New York City Nightlife Tips by wrldtravler

Float: Bring along the Attitude

The former haute punk hangout has had a make-over, reemerging as sleek and trim as the junior Upper East Side social set who now claim the turf as their own. Expect more surgery than a MASH unit among the Miu-Miu- and Prada-clad revelers, who fight for admittance into a warren of VIP areas ranging from a gallery overlooking the dance floor to the hallowed "hot room," which attracts luminaries like Michael "Baywatch" Bergin, Chris "Sex in the City" Noth, and Met catcher Mike Piazza. Although the music tends toward average, the main dance floor is well-designed, bordered by two illuminated plastic benches which serve as seating for the sober and a podium for poseurs. By 1am the space is a mosh pit for skinny trust fund girls, pumped-up actor-waiter types, and bankers behaving badly.

Dress Code: Away from the DJ, the club's compartmentalized design lends a feeling of intimacy to the many small lounge areas scattered over three floors. Well-spaced bars and efficient table service mean that it's never difficult to get a drink, although steep prices and a $20 cover make for an expensive night out.

Address: 240 W 52nd Street, Ny, Ny 10019

Phone: (212) 581-0055

Theme: Nightclub

Centro-FLy: Centro-FLy Centro-FLy Review

Centro-Fly's crowd swings from industry hotshots to cool kids to made-up day-trippers. Whatever the case, they pack in some hearty dancing before the night's over, with room to relax in the open lounges and bar. The soft-blue champagne deck is a roped-off, bottles-only affair, while the selective Tapioca Room hosts VIP dancers and diners. Downstairs, the Pinky Room holds house and U.K. garage parties that are often a step ahead of the scene on the main floor.

Dress Code: Its sophisticated design and impressive DJ roster keeps the club an appealing option, though cutting-edge nights like Subliminal Sessions have gradually been replaced by more homogenous fare. Guest DJs run the gamut from Armand Van Helden to liquid-smooth LTJ Bukem to slamming Chicago stars Heather and Colette.

Address: 45 W 21 street, Ny, Ny 10010

Phone: 212-627-7770

Theme: Nightclub

APT: Savvy Clubbers Relax Here

Not so secret anymore, this gem of a bar in the Meatpacking District is hidden behind a couple of completely unmarked apartment building doors. Once you're inside, savor the sweet digs, decorated in subtly striped wallpaper and sleek hideaway furnishings--including a white wraparound banquette in the small side room and a handsome bed.
Settle in with a drink, choose among several types of bruschetta and other rich dishes and luxuriate in the feeling of discovery. The secluded, date-impressing upstairs lounge requires reservations, but the downstairs bar, outfitted with nouveau wood paneling, cushiony stools and a smoking DJ roster, is open to walk-ins.

Dress Code: Homemade potato chips with creme fraiche and caviar make a tasty snack.
Look like you belong.

Address: 419 W 13th Street, Ny, Ny 10014

Other Contact: Top 5, Very Classy!!

Phone: 212-414-4245

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Ava Penthouse Lounge: Out of Towners will Love it

Most people impulsively race for the windows at this retro-licious duplex lounge atop the Majestic Hotel. A view to the south overlooks the "Late Show" studios and, across the way, high-rise terraces swaying with singles who party this way every night. A stylin' DJ-spun scene that could easily become pretentious--with a roped off sidewalk and "Reserved" signs on tables--is actually warm and inviting, with low striped banquettes and modern wood paneling. Giggling tourists bring an out-of-town sweetness, while tough guys in suits will help you score a seat.

Dress Code: When the weather is fine, the upstairs terrace lounge outshines any option in the area. It's tented for use year-round, but the "heat" feels lukewarm at best. In winter months, opt for the sexy little library-themed downstairs back room, with a mod white scheme and a those-in-the-know feel about it. Those books about Paris and famous painters only look real--they're cleverly painted on the walls.

Address: 210 W 55th Street Ny Ny 10019

Other Contact: Top 5, Very Classy!!

Phone: 212-956-7020

Theme: Nightclub

Slipper Room: Showbiz Glitz

A successful blend of opulence and kitsch, the Slipper Room provides a welcome twist to the odious East Village "yuppies slumming" scene. What sets this glitzy retro lounge apart from the host of other cosmo-slinging, PR-girl-on-cellphone-glutted boites currently dominating Orchard Street is an honest-to-God commitment to quality cabaret.
The star of the Slipper Room's self-proclaimed "Vegas/Victorian" aesthetic is the velvet-curtained, gorgeously gold-trimmed stage itself.

Dress Code: The Slipper Room has swiftly earned a dedicated following—which, let's hope, will assure its existence even after the hordes have marched on to the Next Hot Neighborhood.

Address: 167 Orchard Street Ny Ny 10002

Other Contact: Top 5, Very Classy!!

Phone: 212-253-7246

Theme: Nightclub

The Flamingo Room: Latin Grooves

Latin Themed Supper Club will have you mistaking 23rd St for calle Obispo.
Dining for less than $40 gives this supper club a leg up in Manhattan's most over-loungified neighborhood, but the difference between the dinner and disco hour does make for two distinct shifts. And although a Cohiba cigar won't fly in the luxe deco interior--a vision in stainless steel and pink from the owners of El Flamingo--mojitos and caipirinhas will.

Dress Code: Don't confuse this spot with the nearby club El Flamingo, which shares the same owners.
Dress to look like you belong.

Address: 470 west 23rd street

Other Contact: Top 5, Very Classy!!

Phone: (212) 242-2050

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Suba: Aqua-Oriented

Looking to show off to a date? Wow an out-of-towner? Request a table in this trendy Pan-Latin restaurant's "water room," a darkened subterranean space where a small, bottom-lit moat casts shimmering waves of yellow light against high brick walls. A youthful clientele fills the restaurant, which includes a second, red-walled dining room down below and a lively lounge on ground level.

Dress Code: Though the food is characterized by a range of strong individual flavors, a frustrating number of dishes are sacked by unconvincing combinations. Examples include roasted lobster over port-glazed duck empanadas and a grilled sirloin with onion marmalade and cumin-spiced fries--both are sums weaker than their component parts. Look for better results in less ingredient-heavy offerings like lobster seviche, roasted Cornish hen and a roasted lamb chop with three tiny lamb-filled tacos.

Address: 109 Ludlow Street, Ny, Ny 10002

Phone: (212) 982-5714

Theme: Eating and Drinking

Lit: Art, Liquor & A sprinkle of Stars

One part H.R. Geiger-esque gallery (the "Alien" designer's art graced the walls at the opening), one part understated DJ bar and one part hype that materializes in the night's darkest hours, Lit in its finest moments is smoking hot. Intended to fund The Fuse Gallery in back while serving a like-minded, creative clientele, Lit attracts an alt-glam crowd of B-side artists, actors and indie-filmsters.
The gallery, frequently baring grim, nightmarish images, has limited hours, but can be seen anytime through its locked glass doors. Downstairs, in the dungeon, notable-name DJs do their thing.

Dress Code: Look like you belong

Address: 93 2nd Ave, Ny, Ny 10003

Other Contact: Top 5, Very Classy!!

Phone: (212) 777-7987

Theme: Nightclub

Hudson Bar: Hudson Bar

The used to be 'IN' spot in NYC. Very exclusive, to get in you either get a room (junior suite 200$ or single room 100$) else your a celebrity or with one. No exceptions.

Dress Code: Dress to Impress

Directions: 356 West 58th Street.

Other Contact: Have to check out the restrooms.

Theme: Other

Pangaea: Celebrity Central

The African safari decor of Lafayette Street's white-hot lounge is completely appropriate, considering what a zoo it's become. Since its late 2001 opening, this sizable space has been teeming with socialites and celebrities. A crowd of young models, Wall Streeters and fashionistas round out the roster.

Dress Code: While bottle service at the over-subscribed tables starts at around $225, you can still get a mixed drink at the bar for $9. The trick is getting in: Door honchos Mike D. and Romello are among the toughest in the business, but with them an ounce of charm carries more weight than a ton of attitude. If you dress up, play nice and, above all, try to look as if you belong, you just might make it inside.

Address: 417 Lafayette Street, NY NY 10003

Phone: (212) 353-2992

Theme: Nightclub