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Categories: Dance Clubs, Lounges [Edit]
Neighborhood: Greenwich VillageW 4th St (A, C, E, B, D, F, V)
Houston St (1)
9th Street (PATH)
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Our waitress was hammered. We were up front watching Big Sam's Funky Nation (http://www.bigsamsfunk...) and she came to deliver drinks. There were empties on the stage and rather than pick them up, she danced them off. Seriously. She swayed back and forth--gyrating hips, swooping hair--picking up a bottle each time she reached the outside of a sway. She kept stopping to dance.
A buddy lit up 8 Js throughout the show. He was barefoot. I'd earlier seen him try and put on a dog sweater. I was just glad he kept his pants on this time.
This place is the perfect amount of trouble. I have always had a great time here.
Covers are $0 to $20, the music is cool, funky stuff, and they put on a professional show with solid sound. Booze is average price and the place is pretty damn simple: standing room rectangle with bar, stage, bathroom and coat check. Solid venue.
I fully admit I am completely spoiled here by the friendly bouncers, awesome manager, great promoters and the lot of creative talent this venue holds. The REASON this is true - I have been frequenting this establishment for longer than I care to admit, and it's always a good time. The renovation a couple of years back added more space to dance and greatly improved the women's bathroom - from one stall to 4! Yay!
The promoters at Sullivan Room usually work very hard at combining new and up-and-coming talent with established DJs and the crowd is always up for a good time.
Sullivan Room is great! i love the more cozy atmosphere when compared to larger places like Pacha. The DJ's are great and the cover is never more than $20.
I have found that this place doesn't get good until after 1a. The bouncer even told us at midnight once to just go somewhere else and come back later. We came back around 2a and it was packed!
Drinks are normal ny prices (overpriced) so I usually drink somewhere else beforehand.
I have no idea what you people are talking about...I feel like I am taking crazy pills or something. This place sucked. It was a large empty space that had bad music playing and a cover. I will never go back. This is the first time you have failed me Yelp. Don't let it happen again...dun dun dunnnn
This place is siiiiiick, ill, fresh and true to tech/house/electronic vibe that was going on on the night of 8/7. Sleep and Boo were spinning so the resident dj's always know how to move their own crowd. The drinks were about what i'd expect for GV prices ($18 for Grey Goose double with cran). I love the crowd and energy that everyone has here. From the doormen, the cashier, the bouncers, the bartenders and the janitors. The guy working the bathroom though was sketch. Pulling traffic control on the bathroom when there was no traffic!
If i find myself in Greenwich Village again, Im coming here for sure for a giggin good time again.
cons
15 bucks cover for an empty place on a friday night is not cool
pros
well a/c, spacious, great spinning of house music
plenty of room to dance or sit
Flawless. Very true that the typical clubby atmosphere is completely lacking and the crowd is actually there to listen to the music. The size is just right, intimate and everyone seemed friendly and fun-loving. Tip: girls can stash their purses with the bartender for maximum freedom to dance, and yes, even glowstick...
First, and foremost:
Dear bartender with the beautiful, large natural hair who worked Manchild Black's "Libation" party on 25 June 2009 . . . "crush" doesn't begin to describe it . . . I hope I catch you again in this or the next lifetime . . .
OKAY. Now, on to the review.
Excellent spot to dance; their fans/air conditioning keeps dancers cool and refreshed (I'm talking about *serious* dancers, people, not just those of the two-step or crotch-thrust ilk). The dancefloor is sizable and, depending on the particular event you're their for, the ambiance complements the vibe of the crowd in attendance.
As mentioned earlier, drinks are moderately priced. I'd say more about the bar/bartenders but I think I made my bias clear . . .
I had a great time here!! Nothing like a live band, cheap drinks, friendly crowd (even when walking with 3 drinks in hand), all different types of people. It feels like youre in a small warehouse or something, its dark, bar to the left, coat check all the way in the back, the nicest bouncers ive ever encountered in New York City, enough bartenders that you only wait 1 min max for drinks, an overall great time!
The night I went there were several bands mimicking Pearl Jam, Coldplay, U2 and several others and they did an amazing job at it!!
Had a blast here on Saturday night. I was surprised at the friendly crowd. It was packed from about midnight onwards. Good space, not loud enough though. Don't get me wrong, the sound system is good, just not as loud as it should have been IMO.
I wouldn't say the drinks were cheap, or well made, but they were there if you wanted them...
The bouncers were great, so were the other staff members!
Sullivan room is straight up awesome. I have come here for a number of my fav drum and bass DJs and always had a blast. Great dance floor, nice lay out, I love the columns and the feel of the place. The bouncers are friendly and crack jokes, and the bartenders fast and nice. It's a great music venue and I'll always try to come out if they have someone remotely awesome on the tables.
Check plus plus plus for good times. They should throw more parties featuring UK DJ's.... it just makes me happy. :)
This is the place where you can dance your worries away!
Some of the hottest djs from the UK have been here...
The drinks are reasonable price, the space is not that big but that's what makes it so intimate!
People that love soulful house like myself have to check out the libation parties they host here!
I love the staff and bartenders always making the best drinks ;)
I went to Sullivan Room last Friday and had a great time. This is not a 'club' but a venue for electronica enthusiasts. People come here for the music and dancing, not to see the amazon models or douchebag meatheads. Maybe it was an off night, but there was no line and a minimal cover of $10. No hassle at the door. Quite friendly staff all around.
I remember the place being smaller, but it seems they expanded the left side (left side as you enter the 'room') to allow more sitting space.
Long story short, if you want to go where the people go for music and dancing, you can't go wrong with Sullivan Room. If you're some playa looking to pick up a dumb blonde, look elsewhere.
Keep it up, SR!
A+ for the nice, chill bouncers!
It's refreshing to have cool people at the door and find an even cooler scene inside.
Sullivan Room gets some GREAT DJs and when the lineup is good, the place is really hopping. I'm just not a big fan of its grimy atmosphere - I love underground lofts/warehousese - but this place is too dank and gothic/creepy looking for my taste.
On nights when there is a big DJ here, it gets really overcrowded and smells like body odour - gross. The restrooms are not very clean, smell bad, have long lines and tend to be very chilly in the winter. (And I'm talking about the girls room - I've heard the mens' room is even worse)
Although the sound here is really good, the LED lights are incredibly cheesy. I'm not sure if they just invested in crappy club lights or they were fooled into buying something terrible.
The decor is also awful - mismatched motifs and ugly, faded furniture - I'm not sure what kind of look they are going for.
The crowd here is getting really strange (and not in a good way) - mixed in with the usual ravers and house/techno music heads are a bunch of annoying Jersey types with their spikey gelled hair and overly embellished jeans & their dates who have french tips and pouffed up peroxide hair - they look like people who couldn't get into clubs at the Meatpacking.
I've also seen some great DJs here who end up doing really poor sets here - I don't know if they are constrained by the lack of space or lack of true energy here - but I've seen some of my favorite DJs do completely uninspired sets that aren't up to their potential here.
That being said, if there is a big DJ in town you will often see other well-known DJs here - which is kind of cool. The bartenders and door people are also very friendly. And there is a $3 coat check.
I'm what some people call an endangered species. I actually go to clubs to dance and listen to DJs spin their tracks.
What?
You mean you go to listen to the music?
Yes? Why is that so hard to believe?
Probably because so many men, (Yes, I'm male) troll the dance floors looking for something soft and velvety to slither up against, or grind.
I came to the Sullivan Room on a rainy, wet Saturday night , 11/15/08 to be exact to hear Justin Martin from San Francisco play his deep, dirty, house beats, transforming the dance floor, in my mind, back to the Playa at BM. Before I forget, I live in SF, but I visit NYC for work, and it just so happened my friend Leah was going out dancing with friends on a Saturday night.
The Sullivan Room gets four stars in my book and I believe my review, should be taken very seriously. Why? I'm an "old-school" raver from 1990 when house music first came charging into San Francisco. I have over 18 years of head bobbing, arm-waving, and enough "epiphanies and revelations" from phenomenal DJ sets that I swear, I've died and gone to heaven to write up a review about a venue.
Now, back to the venue.
1. Bouncers were fairly nice, I only waited about 10 minutes to get in. Not bad for NYC. They weren't rude, didn't disrespect me, and allowed me to enter without the usual bullsh*t bouncers dole out to the people waiting in line.
2. Cover was reasonable, only $15.
3. Drinks were easily obtained, didn't wait for more than 5-7 minutes for a bartender for an incredibly small, packed bar.
4. Sound system is good, not great like Cielo's but good considering the ceiling is fairly low. I wish I could feel the bass in my chest, but all in all, the sound engineers did a good job of tuning the system accordingly.
5. Layout was cool. I dig the underground, basement/lounge feel it really is something I miss. I kept expecting to see sweat dripping off the walls like the old warehouse parties I used to go to back in the day.
6. The crowd was fun, they were into the music and whenever the DJ dropped a good track they would hoot in approval. Its good to know people still appreciate good mixing, programming, and track selection.
A nice little venue in NYC that I'll be popping into every time I'm in NYC and I need a fix for some good music.
Great sound system...people who love to dance...positive vibe...and friendly staff.
Oh, and the last Saturday I was there the music stopped at 5:45am!!! What a beautiful thing!!
Keep it up!
Break dancers showing off their moves on the ground, DJ's spinning Brazilian beats and a crowd there for the spirit of having a good time and not just to be seen - I felt like I was back in San Francisco Friday night for the monthly ALMA (all for the love of Music and Art) party here. While the cavernous space could have been way more crowded, maybe people were saving up to see Mark Farina here the next night.
You know dancing is important when they have someone mopping up spilled drinks all night so the people on the floor don't get sticky or wet : )
Email DJtrue@almanyc.com when you want reduced admission for January's party.
This venue is wonderful! I love the layout and basement feel it has. There's plenty of room to explore and most importantly dance!!!!! I've only been here a handful of times but each time has been a great experience. The bartenders are quick too. Which is a rarity in it's own at clubs especially in NYC these days. The DJ booth is set up in a great spot too. Just slightly overlooking the crowd with PLENTY of room for your friends. Not sure if this is typical but there's an alley way that people use to smoke in with stairs and seems to be a great gathering place to get social with strangers. I don't smoke but my friends do so it was a nice escape for me to get some "fresh" ice cold NYC winter air. Ha.
I would definitely recommend anyone to this venue. The music has always been on point each time I've been and the crowd is not that of a sleazy typical NYC big time club/lounge.
Yah for SR!
Showed up at 4:15 in the morning to see Jody Wisternoff.
Danced my ass off 'til 6.
Awesome space. If they book them, I will come.
When I think of places that I would want to go to to hear a band, this would be it without a doubt! I went to a conference that was held here for Internet Week and I loved the lower level where you could imagine a stage, the crowded bar scene and more. This area in general is known as a great place to hear live music. The bartenders were friendly, I'll definitely check back when they have a show!
Had a great night here. Great DJ and reasonable bottle service.
Went here last night because I wanted to dance. Makes sense, right? We get to the door and my friend Kath - self proclaimed hippy hater. Which is relatively amusing seeing as she hangs out with me so much - asks the doorman what the scene is like downstairs:
Kath: What's it like downstairs?
DM: Great. Really good vibe.
Kath: Are there hippies down there?
DM: What?
Kath: Hippies. I hate them and there seems to be a lot hanging around the door. I don't want to pay $15 to hang out with hippies.
DM: Um. There are no hippies downstairs.
Kath: OK.
Soooo after that lovely exchange we pay and trot downstairs. Well, the doorman was right about no hippies because there was NO ONE there. It was about 2:30am at that point and friggin Off The Wagon was more hoppin than this joint. We stayed for about an hour more than anything to just watch this one crazy dude wearing a huge backpack rip it up on the dance floor, but it was a pretty disappointing way to cap the night.
I've been here before and had a relatively good time so maybe this was just an off night?
Hmm, what is there not to like about Sullivan Room?? Great sound, seating available, space for the shakin your (my) bootay, drinks...um - yeah.
What a great time we had here for our Yelp event. Perfect location. Perfect company : )
You mean to tell me I never wrote about Sullivan Room after the Elite Event? How quaint. Pretty good DJ with really good music, very good drinks from the bartenders and lots of room to sit down, and lots of room to get your groove on. On that note, allow me to tell a little story about me and this lovely girl that I met that night:
Well, she walked up to me and she asked me if I wanted to dance.
She looked kinda nice and so I said I might take a chance.
When we danced she held me tight
And when she walked me home that night
All the stars were shining bright
And then she kissed me.
No, of course I'm not making that up. What do you take me for?
We bought our tickets way in advance on line...but that did not keep us from having to wait in a inexplicable long line for for 30 minutes, but when you got up there and realized that there was only one person checkihg everyone in....that explains it.
I was really wanting to see Lisa Shaw, but she didn't come out until really late and by that time I had lost my patience. The crowd is a bit collegiate and the drinks are of course expensive. There is a bitter taste in my mouth. Not sure if I will ever go back, if it is going to be the same collegiate type of crowd for future events. Frankly there is not much decor here, and it is not what I would call a very refined space. I even laughed when I saw a lady come in to the venue, in a beautiful bright yellow dress and heels...and my friend said to her as we were leaving and she was just arriving....honey...you are overdressed!!!!! Eventually, if nature took its course with her, she will see the puke in and around the leaky bathroom fixtures with buckets underneath them.
I always forget this place. Everytime I go I remember how much I love it.
Sullivan Room reminds me of NYC back in the late 80s/early 90s. When the city was less safe and thus the venues were of two classes generic cheesy mega clubs for the clueless & rich and small/medium venues for true lovers of music and those in "the KNOW". This is the Sullivan Room, it is not the "Da 'Packin'," there on no fancy clothes or some jerk at the door telling you, "Sorry...not cool ENOUGH." This place is all about the music. They get TOP DJs here and the sound system is phenom.
Thank you Sullivan Room for "Keeping it REAL"
DOWNSIDE:
The place gets super humid, (wall sweating humid). Be prepared to sweat your b@lls off - dress accordingly
OMG, what a relic! Went here on Saturday to see two DJ's from Germany (Pig & Dan) and what a place! Inconspicuous on the outside; you'd never know what's behind those gray doors if not for the bouncer present...
Upon entering, a smell of Tahitian Vanilla prepares you for what you're about to experience; you go down the guts of Manhattan through the deep and narrow stairs, only to arrive to what seems a natural cavern in the bowells of the earth; torch-like lighting, antique-looking upholstered couches and sofas; and crowning the dimly lit sparse hole, the DJ booth on the corner controlling everything...
WHAT MUSIC!!! A serious contender for Cielo; the minimal house was phenomenal; the vibes would ricochet in the cavern wrapping it under its music... it was packed, but not so as to make the place fire hazard; excellent!
I'll give it a total 5, hey, even the Bouncers were nice!!!!
There is no sign on the door. The only way that you know this is a real place is the velvet rope and the bouncer out front asking for your idea and frisking through your things. Its kinda like going on a subway but without the pleasantries.
The Sullivan Room is House-tastic in the sense that it's a beautiful space for beautiful babies to hang out at. Hardwood floors, a spacious dance floor that is attached to the bar, a killer sound system, and a raised couch area that appears to have been attacked by the Ottoman Empire give the place a certain vibe that screams being hip, circa 2000. And since I'm always 5 to 10 years out of date, the place fit me like a glove.
The drinks are not as cheap as people claim but the bar tenders know what they're doing. The bar service was quick and efficient but no service with a smile sadly.
I attended the Sullivan Room for my first ever yelp event. I was shocked how many people were actually there and actually knew each other so I have no idea what the normal scene is like but, since it's located near NYU, I'm sure the crowd is filled with dorks and dork friendly girls so, like I said before, it would fit me like a glove.
The place only gets 3 stars because, well, it felt to comfortable. And the friend I was with also noticed that the little cubbie hole near the front was perfect for illicit mother of a famous celebrity finger banging action. That thought alone not only gives me nightmares and scares my sensitive feelings, it also cost the place one star. Oh well.
Proof that New York hasn't totally lost it's cool. While totally renovated and expanded- bravo Serge! - this former tiny house-head sweatbox has been transformed into a cave of endless possibilities. And with the fantastic new sound system in place, it'll be attracting even bigger DJs than it already has. The crowd on any given night is as mixed as it comes: some hard-core partiers, some trust-fund babies, some Jersey trash, some nouveau New York club kids, and recently some hot hot Yelpers.
We were lucky enough to score the venue for our first ever open community party and it did not disappoint. DJ Van Scott burned up the turntables, and the bar staff couldn't have been nicer or more accommodating. Space to shake your thing, space to lounge around, space to get freaky in the back (not naming names...), all nestled in a hidden basement on Sullivan Street. Look for the double doors and the sign that says "214 Frieght 218." You will not be disappointed.
The place has cleaned up nicely. I used to go as a kid (cuz I'm older now lol) when it was an underground, dive house music dance club. It's still my favorite dance club, where the music takes over, it's stuff you won't hear anywhere else, and you still feel like you're part of an underground movement. The guest DJs are from all over the world, and big names will come and do stints as well. Don't worry about the heels or the lip gloss... it's all about dancing.
An amazing spot for house lovers... JUST the thing I've been looking for since I relocated over a year ago. Awesome house music.. and with Kaskade on decks tonight, awesome just found a new high.
One of the best club nights despite the STINKY group of guys dancing right in front, and the bad ventilation. If this place had better air-conditioning, my night would have been perfect. Even though I had to use about 20 napkins to wipe off the sweat (some my own, some rubbed onto me by others.... grossss)... I still had the time of my life.
A house haven to save us all. I am glad I found this place.... so glad that I'm pounding out a raving review at 6am post-clubbing.
p/s: It was bloody hard to get a cab out of this area. What is up with that?
You really can't blame me for going here the first time last week after gallivanting in NYC regularly. How was I supposed to know Serge (the handsome Ukranian owner. B&T, remember?) had such impeccable taste in house and techno? I know, I know. The Paradise Garage, Zanzibar, The Shelter but I'm talking second generation quality stuff: Green Velvet, Stacey PUllen, Danny Krivit, Funk D'Void and Steve Porter (so what, I'm from Boston) ALL IN THE SAME MONTH.
Like every place you want to be, there's no sign. Look for AK, the big, brown rather sweet tempered bouncer. Follow the hallway leading to a stairwell to the basement that opens up to an expansive room made for dancing. And drinking, of course. There's a long bar down length of the space, flashing colored lights reflect in the glasses, couches around the perimeter, interesting murals on the wall, not sleek but cool, no need to get decked out, don't be afraid to get sweaty. My favorite chill space is the red room to the right of the DJ booth. I never believed in color therapy until entering, and believe you me, your mood does change. But if you're like most of the regular patrons, you'll be jacking not sitting, as you should be. So grab a blow pop from the restroom and get your groove on.
Hmmm...I thought this was a dance place. Apparently, the crowd didn't get the memo. It was relatively quiet on a Saturday night at midnight. Despite a decent sound system and some good sets by the DJs, only a few people felt the need to shake their booty. Even when a song came on specifically imploring that the crowd to do so. You can imagine the song I'm talking about: "shake your booty, shake your booty, shake your booty..." and on and on. Two of their scantily (and I do mean scanty) clad dancers were the only ones really getting into the music. But I guess they were paid to do that.
Dunno about this one... good space, plenty of seats, decent DJs. No energy. Maybe an off night?
NYC staple for anyone even remotely interested in electronic music. It was great when it was slightly more intimate in size, but the newest renovations added some much-needed additional seating for your tired feet and gave an upgrade to the sound system. Good, strong drinks served by friendly, efficient bartenders. Of the many times I've gone, the crowd, whether sparse or packed and sweaty, was always up for dancing. Which ain't ever a bad thing.
4 stars because:
1. The cover can be a bit on the pricier side depending on the night/promoter.
2. The coat check boy automatically deducted his tip from everyone's change - no really he said "$4 for the coat and $1 for the tip" and put my buck in his tip bucket. Sucks for him cuz he woulda made an extra buck or two from me if he hadn't been so presumptuous.
3. The past two times I've went, the women's bathroom was overflowing with...well you can guess. Fix that shit and get the 5th star!
Oh, Sullivan Room, you are so mysterious! I walked past you three times until I finally figured out (err, rather, the lovely Susan C. finally figured out) that this was indeed the place we were headed to for the Yelp Event!
I felt like I was going to the speakeasy during prohibition. You walk in what looks like an abandoned building or something, then around a corner and down a few steps... suddenly you're in a swinging nightclub and bar!
I like the openness of the place, and the fact that you can come with a big group and NOT be pressed together with friends and strangers alike like sardines in a can!
There is a good amount of seating which is a benefit as well (cool, antique-looking sofas and chairs)!
Since it was renovated some have had differing views. I haven't been many times since then, but if you are a electronic music fan and want a more intimate experience for dancing it's one of the better small clubs we have left as a city, especially for deep, funky and soulful house.
Other genres come through too, but this is not a place you will come to see the kind of DJ's who spin in big rooms for. They support local scenes which automatically gets a thumbs up since that is a major problem for local musicians in NYC. The last time there was at a DJ Disciple party, and like his crowd is usually, it was very mixed and down to earth types.
That's the thing some seem to not understand is that Sullivan Room caters to a lot of crowds depending on who's playing. It's identity has been more for deep, funky, soulful and tech house, but breaks DJ's throw parties here, as well as some techno and other electronic music artists. So the crowd on one night can be vastly different than another.
A good option to check into and is far less pretentious and down-to-earth-like than many of the other bars and clubs that folks go out to in NYC.
I love Sullivan Room! There I said it!
Every time I go I have a great time, even though it's ALWAYS packed to the gills and hard to dance, but who cares...the vibe is chill...mix of people add for some interesting eye candy and they bring in decent djs.
I'm looking forward to the renovations...hopefully they'll knock down some walls and just make the place bigger!
Ask the guy at the door if you can slip him some money (we paid $10 per person) and he'll let you in on the guestlist so you skip the cover.
Music's awesome and the crowd is very eclectic house cool. Everyone is there to dance and there are some amazing dancers showing off their moves on the floor.
I love coming here to just dance. If you just want to dance, and that's it I would reccomend coming here.
Always love the djs and the music. I always have a fun time.
The only thing I don't like which is just typical anywhere are the over roided up guys from jersey who don't know how to keep their sweaty hands to themselves.
Neighborhood: Greenwich Village
Category: Music Venues
Neighborhood: Little Italy
Category: Lounges
Neighborhood: Lower East Side
Category: Dance Clubs
Neighborhood: SoHo
Category: Dance Clubs
Neighborhood: Meatpacking District
Category: Dance Clubs
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