Retreat Lounge

(212) 488-6600

37 W 17th St
New York, NY 10009 40.7388 -73.994

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Neighborhoods: Flatiron District, Midtown

Last updated 11.15.09

Category:

Bars & Pubs, Restaurants, Lounges

Payment Methods:

American Express, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Club Special Features:

Specialty Cocktails

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Retreat Lounge

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Like a secret clearing in an enchanted forest, this sleek lounge pairs simultaneously design-y and natural elements. Tree stumps have been fashioned into side tables, the antler chandeliers are coated in bright red paint, and the custom DJ booth was built to resemble a treehouse. Its well-heeled, R&B-loving crowd, however, wouldn't be caught dead camping out. A seasonal cocktail list with ingredients such as Elder flower and plum puree completes the urban-outdoorsy vibe. – – –

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Retreat is also available for private events. Call for more information.
Where to Sit:
Snag space on one of the rich banquettes and watch the nightlife go by. Tables require bottle service.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “Hot music, great decor, cool crowd.”
  2. “We loved the decor of the place.”
  3. “The decor is nice as well.”
  4. “Great crowd, decor, and DJ.”
  5. “Was there for a friends bday party on saturday and the place was soooo much fun!”
  6. “great decor & awesome music.”
  7. “They have a great drink menu with lots of fun/interesting drinks to choose from!”
  8. “The crowd was fun and everyone was dancing.”
  9. “very hip yet friendly atmosphere inside this upscale”
  10. “very much enjoyed the service, music and ambience at this newcomer.”
  11. “the decor is very appealing, the drinks are great and overall we enjoyed the experience.”
  12. “The lounge was very cozy and comfortable.”
  13. “This is a great place to come, very comfortable for my friends and I. We recommend retreat to anyone who wants to retreat from all the same night-life options of the city”
  14. “Music was fun drinks were great!”
  15. “the decor is exquisite!”
  16. “Everyone had fun The staff was very friendly”
drinks
96.30000114440918% positive
  1. “The Doorman let my friends and I in right away, We went to the bar and had great drinks.”
  2. “New Yorks next great place, went there with some friends, we had a great time, the crowd,music, and drinks were the best we have had in a long time in new york.”
  3. “Drinks were a little pricey, and the bar was crowded to get to, but the people there and music were amazing.”
  4. “The bar tender also had a few cool tricks up his sleeve!”
  5. “the decor is very appealing, the drinks are great and overall we enjoyed the experience.”
  6. “went to the other male bartender and he waved me off until my friend was able to order drinks for us.”
  7. “Music was fun drinks were great!”
  8. “They have a great drink menu with lots of fun/interesting drinks to choose from!”
  9. “It was an escape from the same old new york nightlife, If you are looking for something better and different then check out retreat, the drinks and people were great.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “They have a great drink menu with lots of fun/interesting drinks to choose from!”
  2. “This is a great place to come, very comfortable for my friends and I. We recommend retreat to anyone who wants to retreat from all the same night-life options of the city”
overall
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. “Great music, good place for birthdays!”
  2. “The music and crowd were great and we closed the place down.”
  3. “This is a great place to come, very comfortable for my friends and I. We recommend retreat to anyone who wants to retreat from all the same night-life options of the city”
  4. “For a place that has a good space and nice set up, it's unfortunate that yet again the downfall of this place will be due to a rude bouncer.”
  5. “great place”
  6. “New Yorks next great place, went there with some friends, we had a great time, the crowd,music, and drinks were the best we have had in a long time in new york.”
service
57.91999816894531% positive
  1. “The DJ was great and our service was on point.”
  2. “I'm sure the only reason why the door guy let littlekim and her friends in was because he lost 30+ people earlier with his nasty attitude.”
  3. “The door staff was extremely rude and only allowed 25 of my guest to come in.”
  4. “very hip yet friendly atmosphere inside this upscale”
  5. “Great music, good looking crowd and super friendly staff.”
  6. “They let in teenagers that barely look like they're 13 and the door staff is so offensive and rude--I wish I had taped the encounter.”
  7. “The wait staff was very attentive to are table, and made us feel great.”
  8. “Great crowd, music was on point, and the staff was cool.”
  9. “Despite her pleading, the bouncer, with a huge nose and like a $5 haircut, insisted that I wait at the back of a line of at least 20 people while my girlfriend stood outside in the cold trying to get me in to a party i was already invited to.”
  10. “Drinks were a little pricey, and the bar was crowded to get to, but the people there and music were amazing.”
  11. “The staff was very friendly but there was hardly anyone to be friendly to.”
  12. “The staff was nice and they worked to make the event great.”
  13. “To the management: I don't know why you would want to hire someone who is so rude and actually drives people away.”
  14. “went to the other male bartender and he waved me off until my friend was able to order drinks for us.”
  15. “The staff was great”
  16. “It was an escape from the same old new york nightlife, If you are looking for something better and different then check out retreat, the drinks and people were great.”
  17. “The entire staff was incredibly rude.”
  18. “The doorman was super friendly and let us in even though we weren't on the guest list.”
  19. “After I checked it out I wanted to faint, it was the coolest looking place ever, the design was incredible, the waitresses where so beautiful, and the music that night was really funky, the attention to detail was incredible and although it was a little d”
  20. “have been clubbing and partying for years and have never experienced such rude behaviour in my life.”
  21. “Specifically, the female girl standing outside of the door was unbelieveably rude.”
  22. “so rude, were not accommodating, and the place sucked anyway.”
  23. “The bartender was nice and I got my service right away.”
  24. “Everyone had fun The staff was very friendly”
  25. “The staff is rude and they charge you 20% automatically for bad service.”
  26. “There is no energy,the music is horrible,so is the service.”
  27. “The people there were really friendly to me too and it was filled with girls.”
  28. “mean really bad service.”
  29. “rude door staff”
  30. “Horrible staff, really small venue”
  31. “waitresses are HOT, music good, they play a good mix.”
  32. “very much enjoyed the service, music and ambience at this newcomer.”
  33. “The few people in there knew how to party and were dancing and the music was nice as well.”
  34. “The manager was discustingly rude telling me to basically pay more cause he couldn't care less if we were there or not.”
  35. “The music was great, the crowd was beautiful and the service was quick.”
  36. “went there for a friend's bday on saturday and encountered the worst door staff ever!”
  37. “Then atleast another 30 on top of that were rejected because the door staff was so RUDE and even told me they would kick me out of my own birthday if I walked outside again to say hi to my friends that came.”
  38. “rude people, poor service.”
  39. “For a place that has a good space and nice set up, it's unfortunate that yet again the downfall of this place will be due to a rude bouncer.”
  40. “The bartenders were cool and we stayed there until 3.”
value
55.56000232696533% positive
  1. “Drinks too expensive for NYC!”
  2. “Drinks were a little pricey, and the bar was crowded to get to, but the people there and music were amazing.”
  3. “Despite her pleading, the bouncer, with a huge nose and like a $5 haircut, insisted that I wait at the back of a line of at least 20 people while my girlfriend stood outside in the cold trying to get me in to a party i was already invited to.”
wait time
75.0% positive
  1. “New Yorks next great place, went there with some friends, we had a great time, the crowd,music, and drinks were the best we have had in a long time in new york.”
  2. “The DJ was probably one of the best i've heard in a long time (Stacey Style-I think), it was a nice combo of dance and hip hop and not a lot of top 40.”
  3. “Went back because we felt bad for my friend at 1:30 finally got in, after the bouncer claimed my bf's id was fake which it isnt, and then after 10 minutes and his stupid black light, he let us in, becuase he realized he is a moron.”
  4. “The music was great, the crowd was beautiful and the service was quick.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

08/05/11

rat hole

by marcosan at Citysearch

Most likely the grimiest bar/ club I have ever been too. Left after few minutes of getting inside the tiny overcrowded and mainly underage room.

1 Star Rating: Poor

07/17/11

Retreat is the worst venue ever

by MAHOGANY at Citysearch

I was supposed to have a birthday party here and I got there and the door was locked!! I had emails of me and Pete confirming my event and they did nothing to accommodate me. they pulled a no show on a Saturday night! my guests were disappointed and it was the worst and most embarrassing night of my life. I will never step foot in this place again or encourage ANYONE to go here and spend a dime. they are tacky, unprofessional and unethical! never again!!! DO NOT GO HERE!!!!

1 Star Rating: Poor

04/08/11

Avoid!

by cc101 at Citysearch

Wow. I heard such good things about this place. Never again. Watered down overpriced drinks. I like crowds but the space it too crammed. Staff is rude. Music barely ok. Do yourself a favor and find another club.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

12/10/10

Retreat is certainly a treat!

by arielle winters at Citysearch

Retreat is the best! I go here all the time and the bouncers are always nice to me. I always have AccessGotham set me up a list, which is a definite plus. My friends and I always do a big walk in of 15 to 20 people.

Retreat is a bit smaller than some of the other venues out there, but everything is top notch. The bartenders mix delicious drinks and are friendly and aren't so damn focused on tips. If there's one spot I always have fun at it's Retreat.

1 Star Rating: Poor

12/05/10

A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!

by Mo773 at Citysearch

RETREAT was one of the most horrible places that I have ever been too. The bouncers were the ONLY good thing going on at that location. The drinks sucked, the ambience sucked, the bathroom is located down the longest flight of stairs, obviously awaitng a fall to the bottom. The bartender did not know how to work the crowd and obviously did NOT know when to spot a drunk ass person until they are passed out on the bathroom floor throwing up! Thank God I found a parking spot on the street and got into this jungle for free because I would have been quite upset if I had spent another dime there. It is small, dark , and the bottles were OVER PRICED. The DJ was horrible, not allowing each song to play but 5 seconds before switching it to another one...my night was ruined completely.

DONT GO THERE! IT NOT WORTH A PENNY OF YOUR MONEY! THERE ARE BETTER VENUES YOU CAN ATTEND!

The Details on Retreat Lounge

Place Categories:

  • great hot music
  • great place
  • rude door staff
  • very friendly wait staff
  • great crowd
  • great fun drinks
  • great decor
  • great dj
  • really bad service
  • rude people
  • best friends bday party
  • comfortable lounge
  • very bad experience
  • bad music
  • recommend retreat
  • pricey drinks
  • rude bouncer
  • nice bartender
  • worst terrible music sound system
  • good space
  • best energy
  • discustingly rude manager
  • great very chill
  • great cant
  • super friendly doorman