(212) 255-4646

222 West 23rd Street
New York, NY 10011 40.7443 -73.9964

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Neighborhoods: Chelsea, Midtown

Hours:

Wed-Fri 6pm-4am

Sat 8pm-4am

Last updated 9.11.08

Category:

Restaurants, Bars & Pubs, Nightclubs, Singles Bars, Lounges, Hotel Bars

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, Diners Club, MasterCard

Bar & Club Special Features:

Romantic Nightlife

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Serena

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Say hello to the courtly Serena Bass on your way through the intimate front lounge. The middle and back bars shine in the old, neo-Moroccan style. Serena's hyper-connected managing partner, Sam Shaeffer, makes sure plenty of A-list arrivistes are on hand to prop up the bar (Anna Wintour is his stepmother; Minnie Driver a cousin). Regular guests from the hotel upstairs sprinkle a little glamour among the drop-ins.

Editor's Tips

What to Drink:
Credible cocktails include a tasty margarita and a fine three-olive martini, but avoid the Pink Bitch, an oversweet house variation on the cosmo.
Know Before You Go:
Don't be scared by the clipboard carrying doorman--he'll try to give you attitude, but he doesn't really mean it (in a pinch, drop one of the above names).
ambiance
90.90999603271484% positive
  1. “The ambiance is very good, it attracts a good crowd, and the music is great.”
  2. “Its a great place if you live locally and are looking for a martini and a comfortable atmosphere early in the evening.”
  3. “It's a comfortable, attrative place.”
  4. “had my birthday at Serena this past Friday and everything was so much fun.”
  5. “The weekends are always fun and upbeat and the weekdays there is always a cool party.”
  6. “The surroundings are cozy and music good.”
  7. “The atmosphere was great and so were the drinks, music, and food.”
  8. “The music is good, as is the ambiance.”
  9. “Very cute-go there w/ a date and cozy up on the comfy couches w/ dimmed candlelight and cocktails.”
  10. “Very good atmosphere.”
  11. “Drinks were overpriced, and the atmosphere reminded me of a friend's basement when he would have makeout parties.”
drinks
78.5699987411499% positive
  1. “The manager reserved the front room for my group, our waitress was great, the drinks reasonably priced and the music was the best.”
  2. “Very cute-go there w/ a date and cozy up on the comfy couches w/ dimmed candlelight and cocktails.”
  3. “The atmosphere was great and so were the drinks, music, and food.”
  4. “Did they notice that I gave a polite "goodbye" wave on the way out, after I left an undeserved $2 tip on the $7 beer?”
  5. “The bottle/drinks prices were reasonable.”
  6. “drinks are expensive, service was good though, perhaps because the bar was sooooo "chill”
  7. “there's no cover but of course the drinks are sort of pricey.”
food quality
100.0% positive
  1. “Their app menu is delicious too.”
  2. “The atmosphere was great and so were the drinks, music, and food.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “Their app menu is delicious too.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “Everyone had such a great time- I would definitely recommend this place for your birthday.”
  2. “Its a great place if you live locally and are looking for a martini and a comfortable atmosphere early in the evening.”
  3. “remeber this place a while back, being a great place with interesting people.”
service
50.0% positive
  1. “remeber this place a while back, being a great place with interesting people.”
  2. “The waitress was so incredibly rude and disgruntled.”
  3. “never had ruder service from more unattractive people in my life!”
  4. “The manager reserved the front room for my group, our waitress was great, the drinks reasonably priced and the music was the best.”
  5. “The waitress and hostess were great in accomodating my guests.”
  6. “Had a friends birthday there this past weekend and the service was extremely bad.”
  7. “drinks are expensive, service was good though, perhaps because the bar was sooooo "chill”
value
50.0% positive
  1. “Drinks were overpriced, and the atmosphere reminded me of a friend's basement when he would have makeout parties.”
  2. “so thanks to serena for the huge ego trip!”
  3. “there's no cover but of course the drinks are sort of pricey.”
  4. “We were there at 2 30'ish and the obnoxious french doorman says that we were not allowed in because 1) our group was too big 2) he would have to charge us 20 dollars a head.”
  5. “The bottle/drinks prices were reasonable.”
  6. “drinks are expensive, service was good though, perhaps because the bar was sooooo "chill”
4 Star Rating: Recommended

10/26/06

Serena-underground lounge

by TBabyMonmouthCounty at Citysearch

Very cute-go there w/ a date and cozy up on the comfy couches w/ dimmed candlelight and cocktails. late nite--major crowd, sometimes celebs so paparazzi is annoying as hell, but the bouncers always remember a cute face so you're good to get in.

  • Pros: Ambience
  • Cons: Crowded if late nite
3 Star Rating: Average

05/19/06

serena was good for one thing

by black_velveteen at Citysearch

i discovered this place because this guy i used to date was a regular. the dates and friends i took there afterwards thought it was pretty cool...but the last time i went, there was an ego-tripped bouncer working the door. we were at the front of the line, and the ego-bouncer let his friends who walked up to him from the street go in before us. so we decided to head to a place downtown, with alot less attitude. there, i ran into friends who introduced me to a friend of theirs out with them that night. well, that guy is now my boyfriend of over 1 1/2 years...so thanks to serena for the huge ego trip! moral of the story - don't let serena's unjustified ego get you down...it's just a sign that you're likely to get something better out of your night somewhere else!

  • Pros: great music variety, dancing available
  • Cons: too much ego
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/08/05

Great Lounge and Music, Good for Birthdays too

by dave8nyc at Citysearch

I just had my 26th birthday at Serena on Saturday and it was great! The manager reserved the front room for my group, our waitress was great, the drinks reasonably priced and the music was the best. The dj had us dancing until 4am, they practically had to kick us out! I almost didn't plan my party there, it looked like one of those pretentious places that make you line up for no reason but all my friends got in without any problems and we rocked the party.

  • Pros: atmosphere, music, attractive crowd
  • Cons: can get crowded
2 Star Rating: Below Average

11/15/05

Simply Put - HORRIBLE

by ptekstylz at Citysearch

Had a friends birthday there this past weekend and the service was extremely bad. The bartender demanded a tip, eventhough she saw in my hand I had already taken a tip out. I was about to give her 5 dollars, but since she was so rude in asking for a tip, I decided to leave her only $2 and tell her 'here is 2 dollars for your services' and walked away. Highly not recommended to anyone.

  • Pros: atmosphere
  • Cons: service, music
3 Star Rating: Average

11/05/05

Rudest service EVER!!!

by alainam1201 at Citysearch

I went to Serena for a friend's birthday party, and I could not have been more annoyed and irritated when I left. The waitress was so incredibly rude and disgruntled... my friend spilled a drink and she didn't even bring napkins over. And then she mysteriously disappeared when I wanted a drink, and when I went to inquire about it at the bar, and other waitress very rudely told me that she didn't have my credit card and couldn't help me.

Ugh... never had ruder service from more unattractive people in my life!!

  • Pros: atmosphere, wine is cheap
  • Cons: music sucks, too loud, rude waitresses

The Details on Serena

Place Categories:

  • great place
  • great waitress
  • of pricey drinks
  • comfortable atmosphere
  • great music
  • always fun weekends
  • obnoxious french doorman
  • cool layout
  • more unattractive people
  • enjoy serena
  • extremely bad service
  • famous chelsea hotel
  • liked flirtini
  • huge ego
  • very good ambiance
  • excellent vodka
  • unbelievably nice doorman
  • annoying paparazzi
  • sketchy folks
  • sick chill summer crowd
  • good crowd
  • great option
  • like ny spots
  • lousy taste
  • good surroundings