Reign Lounge

Met a friend here for his birthday. I entered at around 1:30 am and slipped right in. The place was extremely crowded, young party-​goers in their mid to late 20s were literally grinding their skin off of each other. Very chic and fit crowd. The club itself is a decent size.
Hip hop music was blasting from the second floor (has a balcony). I’m not sure what the 1^st floor was playing because it was so crowded that the chattering of people actually drowned out the music.
Parking is not ideal unless you come before midnight and park in the neighborhood behind. Commercial lots either charge or tow.

This is one of the best clubs I’ve been to in a long time. I see a lot of negative reviews and I get it, Reign isn’t for everyone. I know what to expect at trendy clubs with their strict dress codes, dickhead doormen and overpriced drinks, so I try not to get bent out of shape if things don’t go my way. But it’s always nice when things do go my way.
My friend really wanted to go here and I decided to tag along. He’s a good talker and managed to get a good sized group of us in (mixed guys and girls) with no line & no cover. The night started off right.
It turns out we came on circus night and it was one wacky circus! There were reptile people — a dude with a baby gator and hot chick with a snake — as soon as you walk in. Unfortunately the gator’s mouth was taped shut which took the fun out if it, I would have paid to see someone get bit! There was a shirtless drummer guy the ladies liked. Some Nine Inch Nails lookin guy on stilz. He was weird but cool, dressed in black and covered in neon lights. Gogo dancers all over the place. And Uncle Sam the Little Man — yep, a little person dressed in a star spangled banner suit & tophat. He also had a badass mustache! I don’t know what the occasion was — new owner or promoter I suppose — but I hope they have more of these nights.
The club itself was pretty cool. There was enough standing room so we weren’t smooshed together and there were some lounge areas for bottle service. Good looking crowd with a mix of guys and girls — wasn’t a sausage fest. Getting a drink from the bar wasn’t a total nightmare. Of course drinks were way overpriced — think it was $ 8 wells and $ 5 domestic beer. There was also a bar upstairs with a more intimate dance floor and a killer patio. It was a little chilly but that will be a go to spot when the weather is nicer.
The DJ was f’n good that night too! He did some killer mash ups with songs you wouldn’t expect to go together. I was really impressed!
I don’t know what to expect next time I go — those are some big shoes to fill. I’ll definitely be back though.

If you are trying to go out and dance your heart out… don’t come here. Although the music they play is pretty awesome (hip hop and latin), the people in there just stood around, with a drink in their hand, and stared at each other.
A girlfriend and I checked this place out recently and was a bit disappointed. While getting into this place was super easy (there wasn’t really a line and the bouncer was SUPER HOT!), the place was just meh. No one danced. There were way more guys than girls (which you would think its a good thing, but… yeah…). And if people weren’t standing there staring at each other, they were walking around aimlessly.
The evening we went, the upstairs wasn’t open so we couldn’t check out their balcony :(The venue itself is pretty, but the place was too small.
I would probably head out there again and give this place another shot, but from my first impression… it really wasn’t all that.

My buddy and I have walked by this place many times and always were forced to stand in line, and there was a cover. It was still early at 11 pm or so, and there wasn’t many people inside.
We walked. We’re too old for this kind of BS treatment.

If you aren’t dressed sharply, trendy, or in the company of several women you’ll wait in line. This place was pretty hot until it turned into a sausage fest. Most of the bartenders have plastic surgery, which I don’t half mind actually.
However, the valet drivers don’t know how to operate a convertible top, and they should be shot. Expect to pay $ 50 for two people, and more if you happen to be buying rounds…

The place is kind tyt on the outside, and the inside was slight dark, the music was poping… the place had a mix of people… we were at the VIP upstairs, The patio upstairs is off the chain… i just wish they had someone managing who goes up the VIP, cuz there were pls not even invited drinking from our bottles…

This is the third time I have gone to Reign. Once you are in– the music is fun and it is not bad. However– they are REALLY strict on single guys. I came with a mixed boys and girls group and ALL if the extra guys had to pay 10 dollars each. It was ridiculous because the club wasn’t even full.
There were people drenched outside because of the rain.
However– the bartenders were awesome and I had a ton of fun.
Recommendation to single guys: always bring a date.

Reign is hit and miss. The interior design is fantastic with red walls, beautiful chandeliers and white sofas upstairs on the patio. The bartenders and waitresses are fun and pretty. The music is typical Top 40 downstairs and House/​Dance upstairs. I don’t like the $ 10 door coverage for guys after midnight and I don’t like the crazy expensive drinks. $ 10 patron & $ 6 coronas. Even worse, if you don’t close out your tab before 2am, they’ll round up and charge you either $ 50 or more as a flat fee. I do like the crowd since it’s a great diversity including Caucasians, Hispanics, Asians, and I’ve met hot Greek girls here too. Definitely a place to experience but not a necessity every weekend.

Sucked.

Though our party had bought a table, the doorman wanted a $ 20 tip in order for me to get in (probably because I’m ugly or my shoes). I refused to pay and wanted to walk off, but a buddy paid against my consent.
Like a Ron Jeremy scene, everything in the club is sticky, cheap and stinks of ass. The crowd at Reign is as Ghetto as Warsaw, Poland during WWII. It’s full of guys who save money throughout the week so they can afford to buy a round of jäger bombs.
Conclusion: Do come here if you would like to see how the other half lives. Friends don’t let friends go to Reign.
See below for supplemental info (compared to its peers):
— Price: Slightly high (~$ 8 per non-​top shelf drink)
— Décor: ¹⁄₅
— Crowd: 1/​5, traaaashy
— Tunes: 4/​5, surprisingly decent
Big turnoff:
— The doorman taxes patrons for extra income to supplement his human growth hormone purchases. My advice for the clown: use that money and take some classes at HCC
— Being seen here by people you know

Good sound system and acoustics — ‘to cool’ turned ghetto.
If anyone was there on March 5, Friday — they would’ve witnessed the sickening display of strength by some of the patrons, when one of the guys smashed a bottle of beer on another guy’s head, who was then kicked repeatedly by other insane ‘trying-​to-​be-​cool’ guys, who even kicked away the bleeding guy’s female friend.

Finally made it to Reign… seems like I’m the last one out of my group of friends to check this place out. Got invited to a party Friday night: In a strange way I was a lil’ disappointed and pleased at the same time. Where was the velvet rope? The long line to get in? The $ 20 mandatory tip to get past the bouncer? The bouncer turning down guys because there shoe laces where tied incorrectly, lol. It was 11pm after all.
Instead I was greeted by a down to earth bouncer, hostess who was very friendly and welcoming. Oh yea and no cover! Once inside I made my way through the few dozen people in there. The interior is a elongated rectangle with the bar located towards the front door and and the bathrooms at the opposite ends. There’s also a seconds floor but didn’t go to check it out. Once we found our group, the waitress poured out drinks from the bottle. After a while the place got packed and I had a good time. I was tempted to give it 4 stars but the fun factor didn’t reach that level… after all going out is all about having fun.
Maybe next time I go I’ll give it that extra coveted star… hopefully the experience will be the same, but with a tad more fun. I’ll try for a Saturday and see how it goes.

Friday nites on Washington Ave. is a zoo with drunk animals. We had to park up the street from Reign and fortunately with its balcony view I could keep one eye on the car & another eye on the closest tipsy patron.
The lounge embraces a style that is common for most lounges on Washington. I liked it b/​c it wasn’t too pretentious. Also couldn’t hate the DJ for his track list, wasn’t my style of music but it kept the ladies movin’.
The Occasion was a small reunion of my high-​school friends celebrating one of my guys’ B’day. I haven’t seen this group since 2004, It was good to see them and even better to see the mistakes that I could have but didn’t make in school (yah’meen).
Went there a few weeks later to celebrate another friends’ B’day & enjoyed our time just as much.

Oh… hehehe he he he… AH ha… he he he he…
«What is that sound?», you ask… it’s me laughing my ass off at Reign Lounge.
Ok…so my friend Andrew and I were out for an easy night of cocktails on Wash. Ave. We went to Rebels, which I always have fun at, but it was Texas A&M H.H., so we moved on to Pearl. Pearl was fun, but after the Thursday College Football game was over, we decided to head to Reign for one last drink before heading home.
It was 11:20 on a Thursday night and we walked right in. The parking lot was EMPTY. When you enter you push through two cheap black curtains to enter the club/​bar/​lounge. I don’t know who their interior designer was, but I think they were on meth when they drew this place up. It’s an amalgamation of every bar trend from 5 — 10 years ago in NYC and Miami… Gross. I think they were going for lounge chic, but there are so many colors and design styles going on that it makes you dizzy. Think hot pink flocked wallpaper, badly upholstered banquet seating, low ceilings covered in black plastic (looked like garbage bags quite honestly), and weird art deco designs on the wall made with cheap wood molding and Formica. Then… the showstopper… the illuminated «wave wall» simulating water and changing colors at the end of the lounge. Oh my… I’m laughing hard again, just reliving this…
Now to the bar part… two drinks served in two plastic cups that look like cocktail glasses…$ 17.00 plus tip. Ugh. I’m an adult, I don’t need a sippy cup. These plastic glasses are also lined up on all the tables in the «lounge» ready for bottle service. Really? So, if you come here with a group and spend $ 500 on bottle service, you have to drink from a plastic cup? Wow. The also had cups lined up to use under the tables… gross…I don’t want to use a cup that’s been anywhere near a dance floor or club floor… we stopped drinking our drinks after laughing about where our cups had been… we stopped laughing and left.
Interesting notes: The rooftop was roped off with «waitresses» taking one man at a time past the velvet rope to the upstairs area. huh…wonder what goes on up there!?!
There were two policemen near the bar checking out the bartender with two embedded flotation devices.
My friend and I were the only two white patrons in the lounge (out of 20, so maybe not a fair sample.) But, given all the comments regarding Washington Ave. establishments lately, I found that interesting.
The D.J. was actually pretty decent and I had fun enjoying his mix!
All in all… I don’t understand why it took them two years to open, when it looks like they threw this place together in one week… with paints, fabrics wallpapers, lighting and cups found on sale. This is not a chic lounge, it’s the worst of the worst in Houston. I hope they close soon, so someplace decent can take over the space and renovate.

«You can tip 20 and I can let ya in»
Sad how a good place can turn to garbage in a matter of weeks.

Reign definitely reigns supreme on the Washington drag!
We stopped by pretty early to take a look see at what the hype was all about. We had no trouble getting in, and the bouncers did not pull the «Sorry, guest list only» line. They do have a strict dress code, so gentlemen no tennis shoes or tennis-​like shoes (converse, diesel-​like shoes, pumas, etc).
As soon as you step into this douche and skank infested place, you are greeted with good, not overly loud music provided by my DJ friend who spins there on Wednesday and Friday nights (DJ Ebonix) (Friday night music included a mix of house and hip hop). The lighting and lay out of this place is right on. There is awesome lighting through out this lounge/​bar, especially the multi dimensional hanging lighting at the upstairs bar. The VIP section was pretty neat and a great way to celebrate a special occasion, complete with sparklers and bottle service… such the head turner. Although bottle service is nice, it will surely hurt your pocket book at $ 350 a bottle. Ouch! This place also has a nice patio area upstairs complete with Miami white style couches throughout. But beware the upstairs patio area does not have any fans or cooling mechanism, no bueno during the summer months.
I will definitely make a second return here to drop some cash and rock it like a rock star.

This was the last stop among my Friday night of club/​lounge/​bar hopping along Washington. We came here after Nox, so that itself already made the place start at 5 stars. Hell, even going to the dentist would be a 5 star experience after Nox. Anyway, back to Reign…
The place looks more like a residential place on the outside (minus the red carpet part) because it’s stucco. We got to Reign at about 10:45pm and had no problem getting in because no one was there yet. The doorman let us right in. It was just me and my bf so I guess our small group and even guy: girl ratio helped too. The red carpet and velvet ropes on the outside is a turn off though. Stop trying to turn my city into Vegas!
You walk in and there’s a hostess stand asking if you have a reservation or are with a private party. We said no and they told us to go on in. You enter into the club area. There’s a big bar when you enter and then further back are the VIP tables and dance floor. The theme is a little whimsical and modern. We ordered 2 drinks for $ 18. It’s on the steeper end, but the bartender was generous when she filled up my bf’s whiskey on the rocks.
The AC was on full blast and hardly anyone was there yet, so I was freezing! We went upstairs to check out the outdoor patio. WOW! It’s really nice. There’s a bar indoors upstairs, and then when you step outside there’s another smaller bar. The outdoor patio is filled with fans and tons of couches for anyone to sit at. This was my favorite part – being able to grab a spot to sit and enjoy my drinks. I was in heels and dammit, for $ 9/​drink, I should be able to enjoy my drink sitting down! I shouldn’t have to $ 300+ to sit down and have a drink (errr… still angry about Nox haha).
Since the upstairs patio overlooked the front, we’d periodically check throughout the night how the crowd was. There was consistently a line, but it moved at a good pace. Looks like people waited 10 – 15 minutes at most before getting in. We left at midnight and by then, the place was about halfway filled up.
So for now, I’m going to be one of the few people that’s giving this place a good review. But, if I go back and get the ax from the bouncer or any of that pretentious shit, you know my feelings will change about Reign!

I am going to sound like a total «hater» but I am willing to in order to give you the real deal on this place. I didn’t give them one star because I went on a Saturday night, and I expected it to be crazy.
So, my friend told me he was celebrating another friend’s birthday and asked us to meet him there. Another group of friends was also there celebrating (something!) So it was a unanimous decision to go there. My friend texted me like at 11:30 telling me they had to pay the bouncer to let them in. We were like. what?! THAT’S CRAZY. We decide to go anyways since we were already out.
When we got there the place next door let us park for free! Woo hoo! that’s what happens when you get all purty for going out! LOL
So, we go to Reign and there is a pretty decent line, maybe 20 people. We see people on the other side waiting to get in. Then I see the bouncer taking money from people to let them in. Right in front of everybody! We were like: Wow! I asked one of the bouncers why they weren’t letting people in and he said there were like 500 people inside and there is only capacity for 381… and blah blah blah. So, the guy taking the money from people is standing there and my friend asked him how come he let those people that just got there in? He tells her. and I am quoting him: «Because they paid to get in!» hahaha! Seriously?! So, we had almost been waiting 10 minutes when the bouncer asked us how many and let us in. Whatever! By the way, there may have been 180 people in there… not 500! Darn liars! Just trying to make their club sound good.
Inside the club is nice, very very well decorated and beautiful lighting.
The music sucks more than Kevin Federline’s rap songs. Seriously, what’s up with all that techno?! And sucky ones at that! Some of our friends had bottle service and other friends bought us drinks. I still had a crappy time there. The people inside were not what you would expect when a bouncer is being «selective.» I personally can’t believe a club lets its bouncer decide who goes in dependent on who gives them money! That’s a bunch of BS. I will not be going to Reign again…

I was there this past weekend for a birthday party and I’m going to be fair and say that I liked this place.
Pros: Really nice décor, Great VIP sections, diverse crowd (the bouncers do a great job letting in diverse people which is great) Great bottle service, hot bartenders and waitresses
Cons: Really expensive drinks (a regular shot for $ 10), long lines. It did become crowded after midnight but that’s most clubs.
Great place to check out.

Some friends and I went to Reign Lounge this past Saturday after watching the fireworks at Beaver’s. I really thought it was «Rain» Lounge until we drove up and saw the sign. The line was all the way around the building, I would have been pissed to wait in it! Inside, it was SO crowded– a good sign for the bar but annoying for everyone else. Drinks were pricey– $ 42 for 3 mixed drinks and a beer! We made our way upstairs where there is a patio over looking Washington and a second bar. There are bathrooms upstairs as well, saves you from having to fight your way downstairs to find the 1^st floor ones. There’s supposed to be a fireplace downstairs, I don’t remember seeing it though, who needs a fireplace in Houston anyways? (hint: the same people who want seat warmers in their car)
Overall it was a typical new Washington hot spot– super crowded, random crowd, nothing that special about it save for the fact that it’s 2 story. Kind of reminded me of 6^th street in Austin, looking down at all the drunkies walking around. The website looks like it’s advertising a strip club, kind of trashy. I don’t think I’ll be back, there’s too many other offerings on Washington to pick this place!