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Home > Nightlife & Music > The Gates

The Gates

290 Eighth Ave., New York, NY 10001
nr. 25th St.  See Map | Subway Directions Hopstop Popup
212-206-8646 Send to Phone

Photo by Melissa Hom

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C, E at 23rd St.

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Danny Kane and Rod Surut (Naked Lunch, Gemini Lounge) have revamped one of the city’s truly lavish spaces, the former Biltmore Room (the marble walls alone have been valued at $2.4 million) as a “super luxury restaurant/bar.” Promotional director Redd Stylez (Home, Guest House, Cain) is overseeing an “ambassador” program that awards keys (the lockets double as pens or bracelets and don’t actually open the front gates, which used to belong to the Biltmore Hotel in midtown) to 125 members of the “New York City elite.” Those ambassadors can use a computer program (which Kane says took 2,000 hours to build) to add five to ten “members,” who will then be allowed to show up with guests. Kane (who compares his place to GoldBar, Rose Bar and a “mini Capitale”) told us, “We’re going to try to take as much guesswork out of the doorman as possible,” meaning the gatekeeper will give preference to members (they'll carry a golden swipe card that allows them to earn back money, or generate donations for charity, as they spend — eliminating the need for promoters).As for the food and beverage program, waitresses in Maggie Norris corsets and pencil skirts serve $16 drinks such as “the Ambassador” (the cocktail consultant is Paolo Vodtano). Kane issues a familiar line about bottle service: “We’re going to offer it, but we’re not going to be driven by it.”

4.5 "Mixed Reviews"
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Obnoxious and Overrated

chipjimi from 10016 | Posted on 11/18/09

Overall Rating: 1 (Not Recommended)

When I first arrived the doorman let me in but refused to let me and my friends in at the same time. We had to wait 15 minutes for the rest of the group to arrive. Once inside every person that works there were rude. The drinks were too expensive and the food was medicore. I would never go back or recommend this place to anyone.

Love the decor!

redhead_ny from 10024 | Posted on 8/13/09

Overall Rating: 8 (Recommended)

I recently went their on a Wednesday for a Mad Men themed party (totally perfect for the vibe of the gates). The main room is gorgeous and a great spot to enjoy cocktails. Management is super friendly and eager to please. The dj was fun during the themed party, but not as great later in the night.

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