On the night of Friday, December 13, 2024, I encountered what appeared to be a discriminatory and unjustified decision by the host and bartenders to refuse my business. Despite being a regular patron of this establishment without prior issues, I was turned away this time under the pretense of a “dress code” violation.

I, an Asian woman, was wearing black leather pants, a long-sleeve designer shirt, and black skinny heels. My partner, who is Black, was dressed in a black coat (appropriate for the 28-degree weather), a black long-sleeve top, patterned pants, and Balenciaga shoes. None of our attire was inappropriate by any reasonable standard.

When we politely asked for clarification on the dress code, the staff became visibly flustered, nervously searching for it on their phones. The bartender then claimed it was posted on the door, but the only sign stated, “No T-shirts, sweatshirts, torn jeans, and white Zinfandel”—none of which applied to us. The establishment’s website, ironically, states, “You can never be overdressed,” which only underscores the inconsistency of their reasoning.

What makes this incident even more troubling is the clear lack of uniform enforcement of the dress code. For example, social media posts by the establishment show other patrons, particularly those who are famous or white, wearing attire that would seemingly violate these rules, such as hoodies, shorts, flip-flops, and HATS. This double standard raises serious concerns about potential racial bias in how these policies are applied.

Furthermore, the bar was completely empty during our visit, which makes the refusal of service even more baffling and unacceptable. This experience has left me feeling disrespected and unwelcome, and I have no intention of returning. I will also be sharing this incident with my friends to raise awareness about the discriminatory practices I experienced.