J’adore

A friend invited me out to celebrate a birthday, telling everybody to get here before 11:30 for reduced cover on her guestlist. I had a couple other events to go to, so I didn’t get there until a little after 1am, knowing that I’d have to pay full cover. I had really low expectations of the place, but wanted to hang out with some friends I hadn’t seen in a while.
When I got to the club there was nobody outside. I opened the door and a bouncer charged toward me, asking who’s party I was with. He told me I’d have to pay full cover and I said that was fine. Then he got confused and told me to wait, while he disappeared inside. A couple minutes later he emerged and told me there’s nobody around to take my cover charge; they’d already left for the night. So instead of letting people in for free, or storing the money somewhere, they just can’t admit anybody who hasn’t already paid.
I give them credit for successfully failing to meet my already low expectations.

How we found ourselves at J’adore/Retreat (or whatever this place calls itself) can only be summed up by saying that we were already a few drinks into the evening and the gf misread the address we were looking for on her iPhone. So, instead of ending up at Raines Law Room, we ended up across the street at a club that was 180 degrees from what we were looking for! Stupid us. I think we both suspected that we were at the wrong place based on the very loud, thumping music and the $ 20 cover to get in, but the gf checked the address on her phone again and said it was the place.
Once inside, we knew we were definitely in the wrong bar… Unilocal app be damned! I’m not a club-​goer. I prefer a much more relaxed drinking atmosphere. That said, I’ve been to a few clubs in my day and this so-​called club was laughable. Reserved tables with bottle service? Check! DJ? Check. He was actually laying down some great beats except no one was dancing. It must’ve been too early in the night and the club kids weren’t ready to move. Overpriced, watered down drinks? Check. We ordered a couple of Ketel One and tonics while we researched our intended destination. The gf and I have been to several of the city’s great cocktail lounges and not once did we come close to paying $ 20 for a drink. Hello, $ 20 Ketel One and tonic! I saw plenty of ice in the 12oz rocks glass and tasted plenty of tonic, but very little Ketel One. What a rip off! At least the gf and I got a good laugh out of this!
I cannot, in good conscience, give this place anything higher than 1-​star. I do this to as a service to the underage kids with fake IDs and those that just turned 21 to ensure that they don’t throw away Mommy and Daddy’s money.

Friday night back in February2012, seemed like there were 5 – 6 birthday groups, early 20s. We arrived at 9:30 and blocked because our party didn’t start until 10pm and there was a ‘private party’ until then (whatever). Generally bad attitude in the place. My friend was actually punched by one of the bouncers as he was escorted out toward the end of the night for harmless frolicking («He’s from Barcelona…»)

I can’t figure out if this place is called Retreat or J’adore. In any event… On Wednesday nite this was the St Venus Theater, then on Saturday during the day it was a charity poker tourney. Now THAT is some serious versatility. Cover for St Venus is 40. It was probably a less pushy version of what you’d get elsewhere. Not my thing, but others might enjoy. Have a good time.

This place deserves NO STARS! My friend had her birthday here and she was told 10:30−5am. Her entire party arrives around 10:45pm and we are forced to wait outside in the cold «until it opens», well why tell her 10:30 if you don’t open until 11. Then 11 comes and goes and still no one is allowed in, the bouncers at the door were very nice and just doing their job, but we felt like cattle being herded beyond the front window of the restaurant we were piling up in front of because they would not let anyone in. Then they slowly let in 6 at a time, into the their empty bar! The group was 35 people plus. Once in the door you get stopped in a small hallway where you are forced to pay an outrageous cover, only to be stopped by a second set of gate keepers further down the hall. Needless to say we didn’t make it that far. I don’t suggest you try this place ever.

Two words– NEVER GO! This place is insane! We were on the guest list of a birthday party which supposed to start at 10pm. We arrived there at 10:45pm and it was snowy, windy and freezing. They put everyone in a line outside waiting, saying DJ hasn’t showed up yet and nobody got to get in! Fine, we left to some other bars and returned at 1:30am. There was nobody outside of the entrance so we went in. There in the corridor walked out two black guys yelling at us «who told you you can come in? Get out first!» We walked out and they further required us to stay out of the waiting line barricade even there was nobody else and asked rudely «you think you can just walk in like that?» I said «Nobody was outside so we assume security check was inside the door, and we are on the list. what’s the problem?!» And my friend said «You should wait outside if you don’t wanna people walk in!» Then one of the black guys said «That’s it! Leave now!» We would not want to get in at that point anyway, and my friend said «Let’s go! I don’t like this fking place!» NEVER GO THERE unless you want to be treated like shit! Whoever runs this hole, if you want to do business, first fire those uneducated, rude, bullying watchdogs. I don’t even wanna give 1 star!

Despite the fact that my girlfriends and I were on the guest list, it took us about 20 minutes to actually enter J’adore. There are three sets of good-​for-​nothing security obstacles that try to hustle you to pay more cover than you actually need to. Even with the promoter’s help, we had to stand on lines after lines trying to get in. Oh boy, and were we disappointed when we saw what we waited in line for. The promoter claimed that J’adore was similar to and rivals with Chelsea Manor, PS 450, and Hudson Terrace. His words, not mine. The only thing similar were the jacked up prices. A gin and tonic was about $ 20. AND THEY HAVE THE AUDACITY TO ADD THE TIP ON YOUR BILL, SO YOU HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PAY A $ 10 TIP FOR 3 DRINKS REGARDLESS OF THE SERVICE. HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT!
And their fog machine is out of control. It wreaks and they need to shut it off once in a while. Not only can’t you take pictures but you can’t make out people’s faces. Everything becomes a blur and everyone becomes nothing short of a vague silhouette.
And the average age at J’adore is approximately 40 years old.

I went here for a birthday party last night,…BIG MISTAKE. Unlike others I was with, I didn’t complain about the mandatory $ 4 coat check – just sucked it up, paid, checked my coat. At the bar, the bartender was beyond rude to my friend who wanted to open a tab – you cannot open a tab without your ID there, but my friend had left her ID in her checked coat. She sucked it up and paid cash. I wasn’t really sure what to make of the music – it had a Euro/​techno-​y feel to it, which is not my style at all, but I made the best of the situation, because it was nice to see old friends who were at the party. As we were about to leave, 2 more of our friends arrived after waiting on a long line and paying a $ 20 cover… SO, we decided to stay a bit longer, for their sake. The thing was, I had already claimed my coat from the coat check. I didn’t anticipate staying much longer, and so did not want to re-​check my coat. One of the bouncers inside insisted that I check my coat. I explained that I had already checked it and then claimed it, but would be staying a bit longer, but he screamed in my face and ultimately pushed me saying I had to leave if I did not check my coat. I’d had enough with the place and just wanted to get out of there, but should have followed up with a manager, because the bouncers actions were COMPLETELY out of line. This place was a huge disappointment. I will say though that the bouncer outside the club (at around 11pm) was a pretty funny guy. he was only cool thing about this place.

Went here before when it was Retreat, BIG change in crowd and music. Just went here last night to celebrate a birthday. Good open bar deals, servers were exceptionally friendly, bottle service was excellent. House music with maybe a 20 minute hip hop set, but the crowd was more of a house crowd anyways. Coat check $ 4 which is not that bad. DEFINITELY suggest getting in touch with a promoter before hand to get better deals at door etc. Sheryl the promoter there is a saint and really took care of me and my friends. Overall had an amazing night and this place was INSANE last night. Highly recommend this place :)

FAIL. Scene sucks, music sucks, packed (not sure why?), you reserve a table and they still won’t let you come in. They wait for people to line up outside their club to create the false impression of coolness. SUPER RUDE.
Once inside I told the bouncer I didn’t have cash for coat check. So he grabbed me by the arm and manhandled me in a way that was way beyond the law, and I definitely should have called the police.
I got the manager (?), who wanted to pay me $ 20 to cover my coat check and a drink. Nice guy, but doesn’t make up for everything this place is.
Who twists a girls arm and shakes her around over a $ 3 coat check?! whats wrong with you!!!

The place is not that bad. Although I do admit, the pictures on the website makes the place look way more nice than it actually is. The moment we got in, we BOTH immediately noticed that it was way too foggy. You almost couldn’t see a thing, that was the dealbreaker.
But, nonetheless I had a good time. It wasn’t super crowded. I did come here for a girl friend’s birthday party and she reserved a table/​bottle. Tables were small, but I guess good enough for us. My friend and I had no problem getting in. We smoothly got in after we told the promoter we were with a table. Surprisingly we were able to go in even though the birthday girl wasn’t there yet.
This place has potential, but it is a little small…

Came here to celebrate NYE after a last minute venue change. The size of this place is midway between a lounge and a small club. Bathrooms located downstairs — decent number of stalls. Coat check downstairs as well.
Cons
— long long long long lines at the door
— 2 bartenders working the entire place? srsly?
— weak drinks at the bar
Pros
— bypass coatcheck if you have a table
— pretty plush couches
— nice chandeliers on the ceiling
— decent music
Probably would have never set foot in this place if not for my friend choosing it as our NYE venue but it wasn’t terribly shabby.

j’adore. as the name implies… should belong to the meatpacking vibe, but resides in flatiron district. completely european… music that has an identity crisis … hip house. that is not house music… if you are going to remix katy perry’s music. i repeat. NOT house music.
the scene … meh. décor is alright… space so packed that after an hour of being there… i wanted to leave already. the lighting reminds me of the chandelier bar at the Cosmopolitan (in vegas).
Just another venue in NYC. your best bet is to be on a promoter’s list … otherwise there is an entrance fee… which I’m sorry, does not really qualify as a club to be charging a fee at the door!