Ascent Lounge — Local services in New York

Discriminatory outdated practices which will eventually lead to the demise of the establishment.

My first encounter at this place was strictly on a whim a couple of weeks ago. I called and everything seemed fine the host was inviting I went in for a cocktail and went home. I was excited about the vibe because at that time I encountered a mix crowd with good music. I was dressed down.

Fast forward to 3/19 and the entire atmosphere has changed immediately upon arrival with another female friend the hostess leans over her stand look us up and down then get the manager without saying a word. This tall linky Eastern European white man proceeds to come out shake his head and say No! Confused we ask what are you talking about he then states that no Athletic gear on Saturday so me with my plain skippies and my friend with her "super Athletic Jordan's" couldn't sit at the bar....

I advise that I was just there a couple of weeks ago and this was never mentioned anywhere on the website nor was a requirement. Matija Rajak then tells me one of the owners came in last Friday and seen "the people" inside and was really mad and implemented the rules.

Now let me reiterate when I first visited the establishment I was excited to see such a mix of people in which made me want to tell other people about this place and plan events, where there was such a colorful mix of people. My return was met by the unt unt jersey crowd and not much else because it was actually empty. I was told the other white patrons was allowed to have on sneakers because they came in before 8pm I arrived at 8:15pm.

After deciding to take my money else where to the piano bar directly across from ascent I casually watch the same host and manager let in loads of white people in with shorts, tennis shoes, docks and other seemingly athletic gear.... A total disgrace and I advise anyone who like to be treated with respect and equality to go elsewhere....

Do better!!!! This is New York City we're not accepting the passive aggressive racism nor classism BS anymore! This city is one of the most diverse cities in the world to come here and post up shop is to accept and honor that diversity! After the Pandemic it's amazing to see some of the hardest hit industries try to sneakily regress back into low tier scummy policies that had y'all practically begging...

Racist isn’t even the word for this place don’t think that you’re going to come here and it be an establishment that is diverse because here you are not. Tonight me girlfriend and i went to go meet a family member for a party. We were a part of the reservation and originally i had went to give a ride to someone there. This party was for a very close family member of mine, and they made an exception for my sibling, who was underaged. When we got to the door the hostess were already staring weirdly at us, meanwhile i’m wearing all black and my girlfriend is wearing slacks and a black blouse with boots. I was already assuming that they thought I wasn’t supposed to be there because I don’t look like my sister who was already inside. I am black and she is white. My family came out to get us and all of the hostess are whispering to each other. Already we knew something was off because one of the tall hostess with the curly hair kept making faces and all the workers were whispering to each other in our face. Next thing you know they all come out and say we cannot enter because of the dress code that we didn’t know was enforced when they were people walking out with leggings and athletic sneakers… The manager comes out and she says no i can’t let you guys in because of the way that you are dressed and points at the coat , which was Mormont a $600 coat…, which would’ve been taken off. It’s 28 degrees outside in new york do they expect people to not arrive with coats on. Anyways she also makes a comment how me and my gf both look 15 and 16 when literally we have a bunch of visible tattoos. We also both had ids that she didn’t even offer to check before making that assumption. Besides that my minor family member was already allowed in the lounge and she was wearing Jordan’s and tights but she was white. She was completely unprofessional for a restaurant that’s in a completely diverse city. It’s unfortunate that i couldn’t spend the night with someone i’ve grown up with for their birthday because of the restaurant trying to keep a certain look or tailor to a specific race. i’m disappointed in my first impression of the restaurant that i didn’t get to set foot in because the manager assumed i was 15 and i am very much 21. This is very disappointing and i hope another person doesn’t get to...

MCC is so grateful for our longtime partnership with City Nights Hospitality and its incredible owners, Brian and Carrie Packin. Since our very first event at Ascent Lounge back in 2016, they have shown MCC such generosity and support. Time and again, they have worked with us to make sure our events fit within our nonprofit budget, without ever compromising on the quality or elegance of the experience.

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting fundraisers, kickoff celebrations, parent gatherings, staff holiday parties, and even team-building events with our MCC community at Ascent Lounge. Each time, the atmosphere, service, and hospitality have been exceptional, creating memorable experiences for our MCC staff, families, supporters and donors.

One of the things that makes hosting events at Ascent Lounge and Allure Cocktail Lounge such a treat is their vast menu selection and exceptional cocktails. Their culinary offerings are both creative and versatile, making it easy to design a menu that works beautifully for any occasion. The cocktails are crafted with care and flair and always leave a lasting impression on our guests.

We’ve also been fortunate to host events across many City Nights Hospitality locations—including Ascent Lounge at Columbus Circle in the Time Warner Center, Allure Cocktail Lounge, and 48 Lounge—and each venue has offered its own unique charm while maintaining the same level of excellence.

We are honored to continue partnering with Brian, Carrie, and their outstanding team, and we look forward to many more celebrations for our MCC community at their...