Sin Sin/Leopard Lounge

248 E 5th St
New York, NY 10003
212.253.2222
www.leopardloungenyc.com

Hours of Operation: Sun-Sat 10pm -4am

Best Time To Go: If there’s an event during a weekday

When I initially inquired about this Lower Manhattan nightspot promoters informed me that there was no typical crowd, as each night one can expect anything. I had no idea how right he was.

I first went on a Friday night to help a friend celebrate her 21^st birthday. When I heard the word “lounge” I expected a nice, sophisticated venue with sexy, sophisticated people so I dressed accordingly. What a waste of an outfit. While my friends and I were donned in our cutest LBDs and trendiest pumps, others were there dressed like bums. Some looked like they just got off work at a construction company and decided to come straight to the lounge! This is not what I was expecting or looking for.

The crowd themselves were rather eclectic. There truly was no “type” as the guests ranged from a large group of recent college graduates, to a handful from the 40 and up crowd, and even a sprinkling of hoodrats. I didn’t know what to make of this crowd.

The décor was another disaster. Being called the “Leopard Lounge” I did expect an element of animal print to be in the air but this was something else. The leopard seats and red carpet had the potential to be trendy but were actually rather tacky, especially when coupled with the wooden DJ booth that looked like it was still under construction.

The music was just about as eccentric and all over the place as the other elements of the lounge. It was almost as if the DJ just put his iPod on shuffle and let it play through the night. Songs jumped from current Jay-Z hits to throwback from 1996 and then a reggae tune – with no direct correlation from one song to the next.

On another Thursday evening I returned to the spot to hear a musical performance from a local artist. The experience was much different, as this artist managed to bring her crowd of friends and fans. This created a more homogenous crowd filled with cool, trendy people and great music by DJ Bonnie Danger. The service was also much better on this day with a bartender who managed to attend to your needs in a timely manner despite the crowded room.

What about the main reason anyone goes out to a nightspot – the drinks? As you guessed, not so hot. Despite their assortment of beers including Coors, Bud, Bud Light, Heineken, Amstel, Sierra Nevada, Stella Artois and Corona the selection was not that great. All drinks were overpriced and even the mixed drinks were pretty weak.

If you have a dear friend hosting an event there by all means support your friend and make the best of your time there. Chances are that your friend will bring the type of crowd and music you are looking for. Thinking about visiting the Leopard Lounge just for fun? Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else.

Pros: Friendly service

Cons: Ugly décor, Unpredictable crowd

Rating: 3 out of 5