The Darby Downstairs

20s / 30s / 40s / 60s Soul / A-list / Affluent / Bottle Service / Button-downs / Celebrities / Chill / Classic Rock / Clubwear / Cocktails / DJ / DJ / Designer Dresses / Designer Jeans / Dressy / Eclectic / Expensive / Fashion Forward / Finger Food / Good Looking / High End / Exclusive / High Heels / High Heels / Hip-Hop / Hotspot / Jam Packed / Jazz / Laid back / Locals / Lounge / Media Types / Mixology / Mixology Lovers / Models / Music Industry Professionals / Regulars / Small Plates / Snack Food / Speakeasy / Speakeasy / Swanky / Top 40 / Tough Door / Tourists / Twenty-somethings / Wall Street Types / Wall Street Types / White Collar
The Darby Downstairs The Darby Downstairs in New York's Meatpacking District is a swanky speakeasy beneath the Darby restaurant. Check out the NY elite with Party Earth. New York United States 40.739372 -74.001825
3.31 7
The Darby Downstairs - Lounge | Speakeasy in New York.
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3 User Reviews
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Ratings:
Lucas
Adriana
Jonah
Emma

Party Earth Review Hidden below the swanky Darby restaurant, The Darby Downstairs is a stylish speakeasy where models and mixology collide – a tenuous union seeing as models usually break when they crash into stuff. It’s not unusual to... ... read full review

  • Subway:

    1, 2, 3: 14th Street / 7th Avenue; A, C, E: 14th Street / 8th Avenue; L: 8th Avenue / 14th Street

  • Phone:

    212-242-1776

  • Links:

    Official Website

  • Hours:

    Tu–Su 10:30pm–4am

  • Recommended as:

    • Night Spot

Party Earth The Darby Downstairs Review

The Scene

The Darby Downstairs in New York's Meatpacking District is a swanky speakeasy beneath the Darby restaurant. Check out the NY elite with Party Earth.

Chelsea / Flatiron, New York –

Hidden below the swanky Darby restaurant, The Darby Downstairs is a stylish speakeasy where models and mixology collide – a tenuous union seeing as models usually break when they crash into stuff.

It’s not unusual to see collections of spindly twenty-somethings gathered outside the venue’s separate entrance, stomping out smokes beneath six-inch stilettos before descending into a gold-hued space where the walls and ceiling are dressed in fake honeycombs.

The regular early crowd tends to be groups of moneyed Wall Streeters who pop in to snack on items from the abridged upstairs menu and knock back a few $18 classic cocktails, but it doesn’t take long for the doorman to start getting über-choosey.

DJs stick to an eclectic mix of 60s funk and old rock with some contemporary hip-hop woven in, though the vintage beats are usually enough to convince the older suits and their younger dates to set down their Tin Lizzy’s and dance.

Nearly the entire back wall is taken up by the bar, where Nylon editors and A&R reps clamor for drinks, while expansive patterned-leather sofas provide lots of room for the after-party crowd to wind down with a few bottles.

Promising a mellow vibe, pretty patrons, and a hefty bar tab, The Darby Downstairs is a basement party that‘s downright elevating.

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Tip from Adriana:

Though it’s no guarantee, eating a late dinner at the restaurant usually makes it easier to gain entrance downstairs.

  • Crowd

    Moneyed Wall Street types, models, wealthy tourists, celebrities, and glitzy types looking for a chill after-party, 20s to 40s.

  • Entertainment / Music

    DJs usually spin jazz early in the evening but transition to 60s funk, rock, hip-hop, and a some contemporary dance hits as the night progresses.

  • Food / Miscellaneous

    Small plates from Darby restaurant, including crab cakes, beef skewers, and spare ribs.

  • Prices

    Beer $9+, wine $20+/glass or $45+/bottle, cocktails $18+, bottle service $450+/bottle.

  • What to Wear / Dress Code

    Dressy: traditional Meatpacking uniform of designer jeans, button-downs, color block minis, Herve Leger bandage dresses, glittering array of Louboutins, Rossis, and Kirkwoods.

  • Hot Nights / When to Go

    Tuesdays and Wednesdays for the biggest local crowd, and Friday nights for a party packed with A-listers.

  • Close By

    The Darby is a beautiful supper club on street level, with regular live jazz and a gorgeous set of regulars to match the stunning interior.

Tags:
20s30s40s60s SoulA-listAffluentBottle ServiceButton-downsCelebritiesChillClassic RockClubwearCocktailsDJDJDesigner DressesDesigner JeansDressyEclecticExpensiveFashion ForwardFinger FoodGood LookingHigh End / ExclusiveHigh HeelsHigh HeelsHip-HopHotspotJam PackedJazzLaid backLocalsMedia TypesMixologyMixology LoversModelsMusic Industry ProfessionalsRegularsSmall PlatesSnack FoodSpeakeasySwankyTop 40Tough DoorTouristsTwenty-somethingsWall Street TypesWall Street TypesWhite Collar

The Darby Downstairs User Reviews

Average rating:
a tad crowded
Allison M.
Allison M. May 14, 2013
Every time I go here it is very packed unless its 11pm. There is very little room to dance as most of the space is taken up by booths and tables available for purchase and bottle service. However the bar expands the entire room, so if you cant get a drink in one area you are sure to get one further down the club. It is perfectly decorated with a beehive motif, even the bathrooms are cool! The like the music they play, definitely attracting a young hip crowd. I wouldn't stay here the entire night, but worth geting a drink at to start your night off. Drinks are a little expensive, but thats to be expected in a city like this! I hear the upstairs restaurant is amazing as well!
Chic and Exclusive
Risa C.
Risa C. Dec 11, 2012
Contrary to what Chris said, I really like this place. Maybe because his leg was blown off and he just escaped a dungeon the doorman was none too happy about letting him in - plus you can't use your cell phone down there since the service is shoddy underground, so Chris' situation may not be the best of uses for The Darby. Other than that though, it's a really great club to dress to impress and spend the night drinking and dancing with your friends. Yes the drinks are pricey, but no crazier than you would expect from the other high brow clubs in the MPD, the crowd is good looking, the music is upbeat and dancey, and it's a chic place for a night out. And if you have time the restaurant is also worth checking out for dinner.
Avoid.
Chris K.
Chris K. Oct 8, 2012
Consider stopping by the Darby if, I don't know, your leg has been blown off or you've just escaped a basement dungeon, and you need to use a phone. This place breeds everything wrong with the New York club scene--exclusivity and snobbishness with no real pay-off, no decent parties or impressive events to speak of. A real bummer of a place.
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