This is a club, which means that the bar may be only open to members.

The oldest of the surviving Pall Mall clubs and founded in 1819 to be a point of reunion for gentlemen who had travelled abroad; now its membership has broadened but still includes many Foreign Office officials and diplomats. Membership numbers about 1300.

Honorary members include members of the British and other royal families, the Foreign Secretary whilst in office, and certain ambassadors to London (65 at the last count). There is a special category of membership for distinguished explorers and travel writers. Membership benefits include reciprocal use of 140 clubs round the world.

The clubhouse was designed by Charles Barry and completed in 1832; it broke with neo-classical tradition by taking the Renaissance palazzo as its model. It was bombed in 1940, and restored in the early 1950s by F Rowntree. The building includes a Smoking Room, two Morning Rooms, Library, map room, cocktail bar and a dining room. In addition to its superb period decoration the Club houses a fine collection of artworks including, in the Library, a cast of the frieze from the temple of Apollo at Bassae brought back by a member.

Dress code is formal and there are no female members, though ladies are welcome as guests.