Moss: A New Luxury Oasis in the Heart of Manhattan

In the ever-evolving landscape of New York City’s exclusive social scene, a new private club has emerged as a beacon of luxury and sophistication in Midtown Manhattan. Sisters Colleen and Hailey Brooks have created Moss, an ambitious venture spanning five stories of the striking 1,002-foot supertall skyscraper at 520 Fifth Avenue. Opening its doors with membership dues ranging from $280 to $745 monthly (after initiation fees between $1,500 and $3,950), Moss represents a bold new vision for urban leisure and wellness. The sisters describe their creation as a harmonious blend of “intelligent leisure” and “physical culture,” offering 40,000 square feet of meticulously designed space divided equally between social dining experiences and comprehensive health facilities. Colleen, with her background at JPMorgan Chase and Fortress, brings business acumen to the venture, while Hailey contributes her expertise in trend forecasting to ensure Moss remains at the cutting edge of luxury experiences.

The culinary landscape at Moss promises to be nothing short of extraordinary, with Chef Angela Zeng (formerly of acclaimed restaurants Frenchette and Lilia) overseeing five distinct dining and lounge spaces. The crown jewel is Babette, a signature restaurant inspired by the film “Babette’s Feast,” offering New American cuisine infused with French and East Asian influences. For those seeking spectacular views with their refreshments, Bar Babette overlooks the iconic Fifth Avenue, specializing in oysters and perfectly crafted martinis. The club’s entertainment options extend to Lil’s, an atmospheric jazz piano lounge where live music accompanies small plates and cocktails, while the more intimate Inklings library bar serves as a sanctuary for those wishing to enjoy experimental cocktails in a refined setting. This thoughtful diversity of dining experiences reflects the Brooks sisters’ understanding that modern luxury is defined by choice, personalization, and impeccable quality.

Moss’s wellness facilities represent perhaps the most impressive aspect of the club’s offerings, with a two-story gym that opened this week featuring amenities rarely found under a single roof. Members have access to a forward-thinking longevity clinic, therapeutic thermal pools, an authentic Turkish-style steam room, dedicated pilates spaces, and even a combination pickleball and half-basketball court. The spa and treatment rooms provide sanctuary for relaxation, while yoga studios and personal trainers ensure members receive expert guidance in their wellness journeys. Beyond physical fitness, Moss embraces a holistic vision of leisure with a game room offering mahjong, backgammon, and poker, alongside modern amenities like a podcast studio that doubles as a DJ booth and a vinyl listening room that transforms into a karaoke space. The club even features a dedicated area for “fireside chats” and speaker programming, while the top floor houses four private rooms suitable for everything from business meetings to intimate celebrations.

The exquisite interior design of Moss comes courtesy of Vicky Charles, whose credentials include two decades at Soho House before launching Charles & Co., where her client list features celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham, Ashton Kutcher, and Mila Kunis. This pedigree is evident throughout Moss’s spaces, which strike a delicate balance between contemporary luxury and timeless elegance. The Brooks sisters initially planned to launch their private club before the COVID pandemic disrupted global hospitality. Rather than abandoning their vision, however, the sisters persevered, believing the pandemic only underscored their core philosophy. As Hailey Brooks explains, “New Yorkers want to spend their time with a better quality of life in the city. COVID just highlighted this need even more.” This resilience speaks to the founders’ commitment to creating not just another exclusive venue, but a genuine community where members can find respite from the city’s demands while connecting with like-minded individuals in an environment of uncompromising quality.

The emergence of Moss reflects broader trends in New York’s hospitality scene, where luxury establishments are increasingly focusing on creating comprehensive experiences rather than singular offerings. Colleen Brooks observes that while “the club industry has been around for more than a hundred years,” it has only recently gained significant momentum in New York, creating space “for different types of clubs” where people “will self-select and find their own community.” This philosophy of catering to distinct communities with specific needs is echoed across the city, including in the hotel bar scene, which is witnessing a renaissance of creativity and specialized experiences. A prime example is the recent opening of Seed Library in Nomad’s Hotel Park Avenue by celebrated London bartender Ryan Chetiyawardana (known as Mr. Lyan), bringing his innovative approach to mixology to New Yorkers. Meanwhile, the new Faena New York hotel showcases the intersection of architecture and mixology with its secret cocktail “Oxymoron,” created by renowned architect Bjarke Ingels himself and served in El Secreto, a bar hidden behind an unmarked door.

As New York continues its post-pandemic revival, establishments like Moss represent a new paradigm in urban luxury—one that prioritizes holistic well-being, community building, and personalized experiences over mere ostentation. The ideal Moss member, according to Colleen Brooks, is “anyone who understands what we bring to the table, the need to combine wellness and socializing, expanding your day-to-day [options and] finding a new community in a place that is easy to get to.” This approach acknowledges that modern luxury is increasingly defined by access to experiences that enhance quality of life rather than simple displays of wealth. In the concrete jungle of Manhattan, Moss stands as an urban oasis offering respite, rejuvenation, and connection—proving that even in a city that never sleeps, there’s growing value placed on spaces that nurture both body and soul. As New Yorkers navigate the complexities of post-pandemic life, venues like Moss and the innovative hotel bars emerging across the city suggest a collective desire to redefine luxury around meaningful experiences shared in thoughtfully designed environments.