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Arlo & Esme - CLOSED
- Nearest Transit:
-
2 Av (F)
Bleecker St (4, 6, 6X)
Bowery (J)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Music:
- DJ
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Good For Dancing:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
142 reviews for Arlo & Esme
Review Highlights
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"...with a perfect sized dance floor in the basement." In 32 reviews -
"...and would love to see what it's like during the day." In 8 reviews -
"Downstairs is a lil warm, only complaint." In 62 reviews
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142 reviews in English
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Review from John K.
5/23/2012 9 photos
Loved Arlo & Esme!
Me and my friends would come here Friday and Saturday nights(the best nights) and this would be our spot.
It would get crowded, but it was ok. Had a dance floor, a lounge area where people would talk, a number of different rooms..
The bathroom line's would get kind of long, so that would be annoying, but this would be the one place where you could make something out of talking up chicks while you were waiting on the bathroom line! or coat check..
And drinks weren't cheap, but they weren't expensive like NYC clubs either. Pretty reasonable.
Had to get in before 11 (or was it 10? lol) to not pay at the door. :)
open back up!! -
Review from Henry E.
Fairview, NJ
9/30/2011
Man, I'm still bitter to this DAY that A&E suddenly shut down... If anyone knows of a place to go to at night of the same criteria, hook a fellow yelper UP! PLEASE!
ARLO & ESME was a SCENE, The entrance door led into the small, very low key, candlelit cafe for small parties and couples, and when you start heading towards the back of the cafe, you'll hear loud music from the spiral staircase coming from downstairs, once your hit the stairs, there is a fog that thickens until you hit the bottom floor... and once you've done that ....BOOM.... your inner Snooki comes out "PARTY'S HEERRRRRREE!!" The vibe is just contagious, I don't really see how this place was a lounge even tho it did have a pool table area and there were some seats but I don't remember anyone sitting down and relaxing.
There were 2 main rooms/areas...obviously the bar and the dance floor (which was the biggest) which were both separated but the dance floor was PAAACKED
Good because it was a guaranteed good time
Bad because there was barely any ventilation
Good because cheap drinks
Bad because you struggled to even get to the bar (MOVE PPL!)
Good because you can bring a group of friends
Bad because the bathroom situation sucked probably the worst in the city
Overall, the good outweighed the bad and A&E was for sure kick ass
Since its closing (last year might I add) Ive struggled to find a dance/bar/lounge that I could frequent, but no luck... I would appreciate any suggestions.. Thanks!!! -
Review from tom L.
Manhattan, NY
8/5/2011
So I must confess... Arlo and Esme closed because their bathroom smells like a jockstrap filled with onions. It was because this one big girl named Shananay took an unearthly number two. The place never recovered from the smell. Arlo and Esme became Arlo and Eshananay.
On a serious note, I really liked this place when it was still open. The dance floor was fun, the bar was crowded, the people were diverse and the pool table was a nice way to hang out at a trendy spot without showing people you can't shake that ass like it's 1936. (What does that even mean? - Your guess is as good as mine) I'm sad that this place closed, since the dance floor was so tiny, I was that creeper that got up behind you and grinded all up on that a$$ with my fly open. (I hereby openly apologize to all dry cleaners in the area - that's not white paint you couldn't scrub off.) The place closed, and little Timmy hasn't hit depression like this since the 1940s.
DAMN YOU SHANANAY!!! DAMN YOU TO THE DANCE FLOOR YOU LATER PEED ON!! -
Review from Madhu R.
1/7/2011
CLOSED! Man, all the places I love to hang out have closed over the past few years, especially classy coffee shops where I could sit for hours and read while only ordering a $2 coffee. Oooooh, okay, maybe THAT's why they're closing. Hmmm. It's just sad when these places go. It's just so sudden, like when a healthy 35 year old drops dead from a heart attack and you think, "What!? I just saw him last week and he was fine!" Dear NYC, I would like some sort of prep time to mourn the passing of my favorite places.
Thanks -
Review from Valerie V.
Brooklyn, NY
12/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
I've been to Arlo & Esme more times than I can count. Though I've generally had a good time, it's "cool" factor has seriously decreased over the past two years. I was there just a few weeks ago for my boyfriend's birthday so I now have an overall taste of the place. Here's my breakdown.
Likes: The quaint feel of the wine bar upstairs. Intimate but not too crowded. Separate room with billiards and nook like seats downstairs. I even saw Hyde from That 70's Show chillin' there one Thursday Night.
Dislikes: Trendy hipster, early twenty-somethings who are pretentious and douchie. Super crowded bar and when I say super crowded, I mean, you can't get through if your life depended on it crowded. Packed dance floor with just okay music. Drunken NYU students swaying on the dance floor. Discriminatory against guys (with out girls) naturally and they have cut their door off at 12am more than once. I'm talkin', we wont let you in for an hour. In other words, try your luck somewhere else.
These pseudo trendy clubs need to get a grip on reality. Catering to and giving your customers an excellent and hassle free experience is key. In sum, if you want to experience Arlo & Esme, get there earlyish (9ish). If you're a bunch of guys bring a girl or two and find a seat before anyone else does. -
Review from Briana M.
10/8/2009
No!!!
This is one of those places where you think the name is cool, the concept (cafe turns bar/club in the evening) is cool, but totally misses the mark.
I've been here a few times, and each time I went it got progressively worse. I found both weekends and weekdays to be huge disappointments. Downstairs you have weak DJs with ipods, drunken scenesters getting their photos taken, unbearably long bathroom lines, and douche bags galore.
It's not worth it.Listed in: I am a drunk., the douche filez
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Review from Becca S.
Brooklyn, NY
4/15/2008 1 photo
For as long as I can remember, I've been praying to the coffee gods to open an espresso bar somewhere between the 2nd Ave F train stop and my moonlighting gig on Bowery and 5th. I must have been a very good girl lately, because in the last 5 weeks, the gods have answered my prayers not once, but three times! I love options!
Arlo & Esme is the latest, and they've got a little something special that Think Coffee Bowery and Mercury Dime lack: BOOZE.
(Ack, sorry, MD! I know you had so many problems with your liquor license bid, and am holding out hope that the icky community board will reverse their decision soon...)
Anyhow, A&E took over the old East Village Yacht Club space, and have turned it into a really beautiful coffee bar on the main level, which morphs into a wine bar come sundown. White-painted brick, exposed beams and tons of natural sunlight make for a really pleasant place to get a little work done, especially once their wi-fi is up and running.
Downstairs is a sprawling lounge--4 rooms filled with sleek sofas and ottomans, a DJ set-up and a pool table! I love pool, and the prospect of being able to play somewhere in the EV where your shoes don't stick to the floor is extremely enticing.
Oh, and I bet you're wondering how the coffee is, hmm? It's great! They brew Kobricks, which is a local roaster, and very tasty! I also tried a chocolate croissant which was fresh, but nothing special. Since I was the only one in there, I chatted with the owner a bit--he was super friendly, and seemed genuinely excited about all the fun things that they're going to be able to do there--DJ parties, wine tastings and all-around good times. I have to say, I'm pretty excited, too.Listed in: WAKE UP!!!!!!!
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Review from Mari H.
New York, NY
9/23/2009
The first thing I thought of when I heard the name 'Arlo & Esme' was Twilight. Hmm.. maybe it refers to Esme and her on-the-side vampire lover, Arlo? Nerd.
I feel like a person's experience at a club or bar can be volatile, depending on numerous factors such as:
-if the bouncer is pms'ing. Bouncer could've given a shat about who he was letting in, so we got in smoothly, no drama.
-if your bladder is going to explode and the line for the bathroom is moving at a snail's pace. The bathroom.. man, oh man was that line long. Only two stalls?! Torture. I was doing the potty dance in line as discreetly as possible; by the time I got to use the toilet I was doing the Irish jig.
-if your mood after a couple drinks depends heavily on the type of music playing. The music was uninspiring (I love Aretha but DJ's, pleeease stop playing 'Respect' unless you're going to mix it up) and the crowd wasn't for us (surprisingly preppy given we were in Lower East Side area), so we left soon after.
-if climbing those stairs in heels feels like you're crawling up Mt. Everest. Mmm kay... time to change venues.. If I can actually get up these stairs to leave. I was holding onto the railing like it was my lifeline.
It's the roll of the dice, I say! I won't cross A&E off the list just yet, though.
We spent 20 minutes at A&E. $5 cover means $0.25/minute. -
Review from Brandon K.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2008
I adore the make-out spot underneath the gorgeous staircase that no one else seems to notice. They may be too awed by the staircase itself, or the tastefully done interiors of the connecting chambers in Arlo and Esme's cavernous subterranean belly.
Drinks were good. One of my friends had a double espresso (at midnight) and thoroughly enjoyed it. I suggest getting a drink upstairs before heading down since the bar downstairs serves 4,000 sq ft of boozers and gets slammed.
I enjoyed the space more than any other place I've walked into in recent memory, but the music really killed it for me and everyone I was with (a diverse group of people aged 22 to 33). Real bad cheeseball club music, so last decade. No excuse in NY.
Crowd was very mixed, in every way, a beautiful thing. I did notice the cooler folk leaving in droves after what appeared to be brief visits. There was some ear-bleed inducing broad upstairs with no concept of volume or quality that a decidedly over-grown frat crowd did not seem to mind - but everyone else did. I hope that is not the norm. There's always the staircase nook. Jury is still out. -
Review from Danny P.
3/23/2009
Here's my problem when it comes to coffee shops: I don't drink coffee.
Why is that an issue, you say, when you, Danito, live in a town with establishments dedicated to drinking concoctions limited only by the whimsy of your imagination?*
Well, aside from my never-ending quest to live my life directly influenced by 1994-era Seattle and the Cameron Crowe movies it spawned, I just like the idea of sitting in a coffee shop in the East Village, discussing the higher plane of existence, what Sartre would drink and whether or not Oscar the Grouch really is our true inner id. It's what I think of when I think of New York.**
That was not the reason I was at Arlo & Esme the other day -- it was for something completely different. Instead of discussing the finer points of Jung and Neitzche, we argued over starting pitchers and whether or not you can field an all-Jew starting nine. Yep, we had our fantasy baseball draft at A&E, and found that despite me not liking coffee, there's still a lot to like about this place.
The coffee is good, they have wifi, the service is nice-but-not-too-in-your-face and the bloody mary's, though creamy-looking, actually will get Peter D. drunk enough to draft Rickie Weeks.
They gave us fair warning that they were closing by eight, and that I might want to hurry up and draft my monstrosity of a team a little faster if I didn't want to get cut off by the close of the shop, so for that I am indebted.
* - Except for a Diet Coke bar with free refills. I guess that's why they made Outback. Hmmmmm .... cheese fries .....
** - And Stage Deli. That, too.Listed in: Things on the F train, Manhattan First Date Places
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Review from jenna p.
San Francisco, CA
5/23/2008 4 photos
ssshhh dont tell too many people this place should be kept clandestine like a secret lover... Arlo & Esme is divine. Hands down the best hidden spot in New York that I've come across yet. Tucked into the old location of the East Village Yacht Club, it meets all of my stringent New York Classy Bar Specifications, so much so that when i was searching for the perfect place to hold my Lingerie Runway Show last week, Arlo & Esme left everything else in the dust.
the people who work here balance being attentive, helpful and also laid-back & cool in an almost california-feeling way-- super refreshing in this city of frantically stressed servers and bartenders. And get this: they dont serve food, but they invite you to *order in*, so if you're hungry, you can get dinner from Katz' deli, or Prune, 2 doors down, and have it delivered!!
but above all what differentiates Arlo & Esme is the SHEER GORGEOUSNESS of surroundings: the upstairs, a cafe by day and bar by night is all light with shuttered windows, roses blooming outside on the terrace, and beautiful archways. go down the mysterious chandeliered staircase, you find yourself in what would be in Paris a "cav;" a semi- secret feeling lounge underground area, with beautiful flickering candles, nooks and crannies for romantic rendez-vous, a pool table, and djs on weekend nights. -
Review from Sean S.
11/8/2009
Who knew this place turns into a mini-dance club downstairs on weekend? Apparently a lot of people, but...
Went here with a few friends, the place has had many past lives, some of which I remember. It's still the same layout, and the drinks are decent. The space is really fabulous actually... DJ was ok.
Problem? Well apparently Jersey & Long Island have discovered this place. So it got all b&t fast, and we got scarce and headed out of there. But I hear that it's cool during weekdays (this was Saturday night in East Vil after all...) so I will give it another chance and try again.
The space and the drinks are hot, so I think it has potential, hence the three stars...
Oh and downstairs would be *perfect* for a date drink. Really sexy, really dark, really cozy, really hot!Listed in: shake your booty
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Review from Gloria C.
11/21/2010
When I first arrived here for my birthday party, I was getting worried since the first floor looked like a restaurant. Where is the bar / music / lounge? Ahh... there by the stairs.
I would say this place is pretty solid for a group gathering. Not exactly dance central, but I certainly enjoyed the vibe of the place.
The layout is a bit strange since there are way too many doorways, and there is a pool table in one of the rooms, which gets very annoying for both pool tablers and those who stand near it.
Bar is pretty solid -drinks are within a good price ( beers $6, mixed drinks $10)
My gripe? Make more bathrooms! I don't know how they think they can just get away with having two stalls in a place this sized.
Overall, pretty good place, no cover, good prices for drinks. I wouldn't mind returning here for another party. -
Review from Nydia C.
5/11/2009 2 photos
My friends and I ended our Saturday night at this lounge bar and I'm glad we did. It's a nicer lounge bar with several rooms. We spent most of our time downstairs where we had plenty of room to spread out and talk.
I loved all the weird artwork on the walls as well as the overall decor. I will totally go back the next time I am in NYC. :) -
Review from Buo Z.
8/20/2009
I swear I've yelped this place several times....but somehow my yelp denies any past posts I've had.
I first came here when it was first renovated last yr. or maybe it was 2 yrs ago. This place had great music and a great young hip crowd, and over time the crowd got more diverse (geographically speaking). There were a few times when I went and discovered no ventilation or a wall of stinky sweat or the speakers didn't work. Once I even saw a girl pee on herself--that was hilarious and kind of gross. I've also recommended this place for birthday parties, so I guess I don't need to say I have a history with this place. I came here tonight to discover for the first time, an empty, well air-conditioned room where there were actually spots to sit. I think I'll be back some time soon. And if yelp says I haven't reviewed this place again, I think I might just go insane. . -
Review from Jason G.
11/14/2010
So glad this place is in my backyard. Came her for a birthday party and was pleasantly surprised. Huge, full of tons of beautiful people.
And they have NBA Jam! WOW. What a blast from the past! Me and a bunch of buddies played it to our heart's content. It made me so happy.
Come before 11 for no cover. -
Review from Wendy C.
6/27/2010
What an awesome place! It's a little place in the middle of the street that one would not expect to have a bar and dance floor in the basement. It was pretty hot down there because there were so many people and I don't think the AC was working but the music was AWESOME! They had giant fans throughout the place so it wasn't too awful. The upstairs is a pretty chill place to hang out with friends and grab a few drinks. Ran into a few friends there too. Good little hang out spot for those who don't want to hit the big clubs in meatpacking or chelsea.
Note: There was a $5 cover on saturday night after 11pm. -
Review from Nick D.
New Orleans, LA
11/29/2008
Arlo & Esme is a lounge tucked into the bottom of the East Village. From the outside, it projects a hole-in-the wall coffeeshop vibe but that would be because that's what it is during the day. In the basement, however, its a different story.
I think what I like about this place is that it is at once really classy and just a little bit shady. What I mean is that you can get an excellent cocktail and mingle with an attractive and well dressed crowd but if things get a little rowdy on the dance floor or sketchy in a back booth, that's just fine.
I also love the billiards table. The music was an interesting mix of 80s and hip hop.
I'll definitely go back. -
Review from Alice C.
11/2/2010
I like the upstairs room with the bar, but downstairs is a completely different situation. The upstairs is nice and candlelit and not especially crowded, but the cavernous downstairs can be something of a mess.
The different rooms downstairs are all kind of interconnected and crowded, but the dancefloor is the worst. It's small and extremely packed.. I don't know why they didn't design it to be a larger space. People don't dance in the other rooms either; mostly just talking and lounging on couches and by the bar. There's also a pool table in one of the rooms.
Drinks are moderately priced for NYC, and there's a $5 cover after 11pm. -
Review from Varun V.
12/25/2009
Have to love lounges that are like a labyrinth.
Annoyed by the $5 cover - not enough to be a deal-breaker for me returning though. -
Review from Judy C.
8/1/2010
I'm not one who can be easily impressed by the bar/lounge scenes. However, Arlo & Esme provides party-goers with a unique experience in a sophisticated yet not-so-pretentious ambiance.
Although Arlo & Esme poses as your average French cafe on the outside and at first glance -- don't be fooled by your first impression. Upstairs, you can easily converse with friends over a few glasses of wine or champagne. Once you're in the mood to indulge in deeper intoxication, you can head downstairs -- which is separated into different rooms (i.e. bar, dance floor, lounge area, etc.).
Prepare to sweat your alcohol off, because it's hideously humid and hot in the basement. If the AC was turned on, my friends and I were unable to feel it.
The crowd was fairly diverse, and the bartenders were quick to serve. I was definitely satisfied spending the rest of the night here, while being entertained by several kamikaze shots.
Not bad for just $5 cover (if you arrive after 11pm on a Saturday). I read some complaints by Yelpers below, but $5 doesn't seem so bad when you're in NYC. -
Review from Betsy J.
ALLSTON, MA
10/11/2009
When I got here at 10pm on a Saturday night, I was pleased. The ambience is cool. The basement has a few rooms with great decor.
By about an hour later, I wanted to scream. This place got SO PACKED. I'm certain it must have been a fire hazard. It was like everyone and their mother all of a sudden showed up. If you like feeling like a sardine, then you can come, but I hated it.
I have never given 1 star before, but I feel pretty strongly about this. I should also mention that there are only 2 stalls for ladies, so that you actually have to get in good with the men's room bouncer so you can use their one stall. -
Review from Beejoli S.
Santa Monica, CA
8/19/2010
I went to Arlo & Esme for my birthday party, and being an LA girl, was pleasantly surprised to see how many bars you can go to and dance at, without having to pay a million dollars (the way you do in Hollywood).
Arlo & Esme has a small packed room upstairs where it's near impossible to get a drink, but the real action is downstairs in their GIANT basement-y cavern (or maybe it's a cavern-y basement). The bar is a lot bigger and easier to get drinks from, and even though it gets packed, it still has multiple giant rooms to dance and hang out. They play great music, and even though it gets sweaty and hot, it's definitely the type of place you go with your friends to get wasted and then sweat out all the liquor - hooray, no hangover!!
Even with $5 cover after 11 PM it's still super fun. Be prepared to have your fancy heels look like a mess when you emerge from the cave though - all that sweat and spilled drinks really add up. -
Review from Jay M.
11/16/2008
Went on Halloween Night and ended up waiting in a long line. The interesting costumes of Sarah Palins, Falling Economies, Doilies, Jabbawockeez, and Beyonces kept us busy. Walking to all the dancing action in the basement felt like walking into a sauna. yuck. The great thing about this place was that there was such a diverse group of folks that night, and they were all friendly. The bartender was attentive and worked as fast as he possibly could. The funny thing was that no one knew what the place was called.
Person 1: "Where are we?"
Person 2: "I unno." Taps Person 3 on the shoulder. "Hey what's this place called"
Person 3: "Something like Arro and Lezme"
Person 1:"What? Lesbian?"
Person 2: "Nevermind" -
Review from Alison C.
12/30/2009
As usual, I spent the month or two before my most recent birthday researching like crazy to find the perfect party destination. One of my co-workers had recommended Arlo & Esme, yet, for some reason, I thought it sounded too low-key. I mean, come on, my birthdays can get pretty wild!
While that was earlier this year, I recently walked passed the quaint bar and asked a friend, "Oh, what is that place?!" He verified the name and confirmed my colleague's stance that this was a fun night spot. However, he did warn me that it often gets overcrowded. I took note of the destination and vowed to check it out on my next weekend evening in the city.
I wound up visiting the spot the following Friday with another friend. We arrived around 10:30 pm, when the bar was still rather empty. The burly doormen duo checked our ID's and demanded a $5 cover. We were slightly taken aback, being that neither of us has had to fork over an entrance fee in quite some time. We reluctantly parted with the funds, as I was eager to inspect the space. Due to the cold weather, we were bundled up in heavy down jackets, so we immediately headed for the coat check, where we were faced with an additional $2 hanger fee.
We were disgruntled, but hopes of a fun evening kept us going. We stopped at the small upstairs bar, which resembled an adorable, country-style cafe. I asked the amiable bartender about their white wine selection, but was not impressed by the varietal and origin pairs. Again, somewhat discouraged, we decided to see if the downstairs space had more going for it. The large basement section was like a dungeon lair reserved for a secret society of college kids. One chamber contained a large bar; one room had an entertaining pool table; and another archway led to a lounge area where a DJ was spinning a blend of tunes to a dancing crowd. Those not busting a move were sitting around on couches, awkwardly watching the others like teenagers at a school dance.
My friend and I ordered some drinks and proceeded to wander about. We were starting to get into the music, but felt slightly cougar-ish around the fresh-faced college crowd. We spent an hour or so more catching up and surveying the scene before heading home for the evening.
I agreed with my friends that Arlo & Esme was a fantastic place, offering both a casual environment and a loungy feel. The music was enjoyable as well. For such a great bar, it was a shame that I felt out of place with the younger crowd and unsophisticated wine list. This would definitely be a 4-star place, but sadly Friday nights were not really my scene. Perhaps I would return for a Saturday evening, though. -
Review from Bethany P.
New York, NY
Updated - 8/23/2010
Slightly better experience this weekend, was dragged back by my friends. The music was 10 times better. So much so that I found myself fist-pumping like I was straight out of Jersey shore and not giving a damn.
HOWEVER, it was crowded...the disgusting, sweaty, smoke-machine choked dance floor was packed (once-again) with faaaaar too many 21 year-olds and the friends they snuck in with fakes.
Also, I saw an intense girl-fight break out by the bathroom door.
Who knows what you'll get from night-to-night but if you're claustrophobic or ephebiphobic you're in trouble here.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/2/2010
I love the space but I've never seen so many girls of the I-just-turned-21-and-I'm-… Read more »
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Review from Melody H.
Manhattan, NY
6/22/2008
Absolutely fantastic on a Friday night, although I do have one complaint in general: basements + dancing = sticky. If you're ok with sticky, stagnant air, in a cool atmosphere, this is the place for you. If not, this might still be the place for you but you might want to stay upstairs. Or you can be like me and just dance in front of the giant fan and drink enough that nothing really bothers you.
The drinks weren't too expensive; I got two drinks and a shot for $23, which was a pleasant surprise as I signed off on my tab. The music was fun, the crowd was cool, but you just have to be able to tolerate that ungodly body heat and poor ventilation.
No cover, but get there before midnight, when the line gets looong. -
Review from Meita I.
New York, NY
6/7/2009
Ummmm........ok. Here goes.
The front part (street level) is a cafe type setting and it's very quaint and cute. However, if you want to go to the underbelly, you must pass through the cafe. If it's winter, they have a coat check that's right at the TOP of the stairs where people pass to go down/upstairs. It's such an odd location, causing a HUGE jam. Then you go down the stairs and there's ANOTHER coat check at the BOTTOM of the stairs, causing yet another jam. You try to maneuver through the many halls and hidden turns but either bump into someone or someone's glass. You might also want to wear some armor if you're a girl to fend off all the men (locals/tourists/doesn't matter) that will surely try to pin you into a conversation.
The bartenders try to smile, but how can you when people at the bar are shouting orders at you?? The music is blaringly obnoxious through the crappy sound system. I think trying to overcompensate for it being so badly managed and set up. The bouncers are awesome, though.
Maybe I'll go back when it's not so crowded. Maybe I'll have a different experience. Maybe. -
Review from Pia V.
7/21/2009 1 Check-in Here
I came to this place for two friend's bday parties. First walking in the place reminds me of a romantic cafe and has a very chill feel to it. The downstairs area was, at the time, had a more lounge-y feel to it. They were also projecting the NBA game on one of the walls.
As the night went on I soon realized that the downstairs area was where the party was at. They push the tables to the corner and it becomes one huge dance floor. The music was great and I would've danced every second if I didn't have to use the bathroom.
The drinks are expensive. There is no hiding that fact. At the end of the night our tab was $350+. O_O. Yup. But it was a fun night, and we had a couple birthdays to celebrate. None-the-less, be warned ... watch your tab folks ... watch your tabs.
The bathrooms? UGH! There are only 2!!!! So ladies, be prepared to WAIT and WAIT and WAIT. What also sucked is that one of them got clogged in the middle of the night, so we had ONE stall to share. It was terrible. -
Review from Euphrosini S.
New York, NY
5/3/2009
I reallyyyy wanted to like this place because I like the dungeon/cavernous feel of the downstairs. I liked the decor and it was only a $20 minimum on your card which is great because I can down that easily. The DJ's obsession with Flo-rida and Kelly Clarkson killed it for me and I had no desire to dance to most of the lame stuff that was played.
Crowd-wise I think all the guys were wearing different versions of a striped button down and when they all blend together its pretty much a turn off.
Oh, except the really cool guys I met at the bar who were wearing the same tight thermal shirts in different colors and used that as their opening line ... d-bag potential was high -
Review from Julia Z.
9/19/2010
IT IS SO LOUD IN HERE!
IF I WERE TO TELL YOU MY REVIEW IN PERSON, I WOULD PROBABLY BE SCREAMING IT SINCE IT IS VERY LIKELY THAT I SUFFERED PERMANENT HEARING LOSS HERE LAST NIGHT.
My friends and I ended up here a little after 2am. None of us had really heard of the place and even joked that it looked like a brunch place by day, and sure enough it is! When you first walk in, there is a crowded bar and a few tables and seats. I did not spend a lot of time upstairs, but it seemed like a place to go mingle with some other singles. Downstairs is a whole different story. My jaw dropped, the space is huge! I looked in all directions, wondering where the heck the bathroom could be in this giant labyrinth I had just wandered into. When I finally found it, my jaw dropped again, the line was so long for the ladies since there are only two stalls.
They played some really great music while I was waiting in that long bathroom line, but once I returned to the dance floor, the music took a turn in the wrong direction. We still gave it all we go out there. If you're not extremely tipsy or drunk, it's hard to endure the volume of the music and the closeness of strangers. It wasn't very comfortable. There are a lot of spilled drinks on the floor. A couple of times, some guys would walk past me and step on my foot with the bottom of their wet shoe. Like I said, drink up before attempting this dance floor. After a few songs, my friends and I had enough and left.
More stars if the music was at an acceptable volume and if they added more bathroom stalls. -
Review from Jordan D.
7/20/2009
Hit this joint up this past weekend with 2 friends. Drinks were cheap, considering the neighborhood. The DJ/music was good, seemed like he played a little bit of everything. The place is split up into 2 sections: upstairs is a smaller bar and lounge type area, that is well lit and that is good place to chit chat with friends (music volume is a lot lower) and as someone mentioned in a previous post, "people watch". Downstairs is darker, music is louder, there is a decent sized dance floor and a larger bar. The crowd was mixed and the vibe was good.
Definitely gonna pop my head back in here next time I'm in the neighborhood -
Review from Amy C.
3/29/2010
Arlo & Esme is one of those places I tried really hard to like, but there's something off about it that I couldn't put my finger on--at first. Then the reasons to leave just kept mounting.
1. The music was random. The Jonah Hill-look-alike DJ was spinning '80s, then oldies, then '90s hip-hop, then contemporary hip-hop, then '90s pop...
2. The crowd needs more diversity.
3. It's uncomfortably crowded and packed on both floors, even for a bar/lounge.
4. After midnight, the bouncers start "selecting" who can enter. Oh, puh-leeeze, this place is NOT that high-end or exclusive.
In one word: pretentious. -
Review from christopher r.
Charlottesville, VA
Quiet, comfortable writing space upstairs during the weekday. Internet connection is virtually non-existent, but they make a premium latte.
The theatrical downstairs den was a surprising sight. It would make a cool performance space. -
Review from Giac K.
Brooklyn, NY
4/11/2010
I enjoy this place. Got here RIGHT before it got real crowded (as you may or may not know - I hate people. So the less crowd the better). JTK3 brought us here for drinks (yes - we are friends with someone named like an action movie. And the third installment of the franchise to boot.) Ordered an old fashioned, although I don't think the young-ish bartender knows what the hell that is. I got some grapefruit colored thing that was semi-carbonated. Not my style. Points though for making a "girly drink that's sweet, but not too sweet" for girlfriend, without making some sort of stink about it.
Downstairs, there are multiple rooms - one with a second bar, one with a vid screen and dance area, and the best room of all: pool table and...NBA Jam.
Patrons were pretty nice - someone was having a b-day...someone in the corner didn't try to kill JTK3 when he sent the cue ball flying at his girlfriend (although he looked like he wanted to). Pretty enjoyable. From the other reviews, I guess it's best to come early and head out to some other dive to avoid douchery. -
Review from Steven C.
3/4/2010
Saturday night while outside in a short line, first words I heard from people leaving, "There's a line for this place?!" I thought I was in for a disappointment.
While I'm not a fan of the basement dance floor area since its way too packed, that dislike or like for crowded dance floors varies from person to person. What I really liked though is the top floor where it struck a balance of being a chill yet nice environment where you could chat and not get shoved around every second. But its cool how you can quickly make the switch from a slow paced night to a wild one if you just walk down one floor, your choice.
Random notes: 1st floor bartender makes some mean drinks but in dingy plastic cups. Basement floor coat check is pretty ghetto and you have a chance of getting burned by candles. There was also $5 cover, no biggie. -
Review from Andrzrej K.
Brooklyn, NY
7/8/2010
ah shit... I just noticed my 6 displayed friends are all dudes... this sucks, well maybe Ill review Arlo & Esme, a place where I met some girls before- a good place to go when you want to satisfy that Dominatrix inside us all by pretending to do so in the dungeon dance floor.
No, really, well i guess talking about mulitple Dominatrix (trixes?, trixi?... thoughts...) is not the way to get girls... but ultimately going here is!! I have always had fun here and always talked to some girls... yea I said it- Best Place to Talk to Girls 2009 -
Review from Amanda H.
A small group of friends and I brunched at Alro and Esme this weekend after hearing great word of mouth reviews. Some of us left fairly disappointed. We scored a great table up front by a window, but it took about 20 minutes to get water into our glasses, our waitress didn't write down our order, and our food and cocktails were not only ordered incorrectly but came out at weird times all throughout the meal. Some of the egg dishes which were meant to be piping hot were cold = gross.
My scrambled eggs, with jalepenos, tomatoes, chives, and chorizo however, were delicious. Along with my very spicy bloody mary. They have a pretty good brunch pricing system: $12 brunch item, coffee/tea, $15 brunch item, coffee/tea, and mimosa/bloody mary, $18 brunch item, coffee/tea, cocktail. Overall I was fairly happy with my meal but the service was terrible. I felt very bad for the other wait staff delivering our food and drinks and having to run back to the kitchen so often because our waitress wanted to look cool and not write down our order but my poor friends meals, my opinion and willingness to come back is suffering the consequences.
The downstairs club however looks pretty sweet. Lots of cavernous places to sneak off to, cool lighting, lots of character and interesting oversized art on the walls. I could be persuaded to check out the club scene but probably won't be back for brunch. -
Review from Deb S.
Amherst, MA
12/24/2009
At night - this place gets crowded. I tend only to go if one of my friends is having a bday party, and then I find its hard to get to the bar to drink, but the music is always good and the crowd is good lookin and fun so - a good time (but not great per se).
Now, I recently went to arlo and esme during the day. It's fantastic! Free Wi-Fi, cheap, good coffee, good mellow, music, and a quiet (but not too quiet) environment to get work done. -
Review from Anuja G.
New York, NY
11/9/2008
Long lines, very crowded, but great music.
Went here for a friend's birthday on a Saturday night. My friends and I were in line for at least 30 minutes (with a wonderful group of drunk girls behind us screaming in our ears).
Once we finally got in, though, it was pretty fun times. Sure it was super crowded and the chances of getting a drink spilled on you are high, but the music was great. If you have your dancing shoes on, they play a good mix of contemporary music and old school classics.
