I've been to the Jonathan Beach Club twice now, once for each of Melissa K.'s babies. The first time was a full baby shower, the second a smaller, more casual sprinkle. Both celebrations were seated brunches, where we got to enjoy the beachfront view and hit the extravagant buffet. The setting is prime and beautiful, a club on the beach in Santa Monica. I can see why people might want to join, though I can only imagine how much it costs. There's valet for members and comped parking for guests in the adjacent public lot. The buffet is genuinely impressive. The centerpiece is the bountiful seafood bar, where you can load up on oysters, crab claws, and shrimp cocktail, as well as lemon wedges, horseradish, and cocktail sauce to go with them. I skip the pancakes and most other brunchy items, in part because I'm not a brunch person, but also so I can make multiple visits to the seafood station, getting a reasonable amount per trip to disguise my greed. There's also a carving station, where I've gotten some delicious herb-crusted salmon. They have beef, too, and a few feet away, you can order an omelet from a guy who is there just to make people omelets. I prefer the salads, which go better with unlimited crab claws. There were two on my last visit, a Caesar and I think a garden salad with cheese crumbles and bacon. Something tasty and not boring, in any case. I also picked up some minestrone with orzo and a mini eggs Benedict, both of which were okay, plus a bit of smoked salmon. The dessert section is its own little buffet, with too many offerings to be sampled by one adult with a limited sweet tooth. I went for the fresh cut fruit on my last visit, then saw the lovely strawberry buttermilk pie. I couldn't finish the rich custardy filling, but the juicy strawberry topping was delicious. I also took a bite of my friend's tiny chocolate crème brûlée. I'd love to come back to the Jonathan Beach Club, though that might require Mel to have another baby. Maybe she and her husband will play ball so I can have all-you-can-eat seafood at the beach. read more

JBC is a fanfare experience (restaurant). I feel biased since I had accommodations but at the same time the service was lackluster. Food was tasty but also tiny. Ceviche comes in a "bowl" meant for dipping. Almost as if everything was placed with tweezers. The food was quality, but for the price you can get better value elsewhere and taste just as good if not better. We enjoyed ceviche, sushi, shrimp tacos and steak. Again all good, but hard to justify. read more

A truly gracious birthday brunch at the Jonathan Club. Wonderful service, attentive staff, and a lovely atmosphere made for a beautiful and memorable celebration. read more

the chefs at Jonathan's beach club are well educated in the field of culinary arts everything is fresh and always delicious from 1to10 it's ten I love the ambience so warm and friendly and always moving in the right direction that would be up! 5 stars service the cuisine your gonna talk about for weeks and wanna have a great time choose JB the best!! Summer is here see you at the beach house In Santa Monica!! JB cool!! read more

Always a wonderful experience! The canasta class is very well taught and is a great social experience! read more

Ambiance right on the beach is very nice! Food and service is amazing. Entertainment was very nice.

The service is very polite and reasonable. The members are great and the food is amazing. The ambiance is very elegant but casual. It is a top notch facility. read more

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 1st floor it opens on to the sand and you can walk to the water..........super nice Fire pit outside. read more

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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. read more

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Was at the club for a corporate event. The parking attendants at the main lot were absolutely awful. The ones next door at Lot 8 were much better. However if that's how the main lot acts, I would never want to come back. They act like they are kings when they are anything but. read more

Horrible experience here. The valet was so rude. Francisco yelled in my face...twice. Then blew a whistle in my face and told me I'm not aloud to park there even though I was given permission as I was only going to be there for an hour. I spoke with the manager Stephan and he said it's not his problem. I will NEVER come here again! If you are a member really think if you want your guests treated with such disrespect. read more

Every time I come here, I feel like I'm at a cheesy Hilton hotel somewhere in middle America. The service is subpar & the food is terrible. The amenities aren't the greatest either but it's a good way to get the kids off their screens & running around and you always run into someone you know! read more

Great club with outstanding service , beautiful location. I attended ACCP event this August.

Horrible hospitality. As a guest, I approached a server in pursuit of help and he literally accused me of trespassing. I am a young African-American woman and this was just downright hurtful. Rude body language and accusation of a crime over a question pertaining to silverware is unacceptable. Wow. I'll never step foot in there again, I clearly wasn't welcomed. If you're looking for an up to date, fun, diverse beach club with high end service, this isn't for you. This place lacks class. read more

I love the Jonathan Beach Club! When I visit LA, I enjoy hanging out here at the beach club in Santa Monica (and staying overnight at the clubhouse in downtown LA). The private club atmosphere (esp. at the downtown club) is very East Coast meets West Coast with grand sumptuous salons and dark wood-paneled walls. Here at the beach club, the atmosphere is more airy and casual. One can lay by the beach, swim in the pool, play tennis, or have a delightful meal al fresco. read more

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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 read more

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. read more

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An unbeatable view from right on the beach. Attentive service and excellent food. If your cousin is a member and invites you, go, go, go!

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. read more

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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! read more

Jonathan Beach Club - Fire pit - Lounges Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Review ? Easy ! Jonathan Beach Club is the best club ever ! Location beautiful, library, reading room, gym, pool, kids pool, work out classes, bar room, dinning rooms / areas inside and outside perfect, food and bar service really really good, food is great! valet service so nice , everyone who works at the club is super nice and helpful! Special events are so much fun, entertaining events , events you learn from , holidays are beautiful , the club is a great way to meet new people, make friends , enjoy time with your friends and family no matter if you are at the Beach Club or the Town Club ! Can you tell !!!?????? I LOVE IT read more

**Beach Party Area review only** Environment: I attended a sponsored event/party here and we were on beach area behind the tennis courts. They had a couple of bars setup with catering area. They space itself was not conducive to people interacting but the open beach area and view to ocean is the most appealing part of the venue space. Verdict: staff were not the friendliest in any term of the words. Bartenders - did not look happy & took forever to make our drinks and were more interested in talking to each other than helping out the patrons. Tips: They have uber/lyft area for pickup and drop off. Next Time: probably would not come here on my own - too far out of the way and very hard to get to from Downtown. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. I called ahead of time to ask if my emotional support animal was welcome, and I was told it would be no problem. We drove 45 minutes to the Jonathan Club to be met by the manager who told us he would have to deny us access to the JC given our dog is an ESA and not service animal. He explained that his employee had made a mistake and that our dog "would not be acknowledged." If you have a policy, that's perfectly understandable, but don't misconstrue your rules to those considerate enough who call ahead of time. read more

This is a private club so you need to be a member or go in with one. There's the original Jonathan Club in Down town Los Angeles, but I personally like the casual atmosphere of this place. Friday night SEAFOOD BUFFET is awesome. The unlmited amounts of amazing dessert and you can get lobster/crab as well. The food is quite incredible and just like a top-notch restaurant. On weekdays, they have regular meals for lunch and dinner and that is good as well. There is a swimming pool and racquet ball court, and it's quite nice that they have a private beach area where you can sit in the sand and eat on tap. read more

Helped plan a private event hosted on the sand. The venue, table setup, stage, and dinner service were great, but the hired staff did bare minimum to help. There was miscommunication among staff members of their assignments, leaving posts unattended and causing the hosts to man booths that were supposed to be covered. Having significantly increased their private venue pricing, was very disappointed and not worth the headache. That being said, the view is stunning and the event turned out picture perfect, but not without a lot of preparation. They have a strict no cell phone policy on premise. Easy public parking in Lot 8 for $8/per entry read more

Its one of the Best Private clubs in the world. the most open to all people and a good community

I'm not a big proponent of exclusive social clubs (in fact I don't like them much). It was just back in 1985, that the Coastal Commission ordered the club to adopt nondiscriminatory policies before it would give it a permit to expand its recreational use onto state-owned beach property. This said, what are you going to do when the funeral reception is there. You go and support your friends and family. The reception was in the penthouse with a patio and was lovely and the food very good (Greek salad, chicken / bacon chipped, vegetarian wraps, bite sized sliders, croissant prosciutto sands, fresh fruit, and tasty small bite desserts and open host bar. The patio overlooked the club sports facilities below and the beach with all the prominent blue Johnathan club umbrellas. Valet parking only. Very nice staff not snooty (the location helps!). read more

Jonathan Beach Club - Lounges Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I've only been here twice in my lil ol life. Once was for a very expensive wedding where I questioned why they paid so much to have it here since as they said their vows there were roller bladers skating by in the background. Nothing says til death do us part like a dude in headphones and dolphin shorts, right? The second was for Thanksgiving this past year with the then boyfriend and his very large family. To my understanding it was quite the pricey meal and for what it was, meh, I didn't think it was worth the money, but hey, I'm a snob when it comes to Turkey day meals. Overall, I think it's a very pretty place, but from what I understand, they used to not let Jews in here and that just bugs me and I think it definitely influenced the way I spent my time here. Just lame. But luckily this is not the case anymore, but I dunno, for my special day, I wouldn't want it to be somewhere that believed that was right at any point in time. Again, that's just me. read more

Haha.... wow. So, people pay to hang out at this place, huh? You guys do know that the beach in California is free.... right? Anyways, went to a wedding here the other night and the food was awful, but here's something fun you can do to pass the time away if you are ever stuck here: They don't allow cell phones at the Jonathan Club and they are very strict about it. If you whip out a cell phone and start talking on it, they will literally remove you from the premises. BUT, if you hold two fingers up to your ear in a phone shape and pretend to talk on the phone.... it confuses the hell out of them and is loads of fun! Trust me, it is totally worth it for the pure confusion and chaos it causes! Try it! (If they ask you what you are doing, tell them you are rehearsing lines for a movie you're in ;-) ) read more

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. read more

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). read more

Came for a business lunch and was seated at a large round table right next to the window. Fabulous view, attentive service, lacking kitchen. +PROs+ + great bread basket appetizer that came with an assortment of spreads including a sweet olive tapenade, cream butter, and extra virgin olive oil + view - great uninterrupted ocean view -CONS- - food; it wasn't blow your socks off amazing, but it wasn't dirt either. - menu & kitchen offerings were not synced. Food * Maryland style crab cake appetizer - came with a nice Asian slaw which was acidic enough to cut through the creaminess of the crab cake, which consisted of large lumps of crab. However, it was slathered with so much mayonnaise that it couldn't hold its shape and instead looked like someone had used an ice cream scooped me a portion of crab casserole. * Scallops and Mediterranean risotto - scallops were DELICIOUS, cooked to perfection and buttery smooth. However, their natural sweetness was ruined by a heavy pour of butter/gravy sauce. The risotto was terrible. It was undercooked (still crunchy!) and garnished with an unnecessary stream of basil oil. *Dessert - apple crisp (mushy), creme brulee (decent), chocolate cream pie (they were out of the bread pudding, disappointing). Very nice facilities and view, but I wouldn't sign up for membership based on the quality of food. read more

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! read more

There are 3 private beach clubs along this strip of Southern California's beaches. They are all nice, and they all have their distinct characteristics. As I read the reviews, it bothered me how those with low ratings seem to have a problem more with private clubs, than they do with the Jonathan Beach Club itself. I had a party recently at the Jonathan Beach Club, and it was 5 stars all the way. Food, setting, service...no other place I would have wanted my party. read more

My sister has been a member here for as long as I can remember, and I never had the chance to go until this summer while they were redecorating. I was lucky enough to go as they finished the remodel and I was definitely blown away, to say the least. The environment is so friendly, the staff is so kind and respectful, and they have all sorts of activities from beach volleyball to paddle tennis! The food at the restaurant is also spectacular and the view during the sunset is just so beautiful. There are no cell phones allowed, but that's definitely for the better so the entire family can have a nice day out doors without any distractions. They also provide seating at the beach next to the water for when you make your way down there. Such a beautiful beach club, i'm considering getting a membership too now. read more

I came to the Jonathan BC for a company event and it's a nice little club if you want to impress out of towners. It would probably be worth your money to get a membership here if you have kids, organize a large event or have the means to spend a ridiculous amount of money. Other than that, even if I become disgustingly wealthy one day I rather get a membership elsewhere. The staff service was mediocre, although the food was pretty good and the facilities were nice. But who am I to complain when all of this was for free?? I'm just telling ya, that you shouldn't expect something majestic out of this place when you do come here. Btw: I guess an added bonus is that they have their own private beach, sot that annoying little kids can't bother you when you're trying to make your own sand castle. read more

fun members, fun parties, nice facility. Personally I adhere to the Groucho Marx philosophy of clubs, but were I to join it would be Jonathan beach. This is the sister club to their downtown club, which is a traditional member's club with a great facility. Perfect for those who live in SM and work downtown, or vice-versa... Insider Tip: don't use your cellphone on the grounds. read more

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 read more

Jonathan Beach Club - Looking out of the meeting room! - Lounges Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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... =) read more

In the summer it's great to come here and get-away from the touristy crowd of 3rd street and the pier, AND eat potato fries that are to die for. The Club sits right in front of the water, it's wonderful to watch the sun set on the deck. read more