Dues and Initiation Fees

Why are membership rates not listed on your website?
As a not-for-profit, private club, we are unable to advertise our membership rates via the World-Wide Web. However, eligible candidates may obtain a dues schedule by requesting a package of membership information.

What credit cards do you accept for payment?
We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express.

Do I need to include the payment with my application?
Yes. The Yale Club fiscal year begins on March 1. Membership dues are pro-rated based on the month in which you join. The graduate student membership and the spouse membership are not pro-rated. The quarterly dues and initiation fee must be received to activate your account.  Payment may also be made for annual dues.

If I resign and re-join, do I have to pay the initiation fee?
There is a reinstatement fee which must be submitted along with a reinstatement application.  

Billing

How are club services billed?
After the last day of each month, statements will be mailed to each member showing charges.

Is there tipping at the Club?
No. Club employees may not accept tips. A gratuity is added to all dining room bills; other employees are compensated by contributions to our Annual Holiday Fund.

Is there a food and beverage minimum?
No. There are no minimums that our members must meet on an annual basis.

Is use of the Athletic Facilities included in my annual dues?
No, there is an additional annual fee to add an Athletic Membership to your account. The facilities may also be used on a daily basis at the rate of $15/day.

Athletic Facilities

Are private lessons and training sessions offered? Massage?
Yes. Members may purchase individual training sessions with a choice of personal trainers at an additional cost.  Squash lessons are also available.  Massage is available by appointment on the 5th Floor.

Can I join the Athletic Facilities without joining The Yale Club?
No. You must be a member of The Yale Club to be able to join and/or utilize the fitness center. Members and their guests staying in guestrooms receive complimentary use of the athletic facilities.

Can my spouse also use the Athletic Facilities if he/she is not a member?
Yes. Spouses can use the Athletic Facility provided that the member is present as well. There is a per use guest fee assessed to your account. Your spouse may also join the club at a special rate and then purchase his or her own Athletic Facility Membership. 

Activities and Events

As a member, am I permitted to bring a non-member guest with me to a scheduled event?
Members are allowed to bring guests as long as the member is present. Unless specified otherwise, there is no limit as to the number of guests attending with a member.

Can a friend take my place at an event if I am unable to attend?
No. A member must accompany guests at all times, unless the member has arranged for a guest card.  Guests may not attend All-Ivy events unless accompanied by a member.

Who decides what events will be scheduled?
The Activities Committee of The Yale Club is made up of member volunteers who meet on a monthly basis with the Club’s Activities Manager to determine which programs and events would be of interest to all. 

Can my spouse attend an event without me?
Unless the member has applied for spousal membership, the member would have to be present

Banquets and Catering

What size functions can the Yale Club accommodate?
The Club can accommodate events from 10 to 250 people.

Do I have to be a member to utilize the facilities?
The Club's facilities are available for members only.  Members may sponsor social or corporate events.

How many people do your rooms accommodate?
Our Grand Ballroom can accommodate up to 240 guests for dinner and dancing, up to 330 for a dinner reception and up to 400 people for a cocktail reception. The Main Lounge can accommodate up to 180 people and our Roof Dining Room up to 100. We also have a number of smaller event and meeting spaces for groups 5 – 100. Our Event Rooms section provides details on each of our banquet rooms.

Where would I have my ceremony?
The Library is used for weddings under 150 people. The Main Lounge and Grand Ballroom are used for ceremonies with more than 150 people.

When and where do we have our rehearsal?  Who coordinates it?
Rehearsals take place approximately one hour before the ceremony in the ceremony room.  The captain and the Catering Manager coordinate the rehearsal.

Is there a bridal room available during the wedding to freshen up?
Yes, a bridal suite is provided.

How many weddings/events can the Yale Club accommodate on the same night?
We can accommodate two to three events on the same day with staggered arrival times.

Do you have any restrictions on vendors?
We require that you select one of our eight house florists. Otherwise you are free to work with any vendor.

Where can guests park?
We work with two local garages.  Valet parking can be coordinated through the Front Office Manager.

What is the staff to guest ratio?

One waiter per every ten guests. Two banquet captains and a catering sales manager will also be present for your event.

What kind of table linens do you provide?
White floor-length cloth, white overlay and white napkins.

When can we taste the food?
Two to three months prior to the wedding we will schedule a menu tasting.

Do you have pianos we can use?
Yes, we have a baby grand piano in the Main Lounge and upright pianos can be arranged in the Roof Dining Room, Library and Grand Ballroom.

Can we reserve a block of rooms for out of town guests?
A block of 10-30 rooms may be reserved through our Front Office Manager.

Where can we take formal pictures?
Settings include the Library, the Main Lounge, the Grand Ballroom and the 18th floor depending on the day and the event schedule.  Permits are also available for Grand Central Terminal and Central Park.

Do you have private rooms available for post-wedding brunches?
Yes, the Saybrook or Trumbull rooms can be reserved for brunch.

What do you require to confirm a date?
We require you sign our contract and provide a $3,000 deposit.