Members only
Inside Tilman Fertitta’s private club in the Post Oak Hotel, where photos and media are banned
Mosey into the Post Oak Hotel at Uptown and walk toward a certain elevator bank, and near the button marked No. 26, there’s a curious destination. It reads: Oak Room, private. For most hotel guests, the journey ends there. A concierge staffer guards entry into Tilman Fertitta’s members-only club with his or her life. An exhaustive Google search reveals zero images of the exclusive space. There’s a permanent “No Photography” sign outside the Oak Room’s onyx double doors.
On Feb. 27, Fertitta broke his own rule. He invited RodeoHouston opener Parker McCollum to play a private concert and lifted the social media ban for the first — and possibly last — time.
“This is ‘Parker Unplugged’ and as special as it gets,” Fertitta told the crowd. “Tonight, take your cameras out and have some fun. Not tomorrow night though.”
McCollum, a Conroe native, spent Monday working the drive-thru window at Raising Cane’s in his hometown. His father drove down from Austin to watch his son hand out fried chicken and tickets to Tuesday night’s show at NRG stadium, home to the rodeo through March 19. Fertitta sent an express mode of transportation to high-tail the McCollums into town.
“I said I’d only play one song, but I’ll play him two because he flew me here in his helicopter,” McCollum said. “I don’t know how much gas costs these days, but this ought to cover it.”
The Americana country singer-songwriter performed two songs, “To Be Loved By You” and “Handle on You.” He thanked Fertitta several times for “taking such good care of his
family,” but didn’t elaborate.
The “Billionaire Buyer” said he met McCollum a couple of years ago and has always tried to be hospitable. A small cheering section, including McCollum’s stepmother and his bride, Hallie Ray Light, held court on the Oak Room’s panoramic balcony. The newly married couple met at one of McCollum’s shows.
That kind of thing can happen in the Oak Room, too. “You never know who you’re going to run into,” said Yonny Demeris.
After the Astros clinched their second World Series in 2022, the Demeris Bar-B-Q owner says he spent two hours drinking with five-time MLB All-Star Frank Thomas.
Peyton Manning, Terry Bradshaw, Jon Bon Jovi, Eva Longoria, Kendall Jenner, Kevin Hart, Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and most recently, “Breaking Bad” co-stars Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, have each hosted events in the Oak Room over the past 12 months. Most of those celebrities were touting their respective liquor brands at the time. Though once, Drake hopped on the DJ turntables, just because.
“Celebs come here because they don’t want to get harassed,” Fertitta said. He made a one-time exception for McCollum, otherwise the “no photo” rule is strictly enforced. “Members don’t want to get their memberships revoked.”
The Oak Room ignited a trend in Houston. It opened September 2018, six months after the hotel began welcoming guests. Around the same time, Balthazar Cellars, a members-only wine storage facility and private events space near Upper Kirby, debuted, too. This spring, Park House, a membersonly social club based in Dallas, will move an outpost into River Oaks District. SoHo House will reportedly open a Houston location near downtown in 2023 as well.
“They’re kind of popular now, but I wanted to attract a different group,” Fertitta explained. “Not just people with money, but anyone who’s special at what they do. Like even the best maitre’d.”
He wouldn’t disclose how many memberships are currently active. Or their dues.
The card-carrying few have access to the Oak Room six days a week. A few Robert Motherwell drawings hang on the walls. An assortment of Baccarat crystal line the shelves. At capacity, the 3,000-square-foot space can hold approximately 150 guests. Some use it for afternoon meetings. The doors remain “open” until the last drink is served.
There’s a $46 “Millionaire Margarita” on the menu, though members can order from any of the restaurants on the Post Oak’s campus. That includes the Instagramfriendly sushi boat, pizza from Craft F&B, wagyu from Mastro’s Steakhouse or any wine bottle from the Cellar’s 40,000 labels.
Now through March, there’s a rodeo-themed pop-up near the hotel’s in-house Rolls Royce dealership. No guarantees on RodeoHouston headliner sightings, but it’s a great photo op. No membership required.