Out of respect for those that consider Andre Sariava the king of contemporary nightlife whether in Paris, Tokyo or New York City; if you've never heard of the man please consider letting those who have to the front of the line. Alas the man behind the Le Bain and NY's famous Beatrice Inn sets-up a boutique outpost of his Le Baron nightclub that made him famous in an offbeat strip of Chinatown. A mix of graffiti and haute couture culture converge on a former-Italian eatery and latter karaoke bar that's more compact than you'd expect but then again few guest lists are as tight as Saraiva's with literary and art types taking equal stage amongst regulars like Daphne Guinness and Olivier Zahm who are both famous fans.

For now most of New York considers the removed Chinatown location "in the middle of nowhere" but expect resurgence in the area especially around the storefront space crowned in period signage and towering fire escapes. Inside, the space hasn't changed much since the '40s reiterated with a Paris-meets-the-Orient flair of pre-war Shanghai. The location sits opposite a park wrapped in rod iron to keep out the 3am riffraff and will likely be a new stalking point for French paparazzi known to be the more aggressive of the photography bunch. 

Last Word

Expect a different kind of velvet rope where avant-garde style and intellectual substance are merited on equal weight with famous, pretty faces. In lieu of flashing a C-note or bragging of bottle service, simply wait your turn and don’t try to be too pushy.