ENTERTAINMENT/NIGHTLIFE
NEW YORK 12 BEST SPOTS
1- DON'T TELL MAMA. 343 W 46th St, between 8th and 9th Avenues.
Phone: 212-7570788.
Rating: 4 STARS.
Genre: Cabaret-Lounge.
Clientele age: 30 to 50.
Dress code: Smart Casual.
One of the most captivating cabarets in New York City. Everybody seems to know about their cabaret acts. In fact, this spot regularly offers the best cabaret singers in the business. With its piano bar, two separate cabarets, this establishment rotates around high definition stage techno funky-musky gadgets, light fixtures, spotlights, fancy 400-watt sound system, the whole nine yard. The Front Cabaret room seats about 65 and the Back Cabaret seats approximately 74 persons. But what counts here is not the large projection screen, state of the art audio-video and technology stuff but the faces and talents at Don't Tell Mama. And talents they put on stage. Perhaps, they have the best nightly cabarets act and torch singers in town. And everybody takes part in this musical feverish explosion and implosion beginning with the performers, going through the wait staff and wrapping it up with customers who are having the best time of their lives. This is a great place. Very fun. Don’t Tell Mama opens nightly from 4:00 pm to 4:00 am, and the piano music stars at 9:00 pm. Two drinks minimum and cover charge is "to be paid" even if you know the owners. A lot of boozing and schmoozing in this place, but no food. This is a super duper spot. You will love this place. Highly recommended. Two thumbs up!
2-
FEINSTEIN'S AT THE REGENCY. 540 Park
Ave, The Regency Hotel. Phone: 212-339-4095.
Rating: 5 STARS.
Genre: Cabaret-Lounge.
Clientele age: 30 to 60.
Dress code: Jacket or Tie.
A very classy and chic nightclub. The ambiance is intimate, elegant, refined and comfortable. The room accommodates 140 seated guests. If you are having important guests from out of town, you better take them to Feinstein's At The Regency. They would be impressed. Everything seems perfect at that establishment; the show, the music, the repertoire, the food, the service, the ambiance and the clientele in general. New York needs a live entertainment place like the Feinstein's. The drinks prices and cover charge might scare some customers, but this is the whole deal! High prices would help eliminate the undesirable riffraff. This is a world-class cabaret. La crème de la crème, all the way!
3-
OAK ROOM AT THE ALGONQUIN. 59 W 44th St, between 5th and 6th
Avenues. Phone: 212-840-6800.
Rating: 5 STARS.
Genre: Cabaret-Lounge. Clientele age: From 20 to 50.
Dress code: Smart casual.
The Oak Room is a landmark in New York city with a rich tradition of cabaret music excellence and high caliber of stage performers. It is elegant, classic, imposing, yet very comfortable. The musical acts are first class. The artists are top of the line and the service is impeccable. Every single detail is well crafted and meticulously paid attention to, by the staff and personnel of the Oak Room. This is, probably the finest cabaret in the United States. Everything is almost perfect. To many customers, the Oak is very expensive and the $50 cover charge is outrageous! Yes, they complain about the high prices but they keep going to and coming back to the Oak Room. It seems that nobody in New York can compete with this spot. Nor any shrewd entrepreneur is capable of coming up with a new cabaret concept or formula to compete with the Oak Room. Elegance dominates here, starting with the pricy hors d'oeuvre, magnificent "lite" appetizers, yummy sandwiches, drinks, rich interior decor and ending the elegance tour de force with the gowns and dresses of the performers themselves. You cannot go wrong at the Oak Room.