Melt Lounge

Oh man. I had this bookmarked to be reviewed in 2009. Haha. I guess the promise of Las Vegas nightlife in Palo Alto didn’t quite pan out for these guys. Well I think the wine bar that’s not here is better suited anyways

It Melted! Sad to see it go, cougars will need a new place to roam.

CLOSED? not really surprised.
This place tried way too hard and while there is the money in Palo Alto for this type of place its just not what the people in the area really want. The space was nice but they used it as an excuse to charge way to much for drinks and to be d*cks at the door (and at the bar too btw, not a good thing.).
I never had any food here (they had food!!!, who knew).
I guess we’ll wait and see what happens to the space.

A few months ago, I came here with La Novia to celebrate the birthday of fellow Unilocaler, Kelly T. As we parked and started our walk to this establishment and passed a bunch of Palo Alto guys dressed in the official PA D-​Bag uniform (of which I will describe later), I smelled the aroma of something. I am not sure what it was, but I am sure it starts with «D» and rhymes with swoosh.
Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled review. Have you ever seen huge trucks on the road moving parts of Victorian House across town? Well, I can imagine they transferred part of this «ultra» lounge from downtown San Jose to downtown Palo Alto. When I was inside this «ultra» lounge, I kept forgetting that I was outside of San Jose.
Here are some random thoughts I had while inside:
Fashion: Why is La Novia so fashionable? I kept teasing her about her lame gold bebe clutch. I said I could have made it with an old clutch and gold spray paint. She kept insisting it rocked. In the end, tons of women complimented her clutch and kept asking where she purchased it from. This reminded of three important things: men dress for other women, women dress for other women, and La Novia knows more about fashion than I do.
As for the fashion inside Melt, it was up and down. Mostly down. There were a lot of drunk 21-​year old girls trying way too hard with their outfits. Most looked like Amy Winehouse on crack. Wait. Amy Winehouse is on crack. So basically, they looked like Amy Winehouse on even more crack (and with toilet paper hanging from their heels).
As for the guys, most of them sported the official PA D-​Bag uniform (zip down turtleneck sweater, jeans, and white sneakers) or the official ghetto uniform (long button down or polo shirt down to knees, baggy jeans, and Timberland boots).
Temperature: Since the «ultra» lounge is two levels, the upper level is really hot. It was March, but it was hot inside. Not enough to make you melt, but certainly enough to make you sweat profusely. I felt bad for one guy who was dressed in a pea coat, sweater, jeans, wool cap, and a scarf. He was just standing there and breaking a sweat. And then, out of nowhere, some song comes on that goes «uns, uns, uns» and he becomes a man possessed. He starts going crazy by himself on the dance floor and doing some Dance Dance Revolution moves. About two minutes later, he is dripping in sweat and removing layers of clothing. Poor guy.
Booze: They serve all kinds of different hard alcohols and a variety of beers, including Guinness. Also, they carry Red Bull for the non-​drinkers who feel the need to stay up all night writing Unilocal reviews.
Bathroom: Wow. For a relatively clean «ultra» lounge, why is the restroom so damn dirty? I understand guys have trouble with aim when it comes to urinating, so when intoxicated, the aim gets worse. This trouble with aim could explain why so many guys are bad in bed.
According to La Novia, the lady’s restroom is pretty awful as well. It’s dirty and filled with women trying to pad toilet paper in their bras, adjust their dresses, and possibly engage in Amy Winehouse, Lindsey Lohan, and Tara Reid type activity. Speaking of these women: Why does Amy Winehouse have a career? Why does Lindsey Lohan look so cute in court ordered anklet? And why did Tom Brady ever date Tara Reid?
Commitment: No, I am not speaking about La Novia and myself. I am thinking of the gay guy I saw in the florescent polo shirt who had a broken foot and was still doing his thing on the dance floor. He had a cast on and could dance better than I could. I dance like I have two left feet and he danced like he has only one left foot. Well, because he actually only did have a left foot. Now that’s a commitment to going out, getting wasted, and dancing. Or pretty much plain stupid. Like Kevin McHale, he could be risking the future of his NBA career. Then again, I doubt this 5’7″ gay guy is going to be in the NBA anytime soon.
The concept of the «ultra» lounge: How exactly is this place so ultra?
In the end, I had fun with some fellow Unilocalers, but could not see myself returning to Melt. As much as it felt like San Jose inside the joint, it was not the case outside, as it was 45 degrees and windy.
I should have stayed in San Jose.
Blah.

Ok, I admit it. I was enticed by their website photos. Chandeliers, animal print chairs, a shimmering chocolate brown color scheme, throw pillows for the VIP booths??? This appealed to the girly side of me on so many levels, it’s embarrassing. I thought it looked a little more upscale and plush than the usual downtown San Jose spots. But once I got inside, I just thought — meh.
A friend had bottle service here, so we got in for free; but I hear the cover is $ 10.
The first floor has a bar and plenty of seating. It is more of a lounging and mingling type atmosphere.
The second floor has a bar, dancing, and VIP booths. The beats are decent. I can’t comment on the drinks, since we were pouring our own Goose and mixers; but the booths are small and too exposed to the dance floor. No partition. No seclusion. Just the occasional overzealous dancer bumping into you as you are trying to enjoy your overpriced bottle of vodka.
The crowd is a little more to my liking than what you’d see at the downtown San Jose spots — a little more mellow and mature, but this place is WAY too small. As a place that touts itself as an upscale ULTRA lounge, Melt doesn’t make the cut.

I came here one awesome night as the last part of Jeremy G.‘s re-​bachelor party. I was told we were going to a dance club where we could all get our groove on. Being someone who loves to shake some booty, I was ridiculously excited.
We walk in the door, most of us a little to a lot intoxicated, and the place is empty. We’re talking the bartender and the DJ and maybe 2 other people. There were about 15 – 20 of us at this point, so it’s not a huge deal that no one else is there. After all, we can easily fill a dance floor. However, I soon realize WHY no one was there.
I was promised dancing. Instead, I was given a DJ who couldn’t do. .. anything a good DJ does. The songs weren’t mixed, the set was made up of bizarrely old-​school tracks. And not in a good way. To be frank, my iPod on shuffle would’ve been a better DJ. Now we’re trying to dance, but this DJ is just dropping into tracks with no lead in or lead out. It’s like really bad sex where the guy keeps changing positions every 30 seconds just when it’s about to get good. Needless to say, I won’t return.

Great lounge for several occasions:
1. Grab happy-​hour snacks and cocktails. Their tacos are delicious! Whether you opt for shrimp, chicken or beef, they are all juicy and topped with an amazing chipotle sauce. Nice after-​work environment to relax with co-​workers or friends without having to wait 20 minutes before spotting an available seat like at many other happy hour venues.
2. Drink, dance and drink more! The two levels provide for alternate music styles with a resident DJ and an additional guest DJ on the weekends. Bartenders are fast, capable, hot and flirtatious! Tip well on the first drink and they’ll recall your face through the crowded bar later on during the night and you’ll receive priority.
3. VIP tables for fun occasions. I’ve celebrated a few of my friends’ birthdays here and had memorable nights filled with fun and excitement. The VIP hostesses were very attentive and made sure we had full drinks at all times and the dark curtains provide for an intimate space with your friends if you don’t feel like mingling with the crowd.
I am glad to finally have an upscale lounge so close to me. Even if I don’t feel like pulling an all-​nighter, I can pop in here with the boy or some girlfriends for a couple of cocktails after dinner, wiggle my booty and leave.
However, if you feel like a crazy night out that will end in memorable stories, grab your friends and have some «Melt-​Downs» (massive glasses with large straws meant for 2+ people). They are filled with rum and all sorts of tropical juices. Goes down fast and easy, but the effects are instant!

Pretentious and abnoxious female bartender (I am pretty sure her name was Jennifer) is what made this a 1 star experience.
I tried this place for my bday and have to say it was a breath of fresh air to experience a cozy lounge in downtown pa! However, my optimism and excitement was cut short too soon.
We ventured to the dance area upstairs and ordered a couple drinks at the bar… it was so loud the bartender «jennifer» asked me to repeat my order, and then said i didn’t have to be rude about it when i did. so bogus! She also went on to tell the other bartenders that I was rude and not to serve me, right in front of me. True story.
Anywhoo, its sad that a single negative experience with service can really scar you. Being that my family owns and operates restaurants and bars, I have a true appreciation for excellent customer service and know that it can make or break your experience.
Mind you all of my girlfriends and husband were turned off as well.
I found it necessary to call back the next day and vent about my entire experience, hoping to shed light on the situation for the management’s sake. I left my name and number, hoping to hear from management to help make things right. This did not happen, to my dismay.
Definitely don’t see myself going back. I would rather go somewhere unpretentious, where I feel my business is welcomed and appreciated.

After being opened for about a year, Melt is still a good place to visit. I’m glad that the standard hasn’t gone down since their grand opening.
Came here on a Friday night around 10pm. Place was pretty empty. Again, heard it won’t get crowded until 11pm. Bartenders were nice and the music was pretty good. RIght at 10pm on the dot they switched from house/​techno to top40s.
Still no cover charge (A++++). Great venue for a great night out!

I came here a couple weeks ago for a group happy hour event. We had the entire 2^nd floor reserved. The staff there was nice enough to even extend the happy hour until 8pm just for us.
The bar food actually tasted decent. The portion was also very generous. They seemed more like entrée portion than appetizer portion. Unfortunately, the drinks were a bit weak.
The décor was classy and posh with plenty of comfortable seats available. This review is only applicable for their happy hour. I will update this when I come here again at a different time.

One word: Disappointment
Came here with a few friends last Saturday night and I won’t be coming back.
For starters: $ 10.00 per person?!! X 4 people = $ 40.00 (just to get in)
I have never paid a cover in my life! Hence: this place must be amazing if they are charging girls to get in…
Drinks: $ 11.00 per drink X 10 drinks + tip = $ 122.00 (for the night)
The drinks are super weak, they are tiny glasses full to the brim with ice! I finished my first vodka tonic after two sips… hhmmm, that doesn’t seem right. Bought a second drink downstairs, the ice to alcohol ratio seemed better but still not worth the $ 11.00 plus tip. (sigh) I hate when that happens.
Dance Floor: There isn’t really a dance floor, just a walkway that people block because they are trying to form some sort of pathetic dance floor. Girls, please note: DO NOT wear your most expensive shoes! The floors are covered with sticky residue from spilled drinks.
Music: They played the usual mediocre mash up mixes and top 40 that you would hear at a crappy club.
Crowd: Dorky, awkward, older, premature gray haired, can’t dance, nerdy… Only a face a mother could love.
Overall Review: This place sucked.

Came here for a Unilocal elite event. Event was great, but the bartenders and their drink mixes were terrible. This one guy charged me $ 9 for a drink that was basically curacao and soda. Barely tasted the soda. Where the hell was my rum? When I order a drink w/​rum, I expect to taste it.
And the male bartender was mean.
Anyways, Unilocal event was fabulous. But my impression was that Melt was a pretty skank. I probably won’t return unless Connie C. asks me.

Yes, Melt is nice and classy, but the night we went there was a $ 10 cover and my $ 7 cocktail was kinda weak (boo lame). We only went because my friend lost her ID and they were the only place that would let us in with a birth certificate hah.
It also would have been nice if there were more people there and if those people had been dancing. The two of us felt a bit out of place, but got to mingle with some cute Stanford guys, so it was all good.
Go with a group, chill, mingle, dance, you’ll have a good time.

So THIS is where all the white kids go! Melt is probably the most clean-​cut crowd you’ll ever find in a dance club. Full of Stanford kids probably, and some rich-​looking «older» people. One woman looked quite plasticky.
The first story is a lounge and the second story has a dance floor, kinda like Loft but wayyy less ghetto. They do have a cover charge of $ 10 after 10 though, which is a bit ehhh but logical, if you’re in Palo Alto.
The star of the night was this really short, enthusiastic guy. I’m not sure if he was a homeless person (but do those exist in PA?) or just really eccentric, but he was sure bringing it on! There seem to always be one or two of those.
I mainly just drank here, as the music in Rudy’s was more to my liking. Melt was a bit slower-​paced and mellow.
Verdict: If you dream of clubbing with educated, well-​to-​do white kids then this is the place for you.

This place has something for everyone, a place to chill and a place to get your groove on. I was there on a Friday night and I guess we beat the cover charge, there was a DJ spinning tunes downstairs with couple of small tables and a bar with some stools. Upstairs they had another DJ spinning but this time it was more upbeat and «dance able.» They have got some small tables and couple of couches which they use for bottle service. Bottle service in Palo Alto? There is a mixed crowd from undergrads, grad students, mix of local 20 – 30 somethings that work in the local area.
I say get yourself a drink downstairs, get your butt upstairs, get your groove on and than chill downstairs after you have burned up the dance floor. Yay to bathrooms on both floors and not hassling people sitting on the various couches. If they want to taken seriously as a lounge than have some resemblance of dress code please.

Met up with a girlfriend here for happy hour last night. We noshed on the savory steak skewers and potstickers. I absolutely love their ponzu sauce! Yummy. everything was super delicious!
Our server and bartender, Banks was really nice and attentive. I love the décor as soon as we walked in and the upstairs portion of the lounge wasn’t open yet so we kicked back at one of the tables which had zebra printed chairs, so chic.
Yay for carrying Chopin Vodka because that was all I ordered last night!
I’d definitely come back here. I love the lounge music they played: mushroom jazz and soulful house. Love love it. It reminds me of a few lounges in NYC. I think some Unilocalers are whack when they mistaken trance and techno for house music.
Melt’s a great addition to the downtown Palo Alto scene and I think they hit the mark.

A great addition to the downtown Palo Alto scene! I love the loungy feel and glossy décor. Did anyone notice the crystal lights in the bathrooms? I like little details like that.
My friend and I came here to relax after a day of shopping and dinner at Joya (love). An older gentleman came to talk to us and we had an interesting conversation about Brazil. I think he was a pimp because he started talking about working hard for the money. :(
Drinks are delish, servers were really sweet. I like how the place is split with an upper and lower level. Crowd there was classy… didn’t find any «hey baybay» types there (that in itself deserves 1 star). Bouncer was great and even gave my friend a free cigarette. Not that I condone cigarette smoking. ick.

After a long await… I KNOW I haven’t written a new review for awhile. So, this past weekend was my birthday. As noted, I thought I wasn’t going to attend the Spring Fling UYE. Luckily, I had a lot of time to haul my butt to Palo Alto and continue my charade of fun with SBC! Our last stop was Melt, since we were at Old Pro. I missed out the beginning of the fun at Nola’s.
I have to give props for John and the staff! They were kind enough to let our large party get in for a discounted rate on their cover and let the ladies in for free! Woot! Intimate lounge setting, a fairly small but do-​able dancefloor. The first floor plays mash ups and hip hop while the upstairs lounge continuously plays house music throughout the evening! Drinks are strong on a sidenote while the crowd is sexy, hot, and… ooOoo…did I just see that?! Anyway, I fell in love with this place. Too bad their bathrooms were upstairs with just one stall. That’s a negative point. Overall, I highly give it a great rating! You made my heart MELT. Thank you! We’ll be sure to come back again sometime soon and catch your happy hour!

After having exhausted our fun at Old Pro for the Spring Fling UYE aka Fro’s B-​day bash, we decided to get our groove on. A scout team was sent out to see where our next venue would be. And that choice would be Melt Lounge.
Thanks to the scout team and their negotiation skills, the SBC got a nice deal (free for the ladies, $ 5 for the guys), which would have been a $ 10 cover charge. It was pretty chill-​axed when we got in with several groups conversating at the bar and on the couches, but the SBC took care of that by owning the dance floor. Random lap dances on the couch, a line of grinding people against the wall, and gyrating bodies everywhere. That’s how we do things. The music, in part, causing this craziness was House, Top 40, and Hip-​Hop.
The drinks were pretty reasonable. They ran out of Hennessey when we wanted to have shots with the B-​day girl, which was no good. I also had a cranberry-​vodka ($ 9) which was potent and much appreciated.
I enjoyed the lounge and, of course, the company made things even better. Melt Lounge is definitely a place I will come back to.

I had no idea that there was a swanky bar in Palo Alto on this street. Honestly, even having been there I still don’t know because it’s so unassuming from the outside that any casual walker by would not notice it or choose to go in.
A friend of mine invited me to a happy hour here to meet some of her b-​school folks so I decided that it would be worth attending to check it out and of course Unilocal a new location. We get there around 7 and the place is empty. Seriously empty. It’s a Thursday, so we hang out order some food because it’s 7 and we’re starving. I order the fried shrimp tacos for my friends and we all get drinks. The drinks were meh. The mojito my friend ordered was not very minty and then I had ordered some kind of lemon drop mixed with cranberry. It was so so. But what was great about this place was the staff. They were super attentive and nice even when the place got extremely crowded. The shrimp tacos were delicious, it was spicy and the shrimp was cooked to perfection.
I did also notice that other tables had the sliders, but they were huge for sliders. Perhaps that was the value, but our tacos were not too shabby either. Then again the price was about 12 dollars per appetizer, so I suppose it should be a large portion. But this place was really well decorated inside. I hope that they just get better at the drink making and advertising because it could be a go to place.
Or maybe if they get better drinks, I’ll just keep it as my little secret… oops too late already Unilocaled it. Sadface.