Joyface — Restaurant in New York

I'm writing this review after attending Matinee Social Club's (MSC) event at Joyface on Saturday, February 24th, 2024. This was my first time at Joyface and attending the MSC party. I did not get a chance to order a drink or interact with staff, so I can't speak to the menu or service. However, management needs to be made aware of this! Matinee is a ticketed event that is only open to VIPs on a mailing list. In spite of this exclusivity, this event is wildly popular and highly attended. Joyface is a teeny tiny bar on the LES that has a capacity of maaaaybe 150? (Even that seems generous). My friend and I purchased tickets to this event and arrived at 7, 2 hours after the event started. The bar was so packed we could barely enter and had to shove through a wall of people just to get in the door. We were in there for less than a minute before we turned around and left. There was way too many people inside for this to be safe. If there was a fire or an active shooting, everyone would've been absolutely screwed. I couldn't even see where the exits were because of how crowded and dark the place was. I really think this event needs to be better managed. I'm sure this place is cool but it certainly does not have the capacity to be throwing disco ragers like that. Don't waste your money buying a ticket until they upgrade to a...

As an interior designer based in New York, I've always looked at spaces with a different perspective. In fact, this different way of viewing spaces begins even before I enter them. In a city like New York with thousands of venues, I recently visited a place that I might have frequented for years, but where I could never fully focus on the atmosphere due to a lack of professionalism. It was a venue that felt completely amateurish, where egos were left at the door.

When I arrived at the venue, it was still early, and there were about 10-15 people inside. However, as more people arrived, I noticed that some were allowed to enter without waiting in line, which I consider disrespectful to others. Before visiting any venue, I always check if they have their own set of rules. When I asked about reservations, they said it wasn't necessary, but then told me I needed to make a reservation at the door, which is ridiculous. Out of the nearly thousand events, restaurants, and bars I've been to, I can say this was the worst.

Someone approached me in line and said that you could enter through the "talk and skip" method, and they did just that. The bouncer's ego, which overshadowed the venue itself, along with poor management, could only be found in a place like Ave C. My entire experience at this venue can be summed up as just...

I used to love Joyface a lot but I will say they've gotten very out of control with the way they manage the line and the ridiculous constraints of the bouncers they have. I tried to go this past Saturday at 11pm which is a relatively early time and I was told by the bouncers despite waiting in a long line that they were only letting people in with reservations. Reservations?! Can I say, I respect that NYC places are notoriously small and won't have like a big dance floor, but to demand that people make reservations to walk into a club, not to mention on top of a cover, is absolute insanity. What am I reserving Joyface, a 5x5 ft square to dance in? The bouncer spoke to me and my friends disrespectfully when we didn't have reservations btw. Its such a pretentious system and the fact that the bouncers clearly want you to kiss up to them and make promises is also a bit creepy. Overall, I would say SKIP this place, go somewhere in Brooklyn, its one stop away on the L. It used to be fun but they've let the hype get to their head and have made it a crazy space...