Cielo

When you talk about clubbing in New York City, the one name that will invariably come up is Cielo.  For good reason.  Located in the infamous Meatpacking District, this EDM institution is ten years strong in an unforgiving city full of deep pockets and ambitious operators.

The layout of the space is simplicity itself: the slightly rectangular room is an open area, with a slightly sunken dance floor (illuminated via backlit steps circling it) with banquette seating wrapping around the 75% of the wall not taken up by the DJ both and the bar.  With capacity listed at 250, the space is intimate and cozy, stylish, and modern.

The interior is a minimal combination of hardwoods, mosaic tiled accents, plush seating and what might be accurately described as a modernist take on a log cabin.  The cushiony, dark brown, horizontal padded tubes are alternated with illuminated light tubes, both of which wrap around the entirety of the club.  Out a back door near the bathrooms, is a small, smoking patio.  It is sleek, elegant, and was built for great parties

The DJ booth sits slightly elevated from the dance floor, and anyone you can think of from a mile-long list of world class DJs, has spun here, and their residents are as good as most festival headliners: Louie Vega, Francois K, Roger Sanchez.   To handle all of this, the club boasts a Funktion One sound system, which is constantly attended to and tweaked as needed.  Cielo cares about music.  Between the sound, the size and the lineup, it’s the best place in the city to catch your favorite DJ if he happens to be playing there.

One thing notably missing from Cielo is a VIP area.  Given the uber-hip, ultra-stylish crowd that frequents Cielo, the reasoning seems to be that if you make it past the door, you’re a VIP.  This of course, means dress to impress; stylish, sexy, and hip are words you’ll need to know.  And this is not drinking on a budget, so be prepared.

Dress Code: Trendy Casual

Website: http://www.cieloclub.com