City Club of Baton Rouge

History

The building was constructed in 1895 as the U.S. Old Post Office and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places since June 9, 1980. The City Club organization traces its history to 1957 as a downtown Baton Rouge private member club.

Facilities

The club features a historic three-story clubhouse located at 355 North Boulevard, which includes 14 meeting rooms, a second-floor private ballroom and veranda that can accommodate over 250 guests, and named second-floor rooms such as Continental, Garden, and Patio. Additionally, there is a third-floor private dining room, bar, and board room, along with in-house audio/visual equipment and event planning staff. Valet parking is also available.

Dining

The club offers full-service member dining with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Dining facilities include multiple areas such as the Grill (with bar seating), private dining on the third floor, and flexible second-floor rooms used for member dining and events. Reservations are required for members and guests. The dining experience features seasonal à la carte menus, an extensive wine list, and private-label house wines. In-house catering is available for events, along with offerings like a Private Chef’s Table and private cocktail classes.

Events

The club hosts a year-round calendar of member events and programming, including recurring themed dinners such as Lobster Night, crawfish and holiday dinners, tastings, and beverage events. Other events include Meet the Board dinners, cocktail classes, and various member receptions and social gatherings. Signature and seasonal special events are also produced, including Lobster Night, Crawfish Boil, Oysters & Champagne, and holiday dinners.

Membership Options

Membership categories include Stockholder (Resident) membership for individuals typically aged 35 and older residing in the Greater Baton Rouge Area, Non-Resident membership for those aged 21 and older living outside the defined area, and Young Professional categories for those aged 21 to 34. Membership requires proposer and endorser signatures, an initiation fee, and the purchase of a share for Stockholder membership.

Networking Opportunities

The club provides structured opportunities for professional networking through various programming, including industry and community happy hours, Meet the Board dinners, and member receptions. Members also have access to meeting and boardroom facilities for business gatherings and reciprocal-club access when traveling.

Business Services

Business services include meeting and board rooms, in-house audio/visual equipment, and event planning support from the club’s special events team. Catering and food/beverage service for meetings are available, along with member reservation services and valet parking.

Venue Hire

The club offers private-event and wedding hosting with an in-house planning team. Members benefit from no venue or room rental fees and complimentary in-house décor items. Non-members must be sponsored by a current member or apply for membership to rent the facility, which can accommodate large receptions of up to approximately 250 guests on the second level.

Dress Code

The club's dress code requires business attire as the standard. In dining areas during the evening, gentlemen are generally required to wear a jacket. Specific events may have additional dress requirements.

Affiliations

The club is member-owned and governed by an elected Board of Governors. It maintains a wide reciprocal-club network that provides access to other private clubs, some of which offer hotel rooms, dining, and athletic facilities. More information can be found on the club’s Reciprocal Listing page.