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244 East Houston (at Avenue A)
New York, NY 10002

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(212) 982-3532
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Bars, Pubs & Clubs

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Food & Dining

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Reviews
( 38 )
( 13 )
( 4 )
( 3 )
( 8 )

Best

Great place!...been open for years and always stop by when I'm in the area. Good music and crowd is the usual.

Worst

So lets get realistic. I've been to Stay three times in the past year and its one of those places which gets worse each time you go. I consider the LES to be the dingiest area o...

No hassle 10/19/2005

This is my new favorite spot - small space, warm atmosphere, great music, no hassle, cool people - just fun. And that's what matters. Pros: atmosphere, crowd, door policy Cons: closes early more
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You'll want to STAY 9/21/2005

Just had my birthday party this past weekend. Inside tip: When you email them to RSVP for your party, inquire on freebies. They gave me a complimentary bottle of Champagne just for having my party. The combination of great music, heavy poured drinks and fabulous ambiance makes STAY a "can't go wrong" choice especially when there is NO COVER! The bad reviews on sound quality is false, those people must be deaf, go and check the sound for yourself, it certainly recieved my seal of approval. Last note is to come early since parking sucks! If you don't want to spend 20-30 mins parking then come b4 midnight. This is certainly one of the best spots in the LES Pros: No cover, great music, trendy and hiptser Cons: No parking, Can get crowded more
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ofcourse its crowded.. 9/6/2005

no cover, friendly staff, good music, awsome atmosphere, ofcourse it'll get crowded, this place is hot, just get there early. it's a great place to go for afterdinner drinks, or have small intimate gatherings like birthdays where the owners treat you like VIP's... it's not a club, it's a lounge , you go there to chill and hang out with friends. more
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User review by adry212 9/6/2005

Small place...railroad design....good drinks...good music (some of it was wack though) long seating area so you can just chill and drink on seats- bathroom placed kind of in the way...dance floor isnt that big---gets packed...a lof of asian patrons...area where located not the best. 2 bars...good if ur having a bday celebration and u invite lots of friends... Pros: good drinks Cons: crowded more
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Great place to have a drink with friends 8/29/2005

Not only does this bar have a stellar location, the atmoshphere is so cool. Its a perfect mix of LES meets EV meets Nolita. Cool BAR!!! more
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Superb Service 8/28/2005

My girlfriend had a bday party at STAY this past friday,and the staff were all so accomadating. It's difficult to find a space that suits your needs. Even though the crowd was overwhelming,the bottle girl was able to squeeze her way through to assist us. The music was insane that night ranging from Duran Duran to Nirvana to 50 cent. I'll see you all next month for my bday bonanza. Pros: music, fun staff Cons: no parking more
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"Should I stay or should I go?" GO!! 8/20/2005

Way too crowded, and for no apparent reason. The music was subpar, and the layout of this bar only makes sense for frotteurs or those in desperate need of a good groping. Overall, only reccomended as a serious last resort. Cons: Crowded more
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Was ok 7/30/2005

The guy at the door was really nice. Met a bunch of our friends here because I read good reviews. The place was way too crowded and the sound system was crappy. I asked the DJ to play a Prince song for my friend, since it was her birthday. He played one, I was told, but I didn't hear it!! The music was so muffled in the seated area... Pros: Nice staff Cons: Too crowded, Poor sound system more
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GREAT DRINKS 6/13/2005

STAY has never failed me. Potent drinks, friendly service, and the best music make this LES venue such a palatable solution to all the dive bars in the area. If you want a great cheap drink, but don't want to sacrifice your environement, STAY is the place to be. Pros: strong cocktails, amazing service Cons: too crowded, gets hot more
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Hip, Open Space Makes You Want To STAY 5/2/2005

It's easy to miss the place, even with an address on the main drag of east houston. but it seems like that's part of its appeal, unpretentious and undiscovered. I went earlier one evening with friends and had a chance to check out the atmosphere before the crowds descended but had such a good time that we decided to stay until early morning. the bartenders, barbacks and owners/managers were amazing friendly, even the bouncer joked with me on the way in. the cozy, tall-backed, communal seating along the wall made it extremely easy to sit with your friends and also make new friends if the mood strikes you. the music got better once the live DJ was on set. with its 2 full bars, there was no need to grab a bartender waving twenties just to get a drink. more
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No cover and great music 4/20/2005

We dropped by this past weekend to see what the hype was all about. My friends and I use to go to the old Abaya as well. What a total make over. The design is a lot cleaner and they eliminated cover charge which is no wonder why it was a packed house. The music was mostly hip hop, r&b, the commercial stuff you hear everywhere else. I would like for them to play more tribal, deep bass and heavy hitting house music... that would be nice for a change. Service was much better and faster since they loaded more bartenders for the size of the club. They have 4, 2 per bar which is nice so drinks were fast. I would recommend this spot as a place to check out. Pros: no cover, great atmosphere, trendy Cons: hip hop, commerical music more
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Really Cute 4/20/2005

I love coming to this lounge for drinks. The space is amazing; it's super sexy and intimate. The music has always been really good, and the staff is surprisingly friendly - always a plus. Great location and vibe. Pros: potent drinks, great location, good vibe more
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good job.... 4/17/2005

good job!!! this use to be the old Abaya....where they played loud Euro House music......same place, colored the lounge chair black instead of orange......needs a few more lounge banquettes or small tables in the front........changed the music to Hip Hop and no cover......well done..... more
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stay, stay, stay!!! 4/10/2005

friendly, sexy, savvy, fun! stay is a place i have and will continue to visit. the crowd is just as great as the place. modern interior design caught my eye, the music is exciting.. bartenders are fast and happy to be there! i'd have to say stay is a place you'd want to head to on the weekends for a great hangout spot for your friends... it is for mine. Pros: cozy, inviting, trendy Cons: crowded more
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stay...longer..... 4/9/2005

this place is absolute fab. no BS guestlist and admission, friendly bouncers, chic decor, rocking the right tunes at the right time. make sure u check out the longest couch ever made, that'd make u wanna stay longer. crowd was fun and trendy, a very pleasing sight......addin to the fair price, this place is one smoking venue in the LES u must stay put. Pros: goood price, goood music, good crowd more
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MANAGEMENT 4/7/2005

The positive reviews on this website were obviously written by people who work for the place. I went there last weekend for a friends birthday party. It reaked of trashy trendy scenery, a flat out unattractive clientel, and sub par management. You're better off staying home and buying a jug of Carlo Rossi than spending 10 bucks a drink on their watered-down sauce. more
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Very chi chi 4/6/2005

You can't go wrong at Stay. I drop by with a few friends after leaving Duvet. This place is so trendy yet the prices are so fair for such a chic venue. They don't charge a cover at the door, there isn't a guestlist and the bartenders are so friendly. This place is more than worth checking out when you're down in the LES. I've added Stay to my roaster of places to visit during the weekend. If there was anything I can complain about, it would be the elimination of the 15% B&T crowd that are there. Maybe the place would be less crowded with B&T. Then again, the 5 broughs need a place to party too! Pros: Chic, Trendy, Great Value Cons: Bridge& Tunnel Crowd, popularly crowded more
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STAY - Won't Be in Business Long! 4/5/2005

First of all - I think City Search should remove the link to STAY's website, because the bar looks nothing like the pictures. Its narrow, poorly decorated, hot and uncomfortable. I've never been to a place run so poorly and literally drove people out of the bar. 1. The bouncers were rude to my friends 2. Twice during the night they ran out of beer. 3. The DJ was terrible and the sound system was clearly 2nd rate because it was just blasting music and you couldn't hear anything. The worst thing about this place is that the draw is the atmosphere, but its just a 1 long narrow room with a few red lights. It reminded me of going to a party with 20 people in a dorm room during freshman year. The only difference is at those parties we didn't run out of beer. Pros: No Pros Cons: Untrained Staff, bad drink selection, very crowded more
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Baby won't you just.....STAAAAY.... 4/5/2005

for a lit-tle while. Very chic chill out spot on the LES. Came by on a Sat for drinks with a group of friends and everyone enjoyed the laidback atmosphere, charismatic staff, and hip tunes. For those that want to get crunk, the weekends are your bet. Otherwise, the sophisticated socialites should check out the weeknights. Service is A+. It is on the low now but in the summer this will be THE spot. Pros: Great service, Stylish locale, Non-mainstream Cons: Crunk weekends more
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A rare GEM in the LES! 4/4/2005

Love this place! So chic, so sexy. Everyone, from their doorman to their bartenders, have always been so friendly and accommodating. Just one problem - it gets pretty crowded, so my suggestion is to come early and reserve a spot on the super comfy couch. Finally, a decent space to kick back and relax in the LES! Pros: Great Location, Chic Space, Friendly Service Cons: Crowded more
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Menu for Stay


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A seductive style and easygoing East Village sensibility at this modernist lounge.

Owner Message

  • It may be the 60's retro decor, the diverse mix of DJ-spun tunes, the specialty cocktails, or the cool, attractive downtown crowd which make you stay, but once you arrive, you're going nowhere.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    A very subtle sign on its front window makes this nightspot feel discreet--despite its well-traveled Houston Street location. A mod, curvaceous couch lines one wall, '60s-style lounge chairs provide additional seating, and retro-futuristic pendant lamps cast a sexy red glow. The only thing that's missing in this chic space is a snooty attitude; instead, there's a welcoming, inclusive, laid-back vibe.

    The Draw
    Thanks to a generous no-cover policy and mainstream-friendly house, hip-hop, and '80s DJs, an unpretentious crowd packs the house on weekends, and full bars at either end of the long, slim space ensure service without much of a wait. The affable staffers deftly pour several popular house cocktails, including the achingly sweet and naughtily named Punani, a blue pina colada served in a martini glass. The bar covers all the bases, with beer, wine, and bottle service available, too.

  • 6/16/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Tue-Wed 6am-3pm Thu 6pm-4am Fri-Sat 8pm-4am
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Visa, Discover
  • Neighborhoods: Lower East Side, Downtown
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