By Ian J. Stark
In the space formerly known as Aer, a new animal of a club has set up shop.
Kiss & Fly—brought to us by owner-designer David Graziano (who also sculpted the look of
Pink Elephant) and co-owner Jonathan Segal (
Tenjune)—is quickly establishing itself as a go-to spot for the Euro crowd and those who love hanging with them. We headed to the Meatpacking District to take a closer look.
Digs: You’ll see a lot of activity on the block as K&F is located next door to its busy sister,
nouveau French bistro
Bagatelle. Once inside, the club consists of one large circular room—a spiral of plush seating and walkways, infused with tables, a stage, the DJ booth and a large bar. The décor—a clear nod to Roman excess—is extravagant. Old-world details and platforms are sculpted in a combination of Formica, marble and wood, enhanced by the Michelangelo-type fresco print in the overhead mesh. Interestingly, everything is within view at all times...well, almost everything: Hidden in the wall is an exclusive VIP nook. (You’d never notice it, since its entrance is a flush wall panel.) While you might think that all the ass-shaking would pop the thermometer, regular blasts of nitrous air keep the place fairly cool, and smokers will appreciate the accessible area off the dance floor, in a heated space with soft red light bathing the exposed brick.
Crowd: Yes, it is true—very Euro. During a conversation with the Aussie GM known as Rhino, he explained that European tastes figured directly in the club’s design, music and personality, inspired by parties from Ibiza, St. Tropez and other clubbed-out parts of the globe. You'll hear lots of accents. And you'll see the slightly sweatier, more sensual dancing commonly found overseas, plus lots of exuberant yelling as guests mix it up with (slightly gimmicky) stilt-walkers and bongo-drummers. The dress code is casual chic, which found most men in slim sport coats and dress shirts, relaxed with a pair of sneakers, while most of the ladies rocked dresses, with lots of cleavage and leg. Best of all, we spied a few good, old-fashioned club kids hanging about, decked out in bi-plane pilot caps, ragged fur and anything else they’ve found in thrift shops.
Sounds: Forget factory-style trance, as the order of the day here is house, uplifting and deep (Miguel Migs, Blue Six, etc). Not a lot of classic joints, but still appealing to that work-it-to-the-bone, spiritual side of dance that is hypnotic in its own right. Alright, there was one Beyonce song thrown in, but it was a bouncy remix that was further dissected by DJ Ian Carey (veteran of the national Defected and Hed Kandi parties). Look for several rotating selectors in the future, all proficient in this flavor of house.
Service: The one large bar is only staffed by three bartenders, but the wait is minimal. They’re experienced and expected—by management—to entertain and exhibit their “flair” (bottle-flipping, wild pouring), and the staff is required to attend a two-hour flair training session once a week before work. Bottle service is a big deal here, whether the delivery is to the hidden VIP area, to one of the many tables or to “The Temple”, another VIP section that is actually a showy round cage which also serves as a performance area. And, since showmanship is the name of the game, if bottle buyers place a big enough order, the lights will drop, the DJ shuts the music off, and the crowd cheers on your server (strange but true). Prices are strictly Manhattan, with beers clocking in at $8 to $10 and mixed drinks at $10 to $14.
Net results: what folks are saying online
[CitySearch]
"In keeping with the modern tradition of the Meatpacking District, this
ultra-hot spot is exclusive, expensive and bursting with excess."
[Shecky's] "From
the bumping and grinding sweaty bodies right down to the location, Kiss
& Fly is just about everything you’d expect from a newly opened
Manhattan nightclub minus the Lindsay sightings."
[UrbanDaddy] "Kiss & Fly is the next step in the exclusive service you've come to expect in your night out on the town."
Kiss & Fly
409 W. 13th St.
between Ninth Ave. and Washington St.
212-255-1933
