Red Velvet Lounge

Used to end up at red velvet almost every weekend. Loved the bar, and cupcakes to top it off. Well apparently things have changed because the new mgmt has done away with the CUPCAKES! What’s the point now?! Think they need a name change!

Get to the Chase:
Pros:
1) NO COVER! Frack yea
2) No MAN-​struating bouncers… friendly and easy to deal with
3) AMAZING MUSIC last Saturday (1÷19÷2013) Trance/​EDM great level of sound (not bleeding ear levels)
4) Polite and friendly bartenders (I hope they keep it that way)
Cons:
1) Too narrow… but luckily it wasn’t crowded at all, so luckily no mosh-​pit issues or armpit hugging
2) Don’t expect a pretty crowd… at least it was diverse???
3) Kind of in the middle of nowhere…(Empty streets, no major clubs, divey-​bars)

I came here for a party my friend was throwing. My group of friends and I entered to see a narrow/​hallway-​like area with a DJ booth halfway through. We danced, drank and had fun. That’s pretty much the end of my RVL story.
The place itself is a bit tiny, but there is seating all along the walls to get a drink and hang out/​socialize with people. They sometimes have a sangria happy hour/​open bar as well.
The music varies depending on the DJ. My friend throws regular weekly parties here on the weekends, so I know I’ll be back at least a handful of more times.

I can kind of understand some of the negative reviews, I think if you go expecting a wide-​open space with lots of room to dance and prefer more populous restaurant-​lined sections of the city, you might be disappointed. This place is a little off the radar in more of a residential area. For me, I went without expectations and totally enjoyed the cozy/​friendly atmosphere, a bit of an escape from the busier sections of manhattan. It probably helped that I knew some of the folks there that night, although I found it to be a generally friendly and welcoming vibe. Definitely one of those places you can take over with a group of friends and enjoy a night of joking around with good dance music in the background.
Here’s my take:
–For a small joint, they seem to pull some solid DJ talent.
–Cozy atmosphere, ample enough seating, crisp sound system and I liked the ambiance and lighting.
–My first time going was on a Thursday night, and the free Sangria was delicious to me. A friend said it was too sweet, but I didn’t find this to be the case. Be prepared to wait in a short line at the bar though :)
–I’ve only been twice, but both times I felt like there was a great vibe and really enjoyed the people I met. This is one of those places that could become a regular hangout spot for a group of friends to congregate and see where the night takes you (if you don’t end up staying til close).

Overpriced tiny drinks and flashing colored lights that might induce epileptic seizures does not make for a good bar/​lounge experience. Especially not in that neighborhood. $ 18 for a plain coke and a rum and coke in a lowball glass? I think not. Place looks like someone put a Versailles theme on a train car.

A tiny intimate bar with dark, gothic décor and sexy mood lighting. One blink and you’ll walk right past it! It’s tucked away between a two storefronts with metal gates, so it’s really easy to miss. Pay attention to the street numbers or else you won’t be able to find it. If there’s a stern looking guy dressed in black standing outside, you’ve probably found it even though it may not remotely resemble a bar from the outside.
Albeit the space is microscopic, it’s a fine place to start your night off since they offer FREE (though slightly watery) sangria from 10−11pm every night. There’s no cover either, so great to booze it up before you go bar-​hopping. The other drinks are relatively priced as well. However, once the clock strikes 11, people immediately start leaving and it gets pretty empty. Perhaps it gets more crowded later on, but I’d say the best thing about this spot is the free sangria.

Came here last night (Saturday) with my girlfriend for free sangria from 10 — 10:30. We walked in and it was completely empty and silent. We came up to the bar, got a couple Sangrias and sat down on their plush velvet couches; the DJ started bumping some beats and it created a really pleasant atmosphere. A few more people strolled in for the open bar, but it was still pretty empty, probably because it was too early and Easter weekend. I got to meet the owner of the lounge who was bartending when we were there and he was really nice guy. So overall this place has a lot of potential to be a really nice Lower East Side spot.

*DEEP BREATH*
I WILL NEVER GO BACK!!!
Well lets start with the positives… The décor was funky with decently priced drinks and nice bartender…
Negatives?
*This place is like one long hallway where you have to play ‘rub my booty on your winky’ just to get by once more that 20 people get in the damn space.
*Do NOT be fooled… there are no red velvet cupcakes! When me and my friends asked about them the bartender says «teehee! I dont think we’ve ever had cupcakes teehee» (In my mind I tossed my drink in her face… only in my mind though… cuz that would be wrong if I did it in real life)
*The ladies bathroom door doesn’t close/​lock properly so while my panties are around my kneecaps and I’m trying to squat n pee (like the classiness I am)…I also had to lean one hand out to stop people from busting in! Oh not to mention the toilet didn’t flush! I feared backsplash from other people’s pee the water!
*Me and a group of friends sat in the front laughing and joking around with each other. One of my female friends (who was dressed very classy might I add) decided to sit on a perched shelf ontop of the couch to take a cute pic with her legs crossed holding her glass of wine. Thats when the thugged out white security guard took it upon himself to come over and say «NAH GET DOWN! THIS AIN’T NO GHETTO CLUB… WE DON’T DO THAT HERE»…ummm what? I don’t like to play the race card but BAM! *throwing my race card on the table* What the f*ck is that supposed to mean??? If we were a group of white girls, I doubt this would have been said to us. After I decided to express to the guard how unprofessional I thought that was of him he said he didn’t care and that hes a ‘hood n*gga too’ so he can talk like that! REALLY?! REALLLYYY??? *squinting eyes*
You couldn’t pay me to go back to this place…
…ok maybe you could… but it would have to be a lot of money and include cupcakes!!! Yea… the cupcakes that they don’t have «teehee»
*rolling my eyes*

It’s a tiny sliver of an establishment. The décor is cute but the cupcakes are refrigerated and old tasting. The drinks are average at best and the prices are too high. $ 14 for cupcakes… PULEEZE! Avoid it if you can.
When I went my friend and I were the ONLY TWO PEOPLE THERE.

The Red Velvet Lounge is the place that compelled me to join Unilocal in the first place, as I feel like I’m doing a public service by steering people away from this joke of an establishment.
Everything bad you’ve heard about the Red Velvet Lounge is all true… from the unnecessary velvet rope (half the people are dressed like it’s their ‘laundry day’- the floor manager included)… to the bartenders that aren’t even familiar with the recipes to their overpriced «house drinks» that contain very little alcohol… and finally to the cold cupcakes that don’t seem to contain any alcohol at all despite the place’s claims to the contrary.
Anyone giving this place a positive review is either an investor in the place or a relative of one. If I could give it no stars I would. The only thing they could do to improve it is to close forever. It is an insult to anyone looking for real New York nightlife.

Great place, always has a good amount of people, bouncers are nice (which is a rarity in NYC). The drinks are good and are definitely priced good compared to other spots in the city. Overall had a great time when I was there and I will definitely be back.

I had never been here but was called a week ago because I had won an open bar! I made it for Friday 7÷2÷10. I created a facebook event where I invited friends who live in Brooklyn and Harlem. Since my friends were traveling from far away to get there, I called the Thursday afternoon before to make sure I had the open bar for the next night (I got the number off their website, so it was legit). The woman on the phone confirmed.
The open bar was for 11 – 12, so I got there at 10 to make sure I was in and ready for it. When I walked up to the bar, it was closed. The cage was down and there was no sign of life! I was so embarrassed that 8 of my friends traveled +45 minutes for nothing!
After this, I would never trust status nightlife again! I don’t know how they got my information, but they didn’t have the courtesy to call me to let me know that they bar would be closed. Horrible business!
Luckily we all found a fun bar nearby called THE DELANCEY! It was so fun! Their roof was beautiful, and even though we didn’t have a reservation, they accommodated us very nicely.

So I went here on Friday for their Open Bar. I really should change my name to Clint «Open Bar» Headley, because I love to drink for free and I think I do it more on a weekly basis that anyone, on earth. This place however, was the worst… Here’s why.
Clint at 5pm on Friday afternoon:
(On the phone with someone from Red Velvet)
Clint: Hi I was wanting to know if you need to be on a list of some sort to get in?
Lady on Phone: No, you don’t need to be on a list.
Clint: Oh ok, because I’ve been checking on Unilocal and I’ve gotten a few mixed reviews about that.
LOP: Oh hold on… (Comes back to phone) No you don’t need to be on a list, you should be fine.
Clint: Ok Great. Thanks
Clint arrives at Red Velvet at 11pm (for the open bar). There are two girls ahead of him. The door guy comes out, with a clipboard in hand. He says to the two girls, «so you guys on the list?» Clint is angry. The girls reply, «No, we didn’t know you need to be on a list.»
Door guy: «Nope, you need to be on a list. You can sign up to be on the list right now, but you need to be on a list from now on.»
Door guy (to me and my friend): «You guys on the list?»
Clint: «Nope. I guess we’ll be signing up too. But I talked to someone at Red Velvet today and they said that you don’t need to be on a list to get in.»
Door guy: «Yea that’s true, you don’t need to be on the list to get in. You just need to be on the list to get the open bar.» Clint is angry.
So after we signed up, we finally got in. This place is MADDDD skinny. It’s like, uncomfortably skinny. It has a great décor, but it’s just far too skinny. No space to walk to and fro. Especially with a bunch of people who are trying to get in to get free drinks (which are just bottom shelf vodka drinks). The best part, is the fact that after having a couple drinks, and the place getting really packed (there’s only one bar, which blows), me and my friend tried to get another drink. The manager (or whoever he was) was telling the bartender and the waitress not to give people drinks without a stamp. Stamp? What stamp?! I received no stamp! What the hell!
I go over to the girl who made my first couple drinks and I ordered from her. She was about to ask me if I had a stamp but then she recognized my beautiful face, and was like, oh OK i remember you. After having one more drink we skidaddled. I wouldn’t go back here again, not for free drinks, and DEFINITELY not to pay for anything.

I went to Red Velvet for a Birthday party. The mini-​cupcakes were amazing and the vibe was comfortable. Definitely a cool spot for bottle service or just hanging by the bar :-)

My friends and I walk up to this tiny storefront with velvet ropes, a bouncer, and a someone who looked like he was on his way to a casting call for the Jersey Shore with a clipboard and a «list». Already, I’m dreading what I’m going to find inside. Is a cupcake and a cocktail even worth this much? Anyway, once we make it through the velvet ropes (gag) we step into a poorly lit (not in that cool, low light sort of way — really just dark) warm and stuffy bar that looked more like a hallway than a bar. There were a few tables if you wanted bottle service but there was no way we were going to stay for that long.
The crowd — ugh. Trust me, there was really no need for the bouncer or the velvet ropes outside. It seemed like anyone (or anything) with a pulse was allowed in, regardless of how they were dressed. Whatever. My friends and I wanted a drink, so after about three minutes of the Snooki-​esque bartender ignoring us so that she could talk to her friends, I spoke up and asked for the drink menu. She was stumped. Honestly, the look that she gave me would lead you to believe that I asked her for the Holy Grail. «It’s not updated» was her response. Okay, so then I asked her about their specialty cocktails to which she responded «we don’t really have any» — FAIL. She proceeded to tell us that she could make something with orange liquor — gag.
My friends and I knew instantly that we needed to get out of there and we did. I hope that the owners realize that hiring that not too smart, not too cute, family friend’s daughter to be bartender was an epic fail. Please don’t bother to spend your time or your money at this place — so not worth it. By the way — didn’t see any cupcakes! LAME

I’d give this place NEGATIVE stars if I could. I went there after hearing about it and excited to try the cocktail/​cupcake combo. No problem at the door, though they did ask us if we were on the ‘list’ and let us in. Once inside, the space was cramped! Which probably explained the MANDATORY coat check when we were informed by a worker as soon as we walked in.
My friend and I decided to try the blood orange cocktail/​cupcake combo. It took awhile b/​c the bartender confessed she didn’t know how to make it and it turned out to be the truth! Our identical drink orders turned out to be completely 2 different colors and tasted different! WTF. How does this happen?
Next, the cupcakes were quarter sized and tasted like a mouth full of sugar — nothing complementary to the cocktail OR as good as the cupcakes you get directly from Baked by Melissa.
We didn’t even finish our cocktails and left this place in a hurry. To top it all off, I received an unexpected surprise on my credit card statement. The bartender who didn’t know how to make my drink overcharged me. Hence why the negative stars… bad drinks, vibe, and overcharged bill.

Went here because a friend won a free open bar for an hour. Its super tiny and we walked right by it at first, there were the velvet ropes and it appeared that one needed to be on a list to get in. At least before 11 when it was open bar for everyone.
The space is a pretty narrow hallway with couches and tables. If you don’t get bottle service then you are standing up in the hallway and trying to keep out of everyone’s way which was a bit annoying. But the décor is fantastic, there are these incredible portraits on the ceilings.
Music was OK, mostly hip hop. But it doesnt matter as there is no dancing space.
The drinks were strong and yummy. The bartenders were really friendly as well. The cupcakes were sooo yummy and so decadent. They were gorgeous to look at as well.
Fun spot to strat the night. The lack of a dance floor kind of makes it a no go for me for an all night destination but still its got a sexy atmosphere and i can dig it.

«Let Them Eat Cupcakes»
That’s what Marie Antoinette would say as she tried a booze filled cupcake while holding a martini glass.
Take two trends –cocktails and cupcakes-​combine them, and you get this novel concept from the Eldridge family. The cupcakes are from Baked by Melissa, and yes you can taste the booze. The bar is overlooked by Mixologist Charlotte Voisey and the bartenders know how to make some great drinks that are not on the menu.
The space is long and narrow with a Louis XVI portrait on the ceiling. The waitresses wear red nightgowns and the music was great.
I absolutely recommend this place if you’re in the mood for pastries, alcohol, lingerie, and dancing on banquettes.

Ummm… the bouncer was such an ass. Tried to not let two of my friends in after we had already gotten in… our drinks took 15 minutes to make and our bartender didn’t know how to make them. And oh yeah, $ 18 each for a cocktail? Ummm… pass.

Came here for the soft opening/​Moodlight Holiday Party last week. It’s a long, narrow space with a few couches and a small bar, antique walls and a portrait of Louis XVI in the ceiling.
The cocktail menu is short but sweet; my blood orange drink was delicious with fresh muddled raspberries and blood orange purée with vodka and liquor. Gala Apple was refreshing but too sour for my liking. There were also espressostyle martinis and a ginger beer option.
The cupcakes are from Baked by Melissa, they were all good except for the green tea one; and couldn’t always tell them apart. Waitresses wear red nightgowns and fishnets so a bit of a kitsch/​burlesque vibe. Music was off the hook; probably because of all the award winning DJ’s present but with the Eldridge people behind it it should stay pretty good.