Lair 201 Lafayette Street Map it
click image to enlarge	Location: Soho Venue Type: Restaurant/Lounge Music: Top 40's, Hip Hop, Rock and 80's

Vibe: There are plenty of caves, hideouts, and dark bunkers where you wouldn’t want to host a birthday party—say, the ones that house the studios for the rapping offspring of extremely un-hip-hop celebrities—but this isn’t one of them. Lair, Soho/Nolita’s sexy new hotspot, is a perfect space to turn into your own private party den.

Spot: Filled with distinct metal work, innovative lighting on a 30-foot bar, and plenty of dim, sexy spaces, Lair goes heavy on the sex appeal. Once you and your friends throw a few back at the huge bar, there are plenty of dark corners with their own handcrafted cave murals to help up the carnality of it all. The DJ will keep it interesting, too, playing a solid mix of house, tribal, and hip-hop beats that rivals any other party spot in NYC, with no Chet Hazes in sight.

Grub: With a menu designed by Chef Chris Cheung (New York knows him from Nobu, Ruby Foos, Monkey Bar), you know your birthday party won’t be lacking in sustenance. Interesting small plates abound (Chinese chips with housemade duck sauce, roasted bone marrow, chicken and foie gras dumplings), with sweeter fare on hand as well (walnut-crusted marshmallows are available to set the indulgent tone of the night). Bottle service is available, and the cocktail menu doesn’t slack, either: Try the Mr. Hot Pants (Herradura reposado, mescal, campari, passionfruit, and Thai chili pepper agave) or the Maid in the Cave (Hibiki 12-year Japanese whiskey, ginger-infused agave, cucumbers muddled, and club soda), or, hell… you already know you’ll try all of them by the end of the night, as you certainly should.

Deal: Lair is just what it sounds like—a beautiful, shadowy, evocative hideaway that’s ideal for a downright beddable birthday party. Like your own private party chamber, Lair is New York’s spot for a grown and sexy gathering.

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