D’Or

This place has a very odd layout, but its pretty big, if you venture into the place and walk around.
Big mixed crowds which is good, but the bartenders are a hit or miss. some of them poured very heavy and some of them were being very shady. like chilling down already chilled patron with more ice to fill up a last shot glass since the bottle was empty

I celebrated my birthday here on a Saturday night. The place was a lot smaller than I had expected. It was cement walls all around — kinda had a basementy type of feel (but much nicer: P). The music wasn’t terrible — mainly top 40’s all night long. I can’t remember how the crowd was since a good amount of it was my friends.
A few things I didn’t like was:
1) My friends came at 11:30 and the bouncers made them wait until midnight so they would have to pay cover. For the time they had to wait, they thought the place would be packed, but no — it was just my friends inside.
2) My other friend & her guy came a little before midnight & the bouncers would not let them in even though they said they were there for my birthday. They were told they had reached «maximum capacity» which was definitely not the case.

This semi-​hidden underground bar had GREAT dance music. Pretty strict at the door. The place is cavernous but fills up well. Can’t really remember much else… :P

Music is hot, space is hot. crowd is mixed and very hot! Drinks are pricey, but strong. Very cool and sexy spot. The space is a lot larger than you think when you enter. I went on a Saturday and do plan on returning.
Only bad thing is they don’t take AMEX.

I’ve walked by this place so many times and had no idea this downstairs lounge existed. It’s actually quite a large space (especially when you realize that there’s another room behind the bar which often gets overlooked). The bartenders here were great. The night I was here, I was sick (aka: on industrial strength antibiotics) and was under stern orders not to drinks any alcohol. Having said that as it was a networking event, I couldn’t very well walk around without a drink in my hand. And when I asked the bartender for just a cranberry juice, explaining my predicament, he was super sweet and gave it to me on ice in a glass that made it look like a mixed drink. And he charged me $ 3. I went back a second time and as I told him that he made a mean «cranberry juice», he and I bonded over a quick laugh.
I’d highly recommend this for everything from a corporate event to a birthday. Not sure whether they play music later on though. Also, as it’s below a restaurant, it also makes it very convenient if you’re looking for a place where you can have dinner and then hang out.

The music is seriously popping. So haul some ass, grind up on somebody, and groove to some throwback beats.
The bar is pricey, but duh, you’re in new york city. Suck it up. Or go find a balding, middle-​aged i-​banker divorcee if you don’t wanna pay for those long islands yourself. Gold digger.

I really liked D’Or despite the low ratings, less favorable /​mediocre reviews, and my tendencies to avoid subterranean venues. Perhaps it’s because I had booked this place for an afterwork drinks happy hour for about 150 people, and we had the place to ourselves. The venue was perfect for our group. The layout was functional; while it was still cozy, it was not smothering in the least bit. Plush sofas lined the walls on one side and was the perfect spot to put our belongings and to lounge about. Happy hour deals were good and bar service was friendly. All in all, it was a great party.
However, D’Or is one of those places that is really good for a winter get-​together. I frankly can’t see myself here at any other season of the year — perhaps, late autumn? In any case, I have left with favorable impressions of this place on that one occasion — it’s (seasonally) good-​to-​go!

If this place didn’t have such a steep cover, I would come back more.
As other Unilocaler’s have covered, the DJ is VERY good. It’s true, spinning top 40 and hip hop is not very difficult, but I’ve never understood why so many DJ’s here figure out a way to f*** it up royally and make me want to kill them. Thankfully, the DJ here is solid — he doesn’t repeat songs, he doesn’t switch tracks every 30 seconds. If you come here, you WILL have a good time dancing.
It’s dark, has a pretty exotic atmosphere, cool decorations on the wall, good sized danced floor, and upstairs area where you can take a break and breathe, lots of areas to sit if you get tired, pretty large space for a lounge.
My friend had a table and bottle service, and we still had late comers who had to pay cover to get in. Pretty crappy door policy. Standard drink prices. Aside from the cover though, this place is fun.

Came here on a weekend night (can’t remember which). I was with a guy and dressed very well. We didn’t have any problems getting in, but once we were downstairs, all of a sudden, we were told $ 20/​each. This was before 12 and there was no way we were paying (especially for me). We walked back upstairs, intending to leave, when one of the (very nice) doormen told us to just use the side door and go have fun. It was unexpected and a pleasant surprise. The place is small and was crowded, but nice tunes and nice looking people made it ok. I’m glad I didn’t pay, especially since a few drinks later, I already spent $ 60!
Would I go back? Eh, I live in the ‘hood, so maybe, but I wouldn’t go outta my way for midtown mediocrity.

So… my friend Cesca B. won an open bar that was suppose to start at 1030 and end at 1130 … this sounded like an AMAZING deal … who can pass up free alcohol?
unfortunately… once we arrived we had to wait in line for a good 15 minutes and we were one of the earlier arrivers… once inside the place was another one of those really douchey wanna be meat packing district club/​lounge. The place was completely crowded and then we find out that the open bar actually ends at 11 instead of 1130 which is complete BS since they called to confirm that Cesca B and her friends were coming from 1030−1130…
Such a marketing ploy/​scam to get ppl to come here. I would NEVER ever consider coming here … the free alcohol was the only reason i was there… once that stopped flowing i was out of there.
HIGHLY NOT RECOMMENDED!!!

2.5 stars. I was here for the hour of free drinks my friend had won. this was def. one of the better bars i’ve been to that offer this. i was able to get top shelf liquor drinks.
the music was excellent to dance to. only problem was it got so crowded in the front room. i think if they added extra speakers to the back rooms, it would help with traffic flow.

The only thing I really like about this place is the DJ plays good music. Everything else was pretty bad.
It was Saturday night and the place was packed before 11PM. A good sign right? Yes if the place is like 4 times bigger. The place is too crowded and it smells of sweat, alcohol and mixed mildew.
The mixed drink is midtown price ($ 12 per glass) but the bartenders are pretty nice.
I won’t come back again for pricey drinks in a sardine bar/​lounge with people fighting hard just to dance, walk, get drinks and talk.

We got there for a friend’s Birthday party. Since we knew THE guy, no problem getting in, cutting off the long line after miserable slap of sudden thunder shower attack, while walking to the place. Got in within 10 min. Kewl~!
A: Geez, so dark in here and packed like Matrix revolution Zion cave party.
B: Yeah, totally. What’s this s — -mell?
A: smells weird…
A: Great Music. I love the music here.
B: Yeah, totally. They are playing MJ’s now. Farewell Michael~~~
Doesn’t here smell like bathroom?
A: The Mosaic tiles to upstairs is real pretty. I like the deco.
Look at that Harry Potter Dripping Candles on these stairs!
B: Yeah, totally. Woo… Wee I smell some garbage or wet leather?
A: Geez so hot in here, I need some air. I am going upstairs.
D: Hey guys, I am so drunk!
B: Yeah we know. Cool, Happy Birthday — YOU! … It really stinks in here.
This place was like a pretty boy who doesn’t shower. sigh…

Reviewing for the Thursday Afterwork Party:
If you like to dance to hiphop/​soulful house/​reggae/​classics, you’ll love this place. It’s a mature crowd with everyone in their suits straight from work having a great time. DJ Alkaline and DJ Jinx Paul had everyone on the floor the entire night. Drawbacks, it gets a little too crowded and drinks are around 12 bucks each. Drink specials are 2 for 1 5−7pm so get there early! The best thing about it is, you get your drink and dance on early early so that you can get to bed at a decent time and be good to go for work the next day!

SECOND SPOT OF THE NIGHT: D’or
DATE: May 16 Saturday
State of mind: Had enough of the Trance from Cielo, need some Hip Hop
Drinks: None
Music: Hip Hop
Crowd: 21+ young crowd
Got in around 1 am. My hair felt like crap from the pouring rain and upon entrance i had to squeeze in between a crowd just to find a plce to stand. Couldn’t even make our way to the bar even if we tried. Overall This place is alright… I wouldn’t try to get in if they charge a cover but it was for a bday so we got in for free.
Got no room to dance so my friend got up on the couch and started dancing… on the couch. Stage styleeeeeeee roar**

My friend had a birthday here, and this is why I came. I don’t normally voluntarily come to places like this — $ 7 heinekens, bathroom maids that you obligingly have to tip (which gets expensive when you break the seal!), and too many overcologned men looking to get laid, bleh. But with those personal gripes in mind, this place wasn’t half-​bad.
I didn’t have any problems with the bouncer, so that was an unexpected plus (was concerned about so many poor reviews of the guy). The cavernous bar had a few «chambers» with different parties going on, and the multiple exits put my paranoid mind as ease. Music was fun club hits from like 10 years ago.
If you’re into clubbing you would probably enjoy this place more than me, but I still had a good time.

I was invited to meet the friends and celebrate her birthday. By the time I had arrived, a bottle of Greygoose and all of the available mixes had been laid out on our reserved table. One drink down and mixing my next, I spied my review of D’ Or
You will wait in line on nights as I am told by some regulars but this Thursday night was rainy and cool so I walked right down into a dark «cave like» space without as much as a minute delay. Now, this is the basement of Amalia, a restaurant on the ground level. I am not sure what the policy is for going downstairs but I know I was free to wonder upstairs for a peek. There was no cover charge this night but as we all know that can change on who is booked for the music. The drinks were good (on the stronger side as I like it) and average priced. Service was quick but it wasn’t so crazy busy either. I couldn’t tell you what the bottle price here is but it was probably competitive for the market.
An average value for your dollar, not much more to share. The space is dark and private, the music was loud and as described by others as excellent and we had a great birthday celebration: Happy Birthday Cynthia!

HOLLLYYYYYY FFFFFF!!!
i hate the bouncer at this place more than ANYTHING on earth. it was raining cats and dogs on the thurs night that we went and it was an after party for a work event. the guy wouldn’t let us go in until we closed our umbrellas in front of him before walking down the set of stairs being COMPLETELY DRENCHED BY THE FRIGGIN RAIN. AND he was rude about it. i’m a friggin girl and he made me felt like a total criminal or something. like wtfffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff???
the music was okay inside. the space is alright, but there’s no one there since probably they all hate the bouncer the same way i do.
definitely NOT F’ING COMING BACK. UGH. worst experience ever. i feel sorry that i recommended this place to my coworkers who were ready to drink up and celebrate. we left after drinking half of our first drink.

Trendy without the elitism of the self-​proclaimed in-​crowds of New York. I probably won’t be able to give a fair assessment of the place as I only managed to show up at 1:45am to pick up my 3 very drunk female friends who otherwise each would have woken up Coyote Ugly next to some dudes that looked so much cuter after 6 shots of Padrone.
I liked it. Kind of reminded me of a speak-​easy turned night lounge with Argentinian tango + techno booming in the background courtesy of a live DJ. I was only there for an hour, but I liked it enough to definately want to come back here again soon under more normal circumstances. Very generous tequila pours… probably a little too generous as the girls seemed a lot heavier when I carried them up the stairs to the car.
Crowd was unpretentious on this Friday late night, and I felt like I fit in perfectly, as I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with Paris Hilton types tonight.

Trendy see and be seen lounge. 5 stars for it’s underground location and I don’t mean, it’s on the down low. It’s actually subterranean. Bartenders know how to mix a mean drink.
Leatherette banquettes and swivel chairs are both chic and comfy. After appetizers the tables were lowered which changed the ambiance interestingly. Love the stone walls and metal accents.
Mellow and hip DJ. Entire experience hearkened me back to the late 90’s Sound Factory days when DJ Cleveland would spin his soulful house on the basement level of the club.