Birdman and Lil’ Wayne said it with ‘start with straight shots and then pop bottles,’ and quite frankly, when it comes to nightlife, we can’t think of better advice. To do it up right in NYC, you’ve got to put down a pretty penny; but at the following New York City clubs, it’s more than worth it. However, unless you’re rolling in it, don’t pour it on the models.
1 Oak
If you make it past the tough door, you’ve probably already committed to two bottles of Dom Perignon at one of the few, coveted tables. As one the city’s glittering clubs du jour, 1 Oak is stuffed to the gills with bottle mongers - i.e. models, fashionistas, and bespoke bankers. But just because 1 Oak is usually flooded with these types, doesn’t mean its all bad - in fact, it is good, quite good. If you do make your way into the expansive room beneath the raw, oak-lined ceiling, don’t forget to make your way down to the pimped-out bathrooms—the pitch-black individual stalls feature gold basins and an oversized image of a gold gun on the wall.
Hudson Terrace
Hudson Terrace, with its magnificent urban vista, is an unparalleled entertainment destination. Discreetly tucked at the edge of midtown along the Hudson River, this spectacular haven of serene opulence offers unforgettable venue amenities, bottle service included. The thing about Hudson Terrace is the view. When coupled with a bottle of Grey Goose atop your very own table, nightlife unequaled by any other bungalow of a club in Manhattan ensues.
Tenjune
Get ready to do one of two things: 1 - wrangle a harem of beautiful women; or 2 - bust out the AmEx and spring for three bottles. That’s the only way you’re getting past the uber-snobby doorman and gaining access to Tenjune, which is currently enjoying its status as a top-5 “It” destination in New York. Tucked underneath the equally glam and overpriced STK Steakhouse, it’s like an Us Weekly spread brought to life, with celebs like Diddy, Lindsay Lohan, Sienna Miller and Kanye West spotted on a routine Tuesday. And you know, the only way they party is by poppin’ bottles.
Avenue
Avenue, a $2.5 million ‘gastro lounge’ as owner, Noah Tepperberg, has coined it, is one of New York City’s top nightlife destinations to partake in luxury, bottle service luxury, that is. And despite its explicit intent on not being that place, it is… plain and simple. The concept combines a bar/lounge with moving lights, a lot of seating and some eating. There is a DJ booth, but no dance floor, making conversation an integral part of the experience.
Goldbar
No, the bar doesn’t serve actual gold - unless your idea of hitting the jackpot is a jug of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, that is. At Goldbar, there’s an arcing gold ceiling, gold chain link curtains, gold skulls covering the walls with mesmerizing texture and light play. There are even gold turntables in the DJ booth. Along the walls, sit a small sampling of tables to enjoy a lavish evening. But you’ve got to be in the game to get through the colossal NoLita doors; the velvet ropes are tight and, for the most part, require a reservation.
Southside
Tom and Anthony Martignetti, two of New York City nightlife’s leading men, have created a gritty, underground lair out of Southside, their 1 Cleveland Place reinvention. Down the stairs, past the coat check and into the lengthy corridor, lined with leafy-green, bamboo branches, a modest, black and white checkered dance floor awaits. The walls of the venue are covered in slightly kitschy, fauna-stamped wallpaper, adding an eye-catching contrast to the slick flooring. The vintage, burnished, brown leather banquettes which line the perimeter and are strangely reminiscent of your grandmother’s couches, add to the venue’s old school, down-home feel - the best way to feel at home here, is with a magnum bottle of a beloved top-shelf liquor.