i heart nyc bars » doorman

Cabin Down Bellow

Iheartnycbars — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:57:05 +0000

Named after a Tom Petty song, Cabin Down Bellow is the indie version of a speakeasy. You used to enter through the recently closed Pizza Shop, and now you go through the ally around the corner on 7th st. The bar is small and the amount of people who go gaga over this gimmick is big, so demand to get in is high. Be prepared to be told or asked who’s private party you’re there for. Once you make it in, you find a lot of rock scene snobs and the models who date them. Don’t expect mixologists, but rather your average everyday drinks. There is hardly any music, people are mostly chatting and looking around trying to figure out who’s private party they’re at.

10 Ave. A, nr. 7th St. 10009

Star Lounge

Iheartnycbars — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 02:38:52 +0000

Fridays are gay night, which is probably their best and least cheesy nite. The bar has a sister bar in the Hamptons with the same name. It was once hard to get into, but now the scene is pretty lame. However if you want to get on the list here is the trick as my treat to you: call them a day before and say you are getting a bottle, that will get your name on the list. The thing is that once you get in, no one checks to see if you actually go to your table. Anyways, what makes the Star Lounge blogworthy, especially around the Halloween season is their VIP, called room 101, which is supposedly directly under the original room 101 of the legendary Chelsea Hotel. So what happened in that hotel room ? Well, that is where Nancy Spungen was found stabbed to death October 12, 1978. Yes Nancy, as in Sid and Nancy. And for those born in the late 80′s or 90′s that is Sid as in John Simon Ritchie aka Sid Vicious, the Sex Pistols’ pretty-bad-boy bassist and “singer”. Ritchie was arrested in connection with the murder, but was later released on bail. To this day it is still not clear who killed Nancy. Sid himself died of a drug overdose on February 2, 1979. R.I.P. Sid & Nancy

Hours: Daily, 11pm-4am

222 W. 23rd St. nr. Seventh Ave.NY 10011 212-255-4646

Hudson Terrace

Iheartnycbars — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:14:07 +0000

New York Mag says it’s Miami on the Hudson, while the venue on its website describes itself as Plam Springs inspired. I am just gonna call it as I see it, which is just plain tacky. It is like the 230 Fifth of the Westside; a rooftop garden with a nice view, a cheesy lounge downstairs, a sleazy doorman, bored waitresses in skimpy dresses and long lines after 1o pm. And hell, here the view is only nice if you look west towards the water (the aircraft carrier Intrepid is docked right bellow). If you must go, do it prior to 8, which is when the happy hour ends and before the crowd regulars have crossed over the Lincoln Tunnel.

Happy Hour: Tue-Fri, 5pm-10pm; 2 for 1 speciality drinks and Bud Lights

Hours: Tue-Fri, 5pm-4am; Sat 9pm-4am; Sun, 2pm-9pm (brunch)

621 West 46th st nr. Eleventh Ave. 212-315-9400

A60

Iheartnycbars — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 13:47:23 +0000

A rather subdued and chic 13th-floor rooftop bar in the heart of Soho. On top of one of the original trendy designer hotels, the Thompson Hotel. A60 is a members only bar, but if you get a room, your room key will grant you access. And if you somehow manage to get in some other way, the hostess will check to see if you have the Thompson logo stamped on your hand. This is not a loud club, but rather a cool lounge where you can relax with a cocktail while you take in the view. A nice plus is that you also have the non-members only Thom bar downstairs, which is a tad louder but still equally stylish.

Hours: May-Labor Day: daily, 5pm-2am, weather permitting; Labor Day-Apr: daily, closed

60 Thompson St., nr. Broome St., NY 10012 877-431-0400

Gold Bar

Iheartnycbars — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:46:30 +0000

This place has one of the toughest doors in the city. Brooklyn bred Johnny boy guards that door as if it was his sister’s purity. He has even gone on record saying that he has denied his childhood friends entry (I am talking about the bar here). Once you finally get in, you feel as if you were in Donatella Versace and Christian Audigier´s den. Gold and skulls galore. (It is not as bad or tacky as it sounds.) The party doesn’t get rolling till late and Sundays the crowd is a tad more diverse. (aka a bit less eurotrashy). Occasional celebrity spottings can occur. If you manage to get past Johnny, it can be fun. But just remember that not everything that glimmers is true gold. (fool’s gold bar?!?)

Hours: Tue-Sun, 10pm-4am; Mon, closed

389 Broome St., nr. Mulberry St., NY 10013 212-274-1568

230 Fifth

Iheartnycbars — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:06:08 +0000

You know how there are places you are really curious about and have to see for yourself, despite your better judgment? 230 fifth is just that type of place. On top of what was once the Victoria hotel, 20 floors up, in the first level of the club there is a lounge that is as big as it is cheesy. Then on the rooftop is a spacious and very green open air space. This is much better, yet the shrubs lining the surrounding walls obscure a bit of the view. This place is like an outdated Meat Packing joint, all flash and no class. Even the waitress begrudgingly know this (maybe that’s why they are so cranky). The only way to enjoy the view is if you come early (5ish), plus this way you hardly have to deal with the obnoxious doorman (don´t say i didn’t warn you).

Hours: Daily, 4pm-4am

230 Fifth Ave., 20th fl, at 27th St., NY 10001 212-725-4300

The Anchor

Iheartnycbars — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 12:37:04 +0000

A trendy spot pretending to look divey, which was opened not surprisingly by a publicist. The design seems part lodge and part mod. There is a doorman but he basically only cards you. The crowd can be young and/or silly, but it won’t prevent you from dancing it up on the make shift dancefloor in the back. This bar almost feels like it should be in West LA rather than that weird no man’s land west of Soho.

Supposed open bar for $20 with top shelf liquor on Thursday nights from 7 to 9

Hours: Wed-Sun, 10pm-4am; Mon-Tue, closed

310 Spring St., nr. Greenwich St., NY 10013 212.463.7406