Top 8 Best Clubs in New York, NY [2024 GUIDE]
Top 8 Best Clubs in New York, NY [2024 GUIDE]
Best of New York
Tao Downtown
Tucked away within the grandeur of Tao Downtown’s restaurant is a hidden gem and “in the know” oasis called Tao Downtown Nightclub. Separate from the restaurant, the 2500 sq foot drinks-only lounge has kept a low-key profile attracting VIPS and celebrities for late night/wee-hour cocktails, music and dancing. A lot of people don’t even know there’s a nightclub, as it is tucked away in the corner of the huge Tao complex, away from the dining area. The club is located one stair down and it’s so intimate and dark, it almost feels like a speak-easy. Tao Downtown Nightclub is one of the Meatpacking hotspots these days for those in the know, and it can be tricky to get in on weekends. It is important to note that dining at the restaurant does not guarantee entry into the club.
369 W 16th St New York, NY 10011
Meatpacking District
11 PM – 4 AM Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat
Dress Code: Strict
$$$
PHD Downtown
OR those who have spent years absorbing life lessons from “Entourage,” PH-D is Xanadu: a glittering room of celebrities, beautiful women and cresting credit-card bills. The nightclub, which opened in June on the roof of the Dream Downtown hotel, is the latest endeavor from the impresarios behind Marquee, Tao and other successful playgrounds for the well heeled. One recent evening, patrons looking for a soupy breather packed the terrace, a walkway flanked by black couches and groomed shrubbery. Bottles of Champagne and vodka cooled in tabletop ice basins. A man wearing a blue-check dress shirt and white trousers captivated pals with a joke from the trading floor. The kicker: “I’m on margin right now and can’t call you back!” Nearby tenement apartments seemed several universes removed. At the southern edge of Chelsea, PH-D sits atop Vikram Chatwal’s 316-room hotel, which also houses a poolside beach club and a steakhouse. While other lounges cultivate the timeworn comfort of a great-aunt’s living room, PH-D is a fine-cut diamond of glass and polished surfaces. Triple-tiered chandeliers with hundreds of glass rods hang above marble tables and leather seats. Midtown twinkles in the expansive view. THE CROWD A testament to the timeless compatibility of wealth and attractiveness, PH-D is a crush of men in business-casual attire and women who rarely spend weekdays in an office. Like tipsy flamingos, models teeter around the room and dance on couches. At a recent installment of the popular Tuesday night party, a few craned over Wilmer Valderrama, an actor from “That ’70s Show,” who shared bottles of vodka with cronies and rapped along with Jay-Z records. Later that week, Edward Norton and Woody Harrelson stopped in, perhaps reminiscing about “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” GETTING IN PH-D is no shoebox (capacity: 400) but table reservations, IMDb profiles and tear sheets from Céline help to lubricate an elevator ride upstairs. Everyone else is left to the mercy of the doorman after 9:30 p.m. DRINKS The emphasis is on table service, but more-frugal customers can lurk at the bar. Thriftiness is relative: specialty cocktails are $18, and with tax and tip automatically added to the bill, a Jameson on the rocks surpasses $21.
- 355 West 16th Street New York, NY 10011
- Chelsea
- Dress Code: Strict
- $$
The DL
The DL is one of the friendliest, least pretentious, and high-energy nightclubs not just in the Lower East Side, but across all of New York City. This bass-rattling multi-level venue is fully equipped with an outdoor rooftop wood deck patio with retractable roof where the main dance floor congregates around a DJ spinning popular open format tunes. Down below, the second level of the DL is a darker, grimier no-frills hip-hop sweatbox that has become the calling card for LES nightspots over the years; the entrance level first floor is an inviting bar/lounge with modern tunes playing in the background. Views of the New York City skyline, strong drinks, great music, and a younger crowd full of college students - mostly from NYU, Hunter, Baruch, & the Manhattan fashion schools - early twentysomething Tri-State area professionals looking to blow off steam, and visiting tourists gone wild make the DL a must-visit option for weekend fun.
- 95 Delancy Street New York, NY 10002
- Lower East Side
- Dress Code: Dress Shoes, Dress Shirts, Jackets, T-Shirts (no baggy T's), Tank Tops (females only), Jeans. NO: Athletic Gear, Khaki Shorts, Shorts, Ripped or Baggy Clothes
- $
PHD Midtown
“Offices, offices, offices,” said Matt Strauss, the managing partner of PHD Terrace in Midtown. “Tourists, tourists, tourists.” He was waving toward the kaleidoscopic lights and humanity glob of nearby Times Square, visible from the two-floor lounge that opened in early October atop the Dream Midtown hotel. “But we’re infusing it with our brand of downtown cool,” he said. “Brand” is the right word. The Tao Group’s mastery of the models-and-bottles equation has built powerhouse night-life franchises like Tao, Lavo and Marquee; this is the second PHD (the original is above the Dream Downtown in Chelsea). In a neighborhood with dreary drinking options, even a cut-and-paste hot spot for happy hour is a useful addition. THE PLACE PHD is on the 15th and 16th floors of the Dream Hotel, on an unremarkable Midtown block with an Amalgamated Bank and Starbucks. The rooftop is enclosed during the winter, but plants are abundant, vines snake along the wall behind the bar and benches have plaid picnic-style pillows. Downstairs is a clubby rectangle, all dark hues and reflective metal and glass; it’s like being inside a humming kitchen appliance. THE CROWD Catering to an older after-work contingency means an earlier party. On a recent weeknight, the herd thinned by midnight, though fedoras, leather jackets, man buns and black bodycon dresses remained at tables stocked by promoters. “There’s a lot of young professional guys and girls,” a 35-year old man in a gray suit said. “You can’t tell me there’s not a market in Midtown.” He came with co-workers from the financial technology sector, but he was the last one remaining. “I’m a degenerate, so I’m still here,” he said. PLAYLIST Tunes wafting across the rooftop are deep house and chill. Downstairs, the D.J. played Drake songs, Future songs and songs featuring both Drake and Future. GETTING IN A doorman in the lobby guards the elevator and functions more as a traffic cop than a velvet rope. Table reservations are available. DRINKS Amstel Light is $8. Cocktails like the Hot to Trot (tequila, cucumber, agave, jalapeño) are $16. Food is served until late; buttermilk fried chicken waffle tacos ($12) sound like food blog schizophasia.
- 210 W 55th St New York, NY 10019
- Times Square
- Dress Code: Strict
- $$
Hotel Chantelle
Not actually a hotel, Ravi Patel’s LES spot is named after a French World War II safe house. Hotel Chantelle is retro in design as unmarked doors transport you into Patel’s version of 1940’s Paris. The room exudes warmth as dark mahogany wood panels blend with the black leather pin tucked banquettes under the glow of flickering exposed bulbs, candles, and a gold floral pattern that bounces off dark wallpaper. Cozy up in the banquettes or sit at the bar, where friendly bartenders are happy to explain the cocktail list, which features modern twists on old-school classics. They’ll lead you towards three concoctions: The Pineapple Express (jalapeño-infused tequila, pineapple, and pomegranate), Libertine (gin, cucumber, lime juice), and the Kir Yvette (sparkling rosé, lemon juice). Mix up your night with the attached rooftop restaurant or underground dance club SGTs.
- 92 Ludlow St New York, NY 10002
- Lower East Side
- Tuesday & Wednesday 5 PM – 11 PM, Thursday 5 PM – 2 AM, Friday 3 PM – 4 AM, Saturday 11 AM – 4 AM, Sunday 11 AM – 10 PM
- Dress Code: Strict
- $$
Loosie's
Subterranean in both location and spirit, Loosie’s is an edgy club beneath Moxy Lower East Side with a killer sound system and no-attitude dance floor. Bold materials — cement-like walls embedded with metallic specks, a scaffolding-inspired cage above the bar — reflect the grittiness of the Lower East Side.
- 145 Bowery, New York, NY , USA New York, NY 10002
- Lower East Side
- $
The Blond
With arched windows facing Howard Street, the blond at 11 Howard welcomes guests to work, mingle, and relax. From light and open to sensual and inviting, the bar’s ambiance transforms throughout the day. the blond is a stylish place to kick off a night in New York as dark woods, subdued colors, low lighting, and gold accents lend a seductive edge to the space. The blond is open for bar service Monday – Saturday from 5pm to 10pm. Rotating cocktail lists are tailored to celebrate seasonal flavors. Bar-bites crafted by award-winning French fare restaurant LeCouCou assist in satisfying all possible cravings. Seating is first come, first serve with the exception of larger parties in excess of 15 guests for which reservations are recommended. Come 10pm guaranteed access to the blond is by means of reservation only. Nightly DJs spin an eclectic mix of dance-centric genres while two disco-balls are aglow with an inviting red light. The environment perpetuates a unique nightlife experience and a welcome departure from the norm.
- 11 Howard St New York, NY 10013
- SoHo
- Dress Code: Strict
- $$$
Freehold
Freehold is a giant, hangar-like space that includes several big rooms and a big outdoor area which serves as a bar and lounge.
- 45 S 3rd St New York, NY 11249
- Williamsburg
- 7 AM - 12 AM Sun - Tue, 7 AM - 2 AM Wed - Thu, 7 AM - 4 AM Fri - Sat,
- Dress Code: Strict
- $$
There are many other clubs available in New York like these.
Check out the venues section for the full list of pool parties.
New York Clubs FAQ
What time does the headlining DJ usually start performing in New York clubs?
The headlining DJ will usually start performing around 12:00 AM.
How long do DJs play in New York?
The headlining DJ or artist usually plays a 1 to 2 hour set.
What is the dress code like at New York Clubs?
Guys can wear nice jeans and a form fitting plain t-shirt or a nice button down shirt. Girls can wear jeans or a comfortable but stylish dress if they prefer. Of course guys and girls can never go wrong with dressing up even more – there is no such thing as overdressing when it comes to clubs.
How can I get into New York Clubs for free?
Some New York Clubs have a free ladies guest list, and have a free even ratio guest list – free if you have the same number of girls (or more) in your party.
Keep in mind that many New York Clubs are more exclusive and require bottle service to get in. You can sign up for the guest list on our events page.
How can I book bottle service for New York Clubs?
You can book bottle service directly on Discotech by visiting the New York page
How much is bottle service at New York Clubs?
Bottle service and table minimums at New York Clubs can get pretty expensive in New York, but every nightclub is different.
The best way to find out is to visit the events page and and and choose the event you're thinking of going.
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