Jonathan Beach Club

I was a guest for a special event here and was totally impressed. It’s easy to find and there is valet parking for a fee. There is also a large parking lot next door for a lesser fee. The valet were organized and had our names on the list.
We were directed up to the penthouse for cocktails. There is a huge outside area and there was a nice bar set up. I was so impressed with the view of the beach that spread from Santa Monica pier to Malibu. The sunset was beautiful. Tasty appetizers were passed that included lobster ceviche (my favorite), chicken wrapped in prosciutto, artichoke and cheese on toast, and steak and tomato skewers. There were several bar top tables to stand around and the waitresses were nice and friendly.
Dinner then took place at tables that were directly on the sand. The dress was beach casual with sandals which was perfect for a warm evening. There was adequate amount of room for posters, displays, and entertainment.
A buffet was set up that included freshly made grilled burgers, hot dogs, and veggie burgers with all the toppings. Baked beans, baked potatoes, and salad was also provided. I enjoyed all of it! There was also a nice coffee station with an assortment of cookies. I went back for seconds on the cookies!
The bathrooms were clean and close enough to get to easily. There are also nice tennis courts at this beach club that can be used for other events. This was my first time here and I was happy with everything. I would love to go back again some day.

The Jonathan Club is primarily for members and their guests. I love the ambiance, paddle tennis, and services. Member only parking is limited and provides members with a service they pay for in their membership dues and fees. Fortunately, guests have an option for parking adjacent to the club. Member only days are on the calendar and give members an opportunity to meet each other and enjoy the benefits of membership. I am glad that this was implemented several years ago. The staff is great, although sometimes there is a need for additional servers during the summer. Love this club.

Was fortunate enough to step foot in this very prestigious beach club…(rolls eyes) but really, seems like it must be a pricy membership and it’s strictly members only. They have valet at the front. As I had mentioned checking in is pretty strict. If you are a member’s guest you must have the member let you in. They give everyone a wrist band and guests have a different one from members lol.
Inside is clean and nice. I did not spend much time checking out the amenities but enjoyed the sand. They have beach chairs and a full bar which is great. Not many places in LA where you can drink on the sand. The bloody mary’s are INSANE. The best mix. What is it?! I might have to call and ask… for all I know it’s store bought?
All drink and food orders go on the member number. I think that’s really convenient for members but what if a guest wants to pay… they should give the option.
Definitely a great place to relax and enjoy the beach. Perfect for families too!

The Jonathan Club is a pretty awesome way to experience the beach in Los Angeles. On the whole process is amazingly streamlined. In just a couple minutes, you can have your car valet parked, receive club-​provided beach chairs and take a seat by pre-​set up umbrellas by the ocean.
The service is solid and the staff is often willing to assist you with whatever you need. With everything provided as part of the club, from sunscreen to complementary water, going to the beach at the JC is a pretty simple adventure.
The vibe is very laid back with a bar and restaurant for adults and a less upscale dining area for younger kids and beach goers. The place was recently remodeled and the outdoor seating area is very comfortable. While there are spaces for adults, the club as a whole is very family oriented and perfect for kids (the club has toys and a play area in addition to table tennis courts and a pool). Also, they have a strict no cell phone policy — so take that as you will.
As a guest, the service is not quite as good — you have to park in a different lot on the other side of the club (parking is $ 10) and you don’t necessarily receives the same attention as members. Additionally, some days are «members only» meaning that you’ll have to meet up with your member friends elsewhere. Often times these days are unclear even to members themselves. On the whole it is still a lot of fun, but it is just something to consider.
I’ve always enjoyed my experience here and I’m sure I’ll be back soon to enjoy the Los Angeles summer sun.

Visiting around 11am 4÷3÷15 valet assistant kept pressed me my car moving there wasn’t courtesy no good experience here

It’s nice but gets tired quickly. Staff are friendly but managers are very arrogant and unhelpful. They seem to think that helping members is beneath them. I would never pay to belong here. Bel-​Air Bay Club or The Beach Club are much better.

The JC Beach Club is a one of a kind experience. To be able to pull in at the sand, valet park and have a cocktail in your hand within minutes really has no price. The service is excellent, and they care for members and their guests like family. Food and drink are delicious and original. My wife is a vegetarian, and there is always several items in the menu that she is excited about, and moreover the chef will make anything she desires and will often suggest a creative take on one of the existing menu items and make it special for her. As a omnivoreI am always excited about the choice and varied cuts of meat. JCB is bomb all around, where memories are made and cherished

Came here for a client meeting and what a good surprise in that the property is on the sand in Santa Monica. I’ve only been to the downtown JC and that’s OK too. The JBC is on the beach in Santa Monica beach, 3 floors, with conference rooms that have ocean views. It’s calm here, the service is 4 star, the views 5 star. The entire place has a vibe of California beach casual, not high end, service oriented, clean and nicely maintained. I hear the Easter brunch is good so gotta try that next and will report. For lunch you can pick from a variety of light spa entrees, salads, fish, short ribs, organic chicken. Had the sand dabs and they were pretty tasty, the sauce a bit dense but good. For the great scenery and service, will come back the next invite.
The service attention here is really 4 star, the property is about 3.5, the views are 5– star.
Visits: 1
Tip: If you come here, have lunch or dinner in the dining room on the 1^st floor it opens on to the sand and you can walk to the water… super nice Fire pit outside.

My family history with SBC goes back to my grandfather, George Edward Nagel (owner of Silverwoods Dept. store and Member of the exclusive Downtown LA Athletic Club) he was an early member and actually financially help the SBC during the 1920s depression. My father (Frank V.T. Phillips, a Hollywood director of photography) and Mother, Edina Nagel, met on the sands of the beach club in 1935. The JBC is a wonderful place to visit and stay! Don’t miss it.

The JBC holds a special place in my heart — I grew up here, went to beach camp, attended summer events, family had their graduation celebrations over a nice dinner and even attended a wedding!
This is very much a family oriented place if you want a nice beach outing. There’s a playground for the kids and a place for the parents to hang out before everyone heads to the beach. We would do this in the morning, get a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch (my favorite!), then head to the beach.
They also have a very indoor and outdoor area for food and drinks. It’s common to see business professionals holding meetings over cocktails or families celebrating an occasion. My college gradation dinner was here as well as my brother’s high school graduation celebration! If you want the indoor private room (holds around 11 – 14 people) make sure to book it in advance!
While I never learned how to play tennis, I often swam in their indoor pool. It’s pretty big, has many lanes and runs 9 feet deep! You do have to rinse off beforehand in the nearby bathrooms.
Amazing place! And parking is right in front of the California incline.

Here was the lowlight of my most recent trip to the Jonathan Club in Santa Monica:
Valet was interesting this go-​round. In fact, one guy was a complete douche. He was pretty rude to my husband’s grandfather who has been a member for some 20 years. We understood (after he practically yelled at us) that the valet parking lot was full, and that my husband would need to park his car in one of the overflow lots, however, he just wanted to unload our baby gear and let everybody else out of the car first. That guy disappeared after we circled the lot to «get out-​of-​the-​way» (yet, no one was behind us), so my husband dropped us off. Then everything was cool with the other valet guys and they ended up finding a spot for his car.
Onto the highlights…
The restrooms near the front dining area have been updated since my first review a year ago of the Jonathan Club in Santa Monica. While they are much nicer and cleaner than ever before, there is not a single baby changing station on the ground level — not even in the handicap stall in that restroom. You must take the elevator to «level B» to change your baby in the ladies’s locker room. Boo.
Our host was very welcoming this time. The waiters and waitresses that we had on the terrace were again — young, fresh-​faced, and very friendly. Great service! Terrace seating is the best… Drinks take a little while longer to be served out there, but it’s always so much more nice and casual/​comfortable. Especially when the weather is as nice as it was on Easter.
Easter brunch/​lunch was really good.. . (FYI, I’ve been here for a Thanksgiving feast and a Mother’s Day brunch (and a few other occasions), however, this Easter buffet was the best!) There was all sorts of breakfast items from waffles to quiches to bacon and sausage to hash browns, etc. There was a few lunch choices as well. (And we were part of a 1:30 PM crowd.) But my favorites were the tortilla soup, shrimp — it was so fresh, and the variety of salads. Also, our baby girl enjoyed tugging on the «fur» of the bunny costume that was walking around.
People still use their phones to take pictures. So just turn your phone on silent or airplane mode and you should be fine. I still think it’s a stupid rule that you can’t use your cell phone, but whatever.
The beach here is still mostly clean, but seriously people — wealthy or not — could still pick up after themselves better.
Updated review from 4÷17÷13

We had a company awards party in February and we went for the 1^st time. Our car is not a common car, but it took a while for them to locate our vehicle from the valet. It was especially cold that evening, so it would have been nice if they extended the courtesy to put heating lamps outside for the guests waiting for their cars.
The food was good, but the bartenders didn’t offer much of a selection. They said there were certain liquors their company didn’t buy anymore, due to the lack of American popularity, even though they are well-​known in Europe.
It was not bad, but due to the recommendations I previously received about this place, I suppose my expectations were much higher.
It’s a nice facility for families and I would recommend this to anyone interested.

Best club! Everything is always up to date, clean, and the staff is extremely friendly. It is members only, but it is always a good time! The food is great. Great place for kids, families or also a romantic dinner.

Manager Ernie and Kevin are a delight. I would give them 10 stars each if possible. They make a wonderful family atmosphere. The staff is spectacular. The parties are unforgettable. Thanks guys!

This is a really nice place to come spend time.
It’s pretty casual here.
The food is all very good. The Garden Salad on the menu sounds boring, but it’s actually really, really good! I like the hummus appetizer too, and the guacamole side (though I would like a larger amount).
I like the fire pit outside.
Design-​wise, I think this place could really be spectacular if it were redesigned. I’ve seen photos of other beach clubs in the area which are just fabulous, the design of this place is not interesting. I was surprised when I came here the first time and saw that the architecture and design here were so boring.
The people who work here are amazing, everyone is so welcoming and sweet and helpful. I really love that about coming here. Great staff!

Had a conference here recently and yes, it’s very richie rich if you know what I mean. Not sure what the entrance fee is for the top 1% to get your fitness done, but setting your goals to get into a nice beach club like this one is priceless.
Keep on gunning… =)

Is there dust on those mints?
Thank God I was a guest because if I had to pay for this… very long in the tooth and banking on some old guard notion of affluence.
I gave it two stars because it is right on the beach and the valet was grateful that I tipped him 10 bucks when my host was not looking.

Honestly, I am grateful I can be a guest of a member here. I never understood the beauty of Santa Monica. It was always dirty and packed from my previous experiences on the beach alone. But after coming to the Jonathan Beach Club, Santa Monica is gorgeous!
Parking is extremely easy as they have their own parking lot. And you never have to worry about other people dinging your car door or stealing something from it as it’s fenced off. Sign in at the front and run off to explore this beauty!
THE CLUB: There’s a pool where you can do some great lap swimming. However, it gets annoying when there are a million little children splashing around and screaming in there. I try to overlook that. There’s a gym as well! Perfect if you just want to stare into the ocean and work out those muscles! To relax, there’s a sauna inside the bathrooms as well as personal showers. Once you’re all done with that, head outside for some sun. Grab a chair and an umbrella at the little stand. Yes, they even set the umbrella up for you! What’s great is that you have your own privacy.
THE FOOD: Now the food available downstairs, tucked in the corner is mediocre and ridiculously overpriced. But that doesn’t really matter because this all gets charged on the member’s account. Hamburger patties have no flavor, onion rings are frozen, tacos don’t seem too fresh. But if you get a chance to have brunch upstairs, you will be in heaven! Sunday brunch at the Jonathan Beach Club is somewhat consistent. I’ve had brunch a few times where it was impeccable. Food was served by the culinary talents of Le Cordon Bleu and everything was delightful. But there were times where I thought it was boring. The seafood is fresh, the meats are rightly cooked and seasoned. Bacon, sausage, hash browns, freshly made waffles and omelettes. And the dessert selection is extensive. My eyes get diabetes just looking at all that sugar! Just remember to dress appropriately if you’re coming here for brunch!
Now of course, if I weren’t so lucky to be a guest here, I would probably say how pretentious this place is. And of course it is, but I’m just happy I get to enjoy it. My biggest complaint would have to be the people who are members here. Some of the members I’ve encountered are outright rude. Sorry I’m not white or rich! Regardless there is no need to belittle me.
Number one rule you can’t forget at this place: no cell phones allowed. Seriously, even if it’s an emergency phone call, other members will pull you aside and berate you. Yes, berate.

We were lucky enough to dine on the terrace as guests of a member. The view was spectacular and the food was solid. I had never been to the Jonathan Club before and for some reason I expected it to be … well… nicer. Considering how much money people pay to join and spend on a regular basis, I would’ve expected everything to be in better condition.
This is the type of place to be seen and clearly, it’ll never be for me (not that I can afford to join anyway). It was fun; however, to enjoy it for just a moment.

This is a pretty nice club. It’s nice to have parking by the beach. They have valet parking available for members. Guests can park in lot 8 on the other side of the club.
The club has an indoor pool, outdoor pool, paddle tennis courts, playground, locker rooms, showers, restaurant, bar, etc.
There is also a small private area that you can rent for weddings, corporate gatherings, etc. This area fits around 120 people or so.
They have their own area at the beach that is not open to the public.
It’s a membership club so you need to be a member or know a member to hang out here. If you don’t like membership clubs… uh, don’t come here. Just go to the Annenberg center instead (it’s open to the public).