Tagged: Riff Raff

Bar Minimums: Worth It or Not?

It’s happened to everyone at one point (don’t lie), you get to the door of a club and the doorman tells you he wants you to do a bar minimum (agree to a minimum spend at the venue). While these can often be frustrating since it’s not exactly a no but not exactly a yes either, some people often give in and pay the amount. However, you don’t know what kind of crowd you’ll be getting inside when you make the agreement as you of course aren’t allowed to enter the club without putting down your credit card. As obnoxious as these deals sound, often they’re not so bad as you sometimes will end up spending the same amount inside of the club without even agreeing to a bar minimum and at least you’ll be allowed entrance into a more exclusive venue. The only problem for the consumer is that some places set minimums that basically can’t be met without going drastically over the set amount. Here are some bar minimums we have been offered around the city by doormen and we will give our verdict as to if these bar minimums are worth it or not (this list is not in any particular order). [Photo via]

#1. Provocateur

Quoted Bar Minimum: $500

Would We Do It?: Until we hit the lotto, No.

This $500 is usually quoted to small groups who can’t realistically finish a bottle on their own resulting in a lot of money being wasted. Also this minimum probably isn’t going to apply on nights that have big DJs headlining. Oh, and there’s also the fact that we don’t exactly have $500 to be spending every night and this usually is the only way we can get in (unless we know someone with a table of course). But if we did have cash to blow every night, Provocatuer would be the place we’d spend it at. [Photo via]

 

 

#2. Riff Raff

Quoted Bar Minimum: $100 per person

Would We Do It?: Yes

If you think about it, at $20 a drink you’ll probably end up spending close to $100 regardless of whether you agree to a bar minimum or not. If you don’t know a promoter, this is ten times better than having to buy your own table (literally). [Photo via]

 

 

#3. No. 8

Quoted Minimum Spend: $200 a Person

Would We Do It?: No

We’re not going to lie, we actually thought about it. $200 a head may not seem like a lot especially in New York nightlife but No. 8 makes it very difficult to spend only $200 a person. Of course you can order off of the food menu which consists mainly of small plates such as$15 Tuna Tartare and $14 Prosciutto and Melon. There are also an array of Flatbread Sandwiches such as the Hawiian Flatbread with ham, diced pineapple, jalapeno slices and Swiss cheese which are either $12 or $14. Realistically one person would order two small plates and a sandwich which comes out to at most around $50. So this means you have to spend $150 in alcohol. At $16 a cocktail you would have to order ten to meet your minimum. So basically you’d be throwing up from alcohol poisoning inside of No. 8 having barely met your table minimum. But of course the easiest way to meet your minimum would be to order bottle service. Unfortunately the only bottles under $400 are the Perrier Joulet for $375 and the Piper Brut for $175. The Piper Brut costs roughly $30 retail so there’s no way we’re paying $175 for it. The only way to reach your table minimum is to order the $375 Perrier Joulet and a cocktail but we’re morally opposed to paying over $300 for a $40 of champagne that will last us perhaps 30 minutes of drinking at most. Also you only get your table for roughly 2 and a half hours, not the whole night. But then again if you want to go to No. 8, this is the best way without having to know someone or be a member. [Photo via]

#4. Tenjune

Quoted Bar Minimum: $125 for Two People

Would We Do It?: Not In a Million Years

There’s really not much to say. Even if Tenjune paid us the $125 to come here we wouldn’t. [Photo via]

 

 

#5: Soaked at The Mondrian

Quoted Bar Minimum: $350 for Two People

Would We Do It?: No

We know space is limited but we’re really not going to spend $125 a person on a small and relaxed rooftop bar that we don’t have enough information on to know if it’s actually good or not. Also, the bar closes at 12:30 which means we’d only have a couple of hours to get our drink on…not the whole night. [Photo via]

New York City’s Toughest Doors

Check out our most updated report here!

To be able to enjoy nightlife in New York, you actually have to get into the club first. While most places usually have a reasonable door policy, there are a few places that stand out and, for the most part, actually stick to their guest list/reservations only policy. With that, we bring you the toughest doors in NYC…for the moment that is. [Photo via]

 

 

#1. Le Baron: The #1 spot was tough to decide especially with the newly opened No. 8. William Takahashi and Julio guard the ropes of Andre Saravia‘s newest French hotspot where chinois wall paper, red strobe lights and ample amounts of fog make up the decor. What makes this door the hardest in NY is the fact that you can’t actually buy your way into Le Baron. Of course once you’re inside you can purchase bottle service but your wallet won’t get you past this door. What will is your look, attitude and of course connections to someone who works at the club. Oh, if you do happen to get inside make sure you notice the black octopus lamps…we really like those. [Photo via]

 

 

2. No. 8: Amy Sacco‘s…ermm we mean LDV Hospitality’s latest club looks to bring back the old famed Bungalow 8. You can now spot Disco working the door along with an IPad programed with the club’s permanent guest list (yes that actually exists here). Members always are on the list and while it is almost impossible to walk in, what makes No. 8′s door a little less strict than Le Baron’s is the fact that you can actually make a table reservation which means as long as you have money you’re in. But don’t get photo crazy once you’re inside, No. 8 has a strict no photo or social media policy but by the looks of a few twitter pictures we’ve seen that this rule isn’t 100% enforced. [Photo via]

 

 

3. The Boom Boom Room: Let’s remember this isn’t a list for the best club but the strictest door. While we’ve seen many guests at the Boom Boom Room leave to go across the hall to Le Bain for a better party, the door policy is very unforgiving. Table reservations can be made and walking in is possible though entry is very unlikely. Boom Boom Room’s cocktails are some of the best in the city and the views are unmatched. Also, be sure to check out the bathrooms if you can get up there that is. [Photo via]

 

 

4. Provocateur: You can’t deny that Provocateur’s door policy is tough. Sure with a $500 bar minimum you can breeze past these velvet ropes but don’t expect entry unless you’re either deemed very good looking by door-women Ruby and Sheena or if you reserve a table/get a bar minimum. But to be honest, if we had to spend $500 to get into any club in NYC it’d be Provocateur. If you’re into house music there is no place better to go to as this club has one of the best DJ line ups in New York City and coming to see a top DJ such as Tiesto or Kaskade at Provocateur is basically like having your own intimate viewing. [Photo via]

 

 

5. Riff Raff: Okay we know we’re going to receive some grief for saying this but we actually think the door policy at Riff Raff is very much so on the strict side. Sure a $100 bar minimum, knowing a promoter or a table reservation will get you right through the door but as far as walking in goes, it’s not going to be that simple. The space itself is very small which explains the difficulty of walking in and we must say the doorman is quite nice with his rejections. But let’s see if the door is still just as difficult even after manager Ryan Dusheiko leaves the venue tonight. [Photo via]

RSVP To The Mad Decent Block Party

Puma, SPIN Magazine, 42 Below, Henekin and Societe Perrier are throwing the Mad Decent Block Party at Williamsburg Park on Sunday August 5th. The party will last from 12 PM till 10 PM and the line up includes Major Lazer, Riff Raff and Bonde Do Role. To RSVP head to the concert’s Facebook page by clicking here and filling out the RSVP form!

[Photo via]

 

Top Tuesday NYC Parties

Let’s be honest, New York is pretty much alive at night every day of the week. With the bridge & tunnel crowds flocking the clubs on weekend nights, operators have been forced to create newer parties to satisfy the more upscale crowds that would rather party during the week. But then comes the next question, which places are actually open on Tuesday and if so, what parties are actually good? Don’t worry, Oasis or Mirage has done some, should we say fun, research to bring you the top Tuesday parties in New York City. [Photo via]

 

 

1. The Tuesday House Party At Avenue: Avenue is known to host some great parties in New York City in a gorgeous setting. Strategic Group‘s answer to all of the downtown boite Chelsea/Meatpacking clubs, Avenue sits right on the corner of 10th Avenue and 17th St. The club consists of two floors and a lofted area right above the DJ booth and on Tuesday one might say that Avenue turns into another Strategic venue, Lavo. The house music driven party has brought in some top DJs such as the Chainsmokers and David Berrie. The new lighting system allows Avenue to almost have a split personality, one minutes it can be an elegant calm room for sipping cocktails and the next it can turn into a high energy party. But get there early as this party is always packed. [Photo via]

 

 

2. On Top Tuesdays at Le Bain: On Tuesdays the famous Susanne Bartsch of Vandam Sundays at Greenhouse takes over the sleek nightclub Le Bain, located the the top floor of the Standard Hotel, along with the The Zand Collective. This is probably the most gay friendly party you will find in the Meatpacking so please expect the shirtless men in the hot tub and their female friends watching them. The upstairs lounge area is more reserved but still just as packed and boasts some of the best views of the Hudson River in the city. [Photo via]

3. Le Tuesdays at Le Baron: The New York outpost of this famous nightclub chain brings us one of the more exclusive Tuesday parties. Simonez Wolf hosts this party which often draws the likes of models and socialites to 32 Mulberry Street. Spinning red strobe lights and chinois wall paper give off a very European seductive and a very…well…red vibe. Le Baron usually doesn’t get packed till later in the evening and doesn’t end till early in the morning so get ready for a long night. But don’t worry, it’ll be a great reason to call in sick Wednesday. [Photo via]

 

4. SL: Simyone Lounge (SL) often gets overlooked on Tuesdays, but the ICrave designed nightclub actually draws in a good crowd. If you’re not into the super packed SL that most of us find on weekend nights and special event nights then Tuesdays are just for you. Head right below the restaurant Abe & Arthur’s into this X-Ray filled club equipped with an excellent sound system. After a few renovations, which include LED light displays and colored strobe-lights, SL is looking better than ever and the guests who party there are looking just as stunning as the decor. [Photo via]

 

 

5. Riff Raff: The Where The Wild Things Are party at Riff Raff was probably one of the first well known Tuesday party in the city. Around the corner from The Hurricane Club, this Hawaiian themed club has recently been attracting a huge crowd of patrons mainly purchasing bottle service. Bottle girls come equipped with face paint just in case guests are feeling a little tribal and some drinks even come in coconuts. It’s a small space so either know a promoter, reserve a table or get ready to shell out cash for a bar minimum. But at least with the bar minimum you can get cocktails crafted by the world’s quickest bartender, Sheldon Wiley. [Photo via]

 

 

6. 1Oak: I was a bit hesitant about putting 1Oak on this list because while Butter Group has done a great job at bringing in top talent at their Tuesday party, such as DMX and Theodopolous London, the crowd that 1Oak draws is just massive. It takes about 10-15 minutes to even get acknowledged by the doorman, who is doing a great job managing the crowd, all while getting pushed by the people next to you online to get inside and being told by security to step back too many times. Once you are inside it’s a totally different story, but getting in is too much of a hassle personally. If you enjoy hip-hop then this party is well worth the wait as many hip hop celebrities often make surprise appearances such as Busta Rhymes, Jermaine Dupri and Maino. [Photo via]