Diem Lounge

Thumbs up. The night started rather slowly, but as our birthday party occupied Diem, the coziness of the place started to contribute to the intimacy of this dancey bar place. Overall vibe is welcoming and inviting and the crowd on this particular night was rather positive. I’m not much for going out, but I wouldn’t mind coming back here again with friends.

So my friends have problems getting dressed up to go out, so often times we have to relocated because someone in the group didn’t get the message and is denied access. So we ended up celebrating the night at this dance club. I actually like it a lot. It’s right next to NOX, and the bouncer has a different mentality. He wants people INSIDE of the club. It’s nicely decorated, with a decent sized dancing area, and go-​go dancers. The DJ area is within reach of the crowd so you can really get into it.

I went here for the first time last week to promote a new service. Even though it was crowded, enough bartenders were employed and working with a sense of urgency. The bartenders were friendly, and even the door greeters had a good sense of humor– which is very hard to find!
The crowd was young, hip, and fashionable, though it did seem that there may have been slightly more males than females,
I would definitely go here again.

After the assholes over at Nox wouldn’t let 15 girls in at 10:30pm, we mosey’d on over to Diem.
Though the night ended fine, it took awhile for their hostesses/​servers to get us going with our bottle service/​table.
We got there when there was MAYBE 10 other people inside; come on, Diem, if there’s 15 of us hanging around looking lost, seat us promptly — especially if we’ve already put down a CC for bottle service! I guess they didn’t know where to seat us because we bounced from table to table; one of the tables being smack dab in the damn middle of the dance floor with room for only 5 of our butts and a table the size of my nightstand.
Being the bossy person I am, I asked to be seated near the DJ booth and VIOLA, after a few puzzled looks and glances between the staff, low and behold, where do we end up? At the exact place I asked at the beginning of this «where do we seat them» fiasco. smh.
Other than that, the night went without a hitch. =D. Maybe it was because we were all nice and buzzed. Hmmmmm…

CLEARLY RACIST… Worthy of a class action suit
Went there this weekend, had a reservation for a law school grad party and was denied at the door at 11PM WITH THE RESERVATION…
Spoke to unapologetic minority-​owner. seems to have little remorse…
Story on ABC 13
His exact words were first
«I can’t help it if your people don’t look right»
followed by
«There are just too many indians»
and many other facially and prima facie discriminatory things

Last night I went to Diem and saw a group of people standing outside, waiting to get in. I walked up to a friend of mine and asked what the deal was, and why there were so many people crowded on the steps. She told me that Diem’s door staff wasn’t letting Indians in. So, I wormed through the crowd and once I caught the door man’s eye, he pointed at me and nodded, and waved me up the stairs. Once I got to him, I asked him if they were going to let all of these people in. He said yes. I asked him if they were going to do it within minutes. He said yes. I repeated both of those things again and he said they were «working on it». I walked into Diem and it was completely dead. There was less than a dozen people inside. I walked back out and I will never, ever go back. I’m a 5’9″ slender, 32 year old woman with blond hair. This place is racist, and anyone who goes there perpetuates this type of discrimination in our wonderful city. CRAPPY DIEM!

This place feels empty… Maybe the layout (just open space surrounded by bar and some booths) is to blame? Even on weekend night, the energy is not there. Drinks are lame for the price.
If you’re bringing large group of party people, this might be a good choice to have fun. You can own this place without worrying about the crowd.
But considering the numerous bars/​club options in this neighborhood, I don’t see any reason to revisit.

Same owner as NOX, different music, atmosphere, and crowd. Well, I think the rejects of NOX or less pretentious crowd likes hanging out here. Those who intended on hitting up NOX and weren’t «dressed up» enough or «weren’t on the guest list» or «didn’t have a reservation» usually ends up kickin’ it here. Not a bad place, they changed up the DJ section since when I went here the last time a few months ago, the music was the same playing at NOX and there was no DJ. Drinks are pricey as usual, just expect that off of Washington Ave. Other than that, nothing too impressive about this place.

Sound system is good inside and it has a nice outdoor patio. But overall, it is just another place that imposes ridiculous policies, just like the next door venue Nox, which by the way appears to be under the same management.

Been here a few times… great mixed crowd… the bouncers here seem fair and they play good music… definitely will drop by when bar hoppin down washington

I see great potential for Diem. It’s a great bar with a great crowd. Fashionable young professionals who loves to party come here. I definitely see some 10 girls here. Simply the fashion style for the girls here is a winner. All the guys look dressed to impress as well.
I feel like NOX right next door is stealing a lot of the buzz simply because the door guy there will keep you waiting outside for 30min while it’s still pretty vacant inside. Diem is a cool place with great interior design and the same high caliber DJ. Drinks are very pricey though $ 6 imports to $ 7 mixed drinks. But again, you’re already out, so don’t worry too much about spending money to have a good time! Diem is a winner!

I didn’t give it 5 just because I didn’t use the bar or anything, so I can’t comment on that section. But everything else is worth going for.
You really can’t point out that this place is a club/​lounge when you’re driving by it. So don’t assume it isn’t anything good when you see the shack-​type look from the outside. It’s completteeelyy opposite on the inside. If you go on a Wednesday, you may as well go at like 12:00/12:30 am (If you’re there to dance). If you’re there to socialize, anytime is cool since there’s not really a line. The patio was full of people, but it’s not necessarily because the inside is packed (yet).
By 12:30 — 1:00am ish, the dance floor is pretty full but still comfortable, and there’s plenty of booths to sit at if you got a table and random couches to sit on if you didn’t. I definitely recommend going if you want to dance to good music (a mix of hip hop, maybe house/​trance stuff (but all stuff with a beat that you can dance to)). Or if you want to go with 2 – 3 people or more, or even by yourself. I doubt you’ll walk away without finding someone to talk to or dance with. The bar probably helps that out a bit, lol.
The staff seems super nice. There was one lady who appeared to be the manager or at least supervisor for the night and she was really polite and nice. busy of course, but no reason not to like them and the establishment. Guy’s bathrooms are toward the back left, girl’s bathrooms are on the left Before the bar.
(For Wednesdays I know of:) Bottom line, GO. No charge. Pretty place, great music. (Oh, don’t pay for parking, but if you do, it’s only $ 5 anyway).

From the guys that introduced us to Kobain, Nox, Escobar (now new ownership), and Whiskey Creek (now Republika), comes Diem Lounge — the old Shotzkies which I’m sure a few of you experienced, but for some reason it did not take well on the Washington Corridor.
I, for one, like Shotzkies. I was able to take an assortment of off-​the-​wall shots, line dance and even take a breathalyzer test (by choice!). But Diem Lounge isn’t that bad, and is definitely more popular amongst the cool kids.
We arrived on a late Wednesday night to find the patio packed, but waltzed right in with the flash of an ID to the bouncer … and get this: He wasn’t rude at all. Hmmm. New guy? Oh, I kid, Diem Lounge.
Basically, if you’re one for rump shakin’, this is the new spot. DJ Jamie Harvey had the dance floor packed, and even the booze hounds surrounding the bar (including myself) were hit with dance fever. Literally, everyone in the house was groovin’.
The layout is the same, just splashed with a lot of dark colors and lounge sofas; and most of the bartenders are from Nox and the old Esco. Got a favorite? You just might see him/​her if you pay a visit.
I’m not a club/​lounge person, but if ever in the mood to dance or hang out with the clubsters, Diem would not be a bad pick.

Diem is basically Shotski’s with bed sheets on the wall, techno music and more expensive drinks. There really is no reason not to just go next door to Nox, you get the same douchebag atmosphere, overpriced drinks, but at least it looks like they tried. Hell, some of the hokey Shotskis décor is still visible. I went there for their soft opening, and honestly, I was not very impressed. Considering the great job the owners have done with their other bars, i.e. Kobain, Nox et al, I expected more. I will of course give it another chance at some point and may modify my review, but for now, no mas, just go next door.

Diem now occupies the space where the short lived Shotski’s was located. Very dark, mostly black interior, decent house music on a Friday night. Plenty of tables and lounge areas for bottle service.
Good place to start out the evening with a couple of drinks and then head next door to Nox for dancing. Or if you are looking for a more loungy environment (and better chance of getting in) Diem would be a good choice.