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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1
 
                                 April 16, 1999
 
The Sports Club Company, Inc.
11100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 300
Los Angeles, California 90025
 
Dear Sirs:
 
     We have acted as counsel to The Sports Club Company, Inc. a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed exchange (the
"Exchange") by the Company of 11 3/8% Series B Senior Subordinated Notes Due
2006 ("New Notes") for an equal principal amount of its outstanding 11 3/8%
Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2006 ("Old Notes").
 
     In connection with the proposed Exchange, we have examined the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, as presently in effect, the Company's
relevant corporate proceedings, the draft Registration Statement on Form S-4
covering the proposed Exchange (the "Registration Statement"), including the
Prospectus filed as a part of the Registration Statement, the Indenture dated
April 1, 1999, in respect of the Old Notes and the New Notes (the "Indenture"),
and such other documents, records, certificates of public officials, statutes
and decisions as we considered necessary to express the opinions contained
herein. In the examination of such documents, we have assumed the genuineness of
all signatures and the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as
originals and the conformity to the original documents of all documents
submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies.
 
     We understand that the New Notes are to be issued to the holders of the Old
Notes in the Exchange and are to be available for resale by such holders, all in
the manner described in the Prospectus, which is a part of the Registration
Statement, and in the Indenture.
 
     Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
 
          1. The issuance of the New Notes to the holders of the Old Notes
     pursuant to the terms of the Exchange and the Indenture has been duly
     authorized by proper corporate action of the Company.
 
          2. When the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective
     by order of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New Notes have
     been duly issued to and exchanged for the Old Notes, all in accordance with
     the terms of the Exchange, the Indenture and the Registration Statement,
     such New Notes will be validly issued.
 
     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to any reference to us in the Prospectus which is a
part thereof.
 
                                          Sincerely,
 
                                             /s/ KINSELLA, BOESCH, FUJIKAWA &
                                                         TOWLE
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                                          KINSELLA, BOESCH, FUJIKAWA & TOWLE