I love XL Nightclub. Â I've been here on multiple occasions and it's a great venue because:
* The entire waitstaff is good looking (men). Â Most wear shirts, and some do not.
* It's perfect to come here as a woman completely dressed to the nines. Â No one will bother you (the men are interested in the men, and every time I've come, it's mainly men).
* The bartenders make the drinks right (although you will pay a slight premium for them)
* Great setup when they have events on the stage. I highly recommend getting a table (you don't always have to do bottle service, they often just have a higher priced "VIP ticket" that is totally affordable)
* They turn the air conditioning up.. high. Â So you will never sweat (but you might freeze to death)
* They have coat check an ATM and restrooms both upstairs and downstairs
If you ever consider coming here for Hot Mess, its a GREAT show. I knew it would be entertaining, but had no idea it would be THAT entertaining. Â Also, if you love Ru Paul's Drag Queen Race, they have tons of events here. Â That are the best. In the world. The end.
Went here with some gay friends for "Mike Ruiz" (A-list NY) birthday and had a blast! Carmen Electra was performing her new dance songs. Club is massive and super cool! Love the wall of led lights! The bathrooms are the coolest I've ever been in! All shiny and black with cool white lights! Very sexy! A must try if you're in the area!
Review Source:I don't give reviews but this was such an awful place that I had to write something.
Came here for a friend's birthday on a Groupon. The Groupon provided us each with a drink and appetizer for each person.
Upon arriving we were given a plastic champagne glass that was a bit on the dingy side, but I won't nitpick. We were the second party seated and it is truly "first come first serve" because near the end of the show I saw people were standing up in the back even though they paid to get in. We saw waiters running around and waited patiently for someone to attend to us while listening to the music....after an hour, asking four people (including the waiter that ended up being ours), and personally asking management who our waiter was, we finally received service, with an attitude.
Our waiter was, to say the least, a self-important douche. After 30 minutes. I looked around and saw a waiter just standing there looking pretty, I asked him if we were supposed to receive waiter service his response was "Yes, you are supposed to get waiter service". In the meantime, people were being served by other waiters at the other tables, we asked multiple people who are waiter was supposed to be because we really wanted to concentrate on the show as opposed to trying to track down who our elusive waiter was going to be. Finally, a friend got up and asked who was supposed to be on the roster for our table. It turned out to be the self-important douche who was the only waiter walking around shirtless thinking he was pretty. We finally got service, which was given with a major attitude ( I'm a firm believer of treating service right because they can very well spit in your food so I let the fact that he kept us waiting for an hour go and gave him no attitude) I didn't understand where the attitude was coming from and I let it go and tried concentrating on the show. Â
We were dumbfounded by the fact that a 20 percent gratuity was tacked on to the bill. After a Groupon of 45 dollars for 4 people, the bill came up to 104.00 and 57.00 of that was Gratuity. Our waiter definitely did not earn nor deserve that much and I explained to the manager that  I will only pay the minimum of 15 percent gratuity, he didn't like it but he did took the extra 5 percent off.  I told the waiter that he didn't even deserve 5 percent of it and he became super melodramatic and stated "I don't deserve to be yelled at" mind you, we were in a venue where the music was loud: everyone was yelling. He then stated that he would get me kicked out and walked away, I didn't see him for the rest of the show. *Sigh*...overall, this place isn't worth it. It's a touristy bar and it's my fault for even trying when I know, as a New Yorker, you just don't do it. Customer service was absolutely awful, the show, "Hot Mess", was mediocre and the food came in plastic black bowls that you get out of a family bbq. Really XL? Really? I pride myself on finding great places for friends and although I saw this place didn't have great reviews, I decided to try it out. Please don't waste your time or money Yelpers it really isn't worth it.
Went for hot mess show, which was spectacular. Â HOWEVER, the waiter in our area literally messed up every single tables' orders and we were all waiting for him to figure out each bill. Â Had to wait almost an hour after the show ended before I even got my bill. Â No one on staff stepped in to help his massive mistake. Â I am a drag show regular, been to shows all over the country. Â But I will never come back to this club, EVER!
Review Source:I came for College Night Thursday.
-Admission was free
-Washroom was so spacious and clean compared to the other clubs I've been to
-2 for 1 drinks with a cranberry vodka being $6, the drink was strong too
-Slightly small dance floor but the sound system was quite good
Not knowing what to expect, my group of straight guy friends all had so much fun and all want to return again.
Went to XL last night, and saw ShowGirls-The Musical. There was no signs anywhere on how to pick up tickets, or where the show is located. Once inside it was very dark, I had to give my ticket to someone in a window, and then turn around and present my ticket to someone else for a stamp? After words we had to go to the host, and then get seated...What a nightmare. First come...back row! What is this Vegas or Atlantic City? The waiter who was very dumb had no clue what he was doing, and probably just hired because of his looks. He took everyones credit card at the table, and looked like he was running around all over the place. Once trying to flag him down for a half an hour I ordered my second drink, and he asked me, "Oh you gave me a credit card?" I looked at him in anger, and asked for my card back right away along with my second drink, towards the end of the show I receive it back along with the bill of $29.00! I ordered a martini, and a gin and tonic (which were both watered down, and horrible), what made me more mad was the 20 percent added grad. Isn't that illegal to do that without stating it? Was this on the cocktail menu, or anything on the website? Nope. During the show which was a riot, all I heard was shakers, and ice being dropped behind the bar which took me out of what I was seeing that night. During funny moments in the show the staff would come down the isles, and pick up glasses which made the audience turn heads because they couldn't see. They can at least duck down a little. I wont be coming back here. What a nightmare!
Review Source:If I could give this club negative stars, I would. In all the years I've been going to venues and clubs in NYC I've never encountered such a suckass place. XL makes BB King's look like a palace and that is saying something. I went here for the Drag Race finale with a friend, and it was hell.
1. Rude, nasty and unhelpful venue staff that snapped and acted as though simple questions - such as "where is the reserved seating section?" were a major inconvenience. Verbatim quotes: "I don't know where this section is?" Rude asshole staff member: "Well, neither do I. Whatever."
Oh, and NO, that is NOT a New York thing. Anyone who thinks it is? Well, I guess you're not a native New Yorker. I've been clubbing since I was 14. The vast majority of clubs don't treat people that way - even the exclusive velvet rope ones. See, they want people to feel like guests and come back. The ones that act rudely? Hmmm, for some reason they're all in the Times Square tourist area. How about that?
2. Oversold, overcrowded venue that was packed to the point of danger. The aforementioned "reserved seating," the so-called VIP seats and the floor standing room were packed in so tight that there was no path for egress anywhere. Literally, if God forbid there had been an emergency, there would have been no way for ANYONE to get out.
3. The douchiest clubgoers ever. I've never seen such a bunch of entitled, nasty assholes. Honey, you're partying at a Times Square tourist club. You're not that special. Really. I was physically harmed at this club several times: Once by someone who hit me in the head; once by someone who decided it would be fun to angrily shove me and try to knock me down as I was trying to get through the crowd to leave. I've been to punk shows at CBGB and I've always been fine; I go to a drag show and I leave with bruises? I don't know, that seems off to me...
4. A ceiling that was so low that the performers had to duck under it as they went down the catwalk. Let's see, you're building a new club. You know you're going to have live performances. The best possible thing is to build a stage where there's only 8 feet of clearance from floor to ceiling, right?
XL is a relatively new club, and hopefully it will close sooner rather than later. I'd normally never want to run a place out of business, but when a club is this nasty and disgustingly run it doesn't deserve anyone's patronage.
Usually a fun time, though the drinks are expensive. Â The music's often good, and they often have some great acts. Â Mixed crowd (e.g. gay and straight), so really depends on what you're after. Best nights are generally Thursday (younger crowd) or Saturday (more mixed, more performances); Fridays you should go elsewhere.
Review Source:Went to XL Nighclub on a Saturday night and it did not disappoint. Being from Illinois, it was such a fun experience.
Yeah cover is high like said in other reviews. I paid $25 and yes drinks are high, I paid $12 for Long Island in a small cup but by three drinks I was drunk. It would take me 6 of those or more in Chicago to be drunk.
This club was booming with so many hot guys and was playing such good music that I might have to move to NY permantely. Lol
Overall. This club will not disappoint you. Great vibe and atmosphere plus tons of eye candy. Coat check line was long but didn't mind because its hot as soon as you come in the doors.
When I come to NYC again, I will for sure be back!
Took a friend for his birthday to see a Hot Mess show. The show was OVER-THE-TOP hilarious. Even had some celeb sightings at the table behind us. $10 per person for the show was a great deal. What wasn't great was the cost of the "2-drink minimum" per person. I knew it was going to be a bust when the waiter sat down to take our drink order before the show and he said "It's best just to get your two drinks right now because it's going to be slammed in here". Dude, it's not my problem. That's what YOU'RE hired for. You took a job in customer service, deal with it.
15 minutes later, our drinks finally appeared. Credit card taken by waiter. Show starts (about 20 minutes later than advertised...but it's gay-standard-time, what can ya do?) and it was phenomenal! Tried flagging down our waiter for another drink, but was nowhere to be found. Finally asked a busboy (is that what they're called in 2013??) to get our waiter. 20 minutes later and comes over to grab us another couple drinks.
Show ends, bill planted on the table and found that it was $142 for 6 mixed drinks and 2 diet cokes!! No itemization, but after reading the other reviews here, I'm hoping that we didn't get the auto gratuity slapped on our bill like others did, but I have a feeling we did. Our friend added another 20% on the bill, as most would do, but I wouldn't have given 20%...maybe 10% or 12%.
Had to stop in the little boys room and found it interesting (odd?) that it was a room of urinals and the stalls were yet another level down, and it was co-ed. Weird to be peeing with women coming up the stairs in full view of what the men were doing. But it's the big city!
Fun night, but not sure I'd want to do this more than once or twice a year, factoring in the outrageous costs.
Once I went there and they had live music and dj at the same time, it was pretty cool and fun. I used to come there all the time, but then I realized that drinks are way overpriced.  And bartenders are not friendly at all. Once I ordered a customized drink and bartender told me he won't do it because it is not going to taste good. But I know what I like and I know what I drink!  So he told me he will make it but he is not  responsible for quality of it. I'm bartending myself and I know what I like and what I can mix. At least for myself.
Overpriced, and cocky. Nothing special to experience
The first time we went there, it was fun.
The second time we went there it was awful. There were stages taking up most of the dance floor, then there was a show, like who needs a show in the middle of dancing, it really kills the groove. I so did not enjoy the show, and didn't want to see one.
Way tooooo many girls in there. For every 2 guys there were like about 5 girls. NOT the look, go to your own straight clubs, the boys don't want to see straight girls, please......that left a bad taste in our mouths and I don't think we will be coming back any time soon. In fact I know we are NOT coming back anytime soon.
On a Saturday night, NO! I don't want to be dancing with a sea full of girls, total total turn off.
We wanted to check out this place since the day it opened. Great that it's convenient for us, we live in Midtown. Overall the place has a lot of potential and looks cool at first glance. We went on Sunday for "T-Dance" thinking this was a place to be. There was no line outside when we entered around 8pm; T-Dance is 5-10pm. Here are the issues I encountered that makes me want to give it only one star (the 2nd star is for potential):
* The guy taking tickets was not friendly and that's how I knew we had to buy a ticket.
* We bought tickets; they charged a cover (only $5)
* We signed up for the membership card on an iPad, which seemed cool until we had to fill out so much info. and we had to complete one for each of us eventhough we are a couple. Then we were told it could take 2 weeks to 2 months to get the card. ????
* The place was practically empty, especially for a "hot" place for T-Dance.
* We went to the round bar with the windows facing the curb and the floor was sooo sticky it felt like the mopped the floor with liqueur.
* We ordered 2 drinks were $24.00 that were very small and when I tasted mine it didn't taste right; so I watched the bar and...
* I saw the barbacks topping off the bottles of liquor--some with the same brand and some with a cheaper liquor!! This is considered theft. No wonder my drink didn't taste right.
* We went to the dance floor where there were only about 6 people dancing.
* I know some people like some of the older dance music but it wasn't classic or nostalgic, just not current. I expected this place to be more cutting edge.
* They had graphics displayed with lights onto white fabric one the sides of the dance floor, the fabric was just tied across with rope. And the graphics were so old they looked liked "clip art" type graphics that could have come with an Apple computer years ago.
* So it cost us $68.00 for two drinks that weren't even what we ordered. I had such a bad taste in my mouth about the whole place at this point.
The place is convenient and could possibly be great for dancing. Does it get better on a Friday or Saturday night?
Having never been to a gay club before I didn't know what to expect.
Upon entering, I didn't know how much the cover charge on a saturday night would be -- it ended up being 30 bucks!
At first I was shocked and hoped that this place was worth the 30 bucks that I could have easily spent eating in the city
....and boy was it worth it!
i loved how they had edm music playing on one side of the club and pop/dancing/singing type music on the other side.
the drinks were strong and good but i can't comment on the price.
overall I had a blast just dancing the night away!
it also helped that my friend's friend had a table that we could rest and just chill at
tip: coat check and bathroom lines were ridiculous the whole night! I ended up just carrying my jacket everywhere cause by the time the lines died down it wasn't worth it to coat-check. -- if you can, come without a jacket!
This place kicks ass.
The music here was undeniably some of the best (if not THE best) I've ever heard in a nightclub, and the sound system is NO JOKE.
There were two different rooms with music and they were both fantastic.
Although there is a bar area that you can sit, to me, this is definitely not a place to go chat someone up, cuz here, it's ALL ABOUT DANCING.
Also, it's kinda dark, but it occurs to me as more moody than seedy, but I guess that's a matter of opinion.
I will DEFINITELY come to this place again, but be warned, get your drink on before you get there because the drink prices are ASTRONOMICAL!!!
I pre-gamed before coming here because seriously, people, you might be young and hot and rich in NYC but there are limits to how much you should let your dance clubs take advantage of you. Absurd drinks. We're talking $13 wells. The cover charge is all the money you need to give them.
The venue has unlimited potential and books a lot of top name talent for their shows. The space itself is labyrinthine, state of the art, and decorated like the inside of an iPod. Very cool; a bulls-eye as far as atmosphere is concerned.
I found the crowd to have a lot of energy, except for that one kind of awkward moment where I realized my date and I were the only people dancing in a sea of disinterested twinks checking their iPhones simultaneously.
The DJ was spinning a very boring set. It was one of those mixes where all of the melody and instrumentation of the songs being played is stripped out, so you just have the vocals left intact over the beat. It's not very uplifting. Gets repetitive very fast.
There are better options in town. This is the hot place now, but give it another year and it probably won't be. That's just how things go.
If I could give this place NEGATIVE 5 stars, I would - in fact, they're worth even less! I've NEVER been so angry and disappointed with a place than I have with XL. Not having checked it out on here first, I simply went to see the girls (Willam, Detox and Vicky) do Boy is a Bottom! The girls were LOVELY! Willam, especially, was LOVELY, Security was LOVELY, the drag queen bingo girls, LOVELY, but the staff and clowns running the circus are a bunch of f-ing douche bags!
Since I arrived early, I played a few rounds of Drag Queen Bingo and ordered the two-for-one cocktail happy hour special. Bartender was cute, but neglected to tell me that gratuity would be automatically added to my bill, so of course, like a normal person, I tipped while I was getting my drinks and then had to tip on top of that when the bill came, for which I was simply given a receipt (was not even given the opportunity to sign). SO F-ing TACKY! Definitely fighting the extra two dollars with the bank.
LIke someone else on here, I purchased a $25 VIP ticket which they advertise as "front row seating" and "a glass of champagne waiting for you at your table". Doors were supposed to open at 9:00pm - they opened at 9:15, with bingo still going on. I was corralled to a window where they had me listed under my suffix (Jr.) for who the hell knows why - Â then when I asked where to go, they said around the corner. I had to ask one of the bouncers what table I was at. then I got seated all the way in the back of the "VIP" section in front of the subwoofer. The show started 30 minutes later than the advertised time. My server didn't take my order until halfway through the first part of the show. They were out of all but three of the appetizers. When I asked about the 2 drink min, he told me that that was my first and that I needed to order another and when I asked him about the "complimentary" drink, I was apparently given a ticket for some bullshit groupon deal that was going on instead of the ticket I actually purchased. By this point it was intermission and the girls had already performed the number I came to see, so I left a dollar on the table to tip the waiter (one of the only ones who still had his shirt on) and left without paying for the drink (that was supposed to be complimentary in the first place)! Totally infuriating experience!
If this is how VIP gets treated at XL don't waste your time or money! Go somewhere else where they'll appreciate your business!
I purchased tickets to the "Hot Mess" drag show featuring Tan Mom.  The tickets said the show started at 9 pm.  When we got there the very rude bouncers told us we were wrong and it didn't start until 10 pm - even though the start time of 9 pm was printed clearly on my tickets  It was obvious they wanted to make everyone wait and buy drinks that are weak and pricey, even by NYC standards.  The show finally got on at 10:45 pm with absolutely no apologies.  Later in the evening the coat check guys were super rude and made a gay slur at some guy standing in front of me.  I don't understand why a gay club would hire homophobic bouncers.
Review Source:What happened here? Â What was supposed to be a fun, new place for NYC's gay population and its visitirs has turned into a massive failure of epic proportions. Â And fast. Â As such, this is a place you will either absolutely love and want to go to every weekend; or one you will hate and make you wish you'd spent the night a few blocks east. Â And if the meth-addict tranny at the door isn't enough, then the barely full space will certainly make this a one-time-only visit. Â And with good reason: the dance floor was almost totally devoid of people. Â Nothing but a bunch of bright lights, flashing, strobing to the EXTREMELY loud music.
The bathroom's are pretty cool, but getting to them is quite the journey in and of itself. Â You literally need to walk away from the crowds and in a maze down a ramp and stairs until you get there. Â But let's face it: you don't go to a club to rate the bathrooms, right?
It's quite sad that Blair has attempted to mimick the fabled clubs of the 70's-90's, the ones with tough doors, the drugs, and of course the A-listers. Â That doesn't work with the gay crowd. Â Never has and never will because gay men want to be a part of their community, partying notwithstanding, and not driven away.
Echoing everyone else's reviews: the customer service here is absolutely awful, down to being ignorant and harassing. And I hesitate to write these things because I've been on the other side, but there really is absolutely no excuse.
I dropped by for fetish ball, an event promising free entry to everyone dressed for the part before midnight (I was more than decked out in rubber and excited to try something new).
Before entering, the bouncer searched my backpack I'd brought from work to keep my clothes in when I changed. Seeing that I had taken an antidepressant (from an empty bottle labeled from my doc), he gave me a hard time about that. I shrugged that off--not every young gay man carries a prescription on him and it was a weird coincidence. Â Then, seeing that I was reading a book on Queer Theory and literature, he began to insult me, implying that I had to actually read on being queer in order to be a gay man like everyone else.
Then the next doorman decided not to permit me in, despite being dressed head to toe for the part. Yet let other young guys my age in without any problem despite their being dressed in shorts and tank tops. In the end, I wound up going to a legitimate bar instead, and am glad; the event was woefully underattended by people in the "dress code" XL had advertised and wished to enforce. I sincerely hope they lost a great deal of money on this.
This is downright ignorance, willfully, and the type of behavior that promotes derision within our own communities. Good luck, XL, at expanding your demographic enough to survive someplace like NYC. I will not be surprised when I outlast you here.
Wildly overpriced entrance fee ($30) and drinks ($16 for a short pour in a plastic cup). Â Arrogant and rude staff (except for the female bartender). Â Coat check staff tried to palm my $2 change and two different bartenders tried to do the same thing with my $4 change. Â They all acted surprised that I would actually want my change back and decide how much to tip. Â Carpets smelled of vomit and dirty socks. Â Place is very dark and very smoky making it hard to find new friends. Â Lights, music and especially the drag shows were great. Â All in all, I never need to go back again. Â
John Blair should be ashamed to have staff like he hired here.
p.s. Â I read a review below from 12/30/12 that people were thrown out because they were not given a stamp on their hand when they went out to smoke and they were being told to pay another $30 entrance fee (it was 20 degrees outside, they had no coats, they smelled of cigarettes, where did staff think they came from??). Â So this appears to be a scam to shake down people to pay twice BECAUSE WHEN I ARRIVED LAST NIGHT THEY WERE DOING THE SAME THING TO A BUNCH OF GUYS THAT I SAW OUTSIDE SMOKING WHO WALKED IN RIGHT BEFORE ME. Â BUYER BEWARE, THIS CLUB IS SCAM CITY.
This place is so lame and stupid. I went there because I'm friends with 2 of my dearest drag in NYC and they had a show. Everything was cool, I went to the lounge  bar and I thought drinks were fair, so decide to go to the area were the dance floor is and that bartender charge me $8 extra for the same drink when I ask if he did anything different and even show him my previous receipt he acted like I did not know what I was talking about! That is just so disappointing, I guess I was a tourist
(Well i Live in NYC ) ,I also was the grand opening with my friend who design the lighting for the entire place I thought it was fun to comeback again, Â and even have the XL VIP card but the bartender at the bar did not care about , I request 2 time to talk to a manager but he seem to be sooo busy that he never came to listen to my complain. Â I'm really upset to the point I'll take it a little further and contact the BBB and complain about how they take advantage of customers ( I being in the business and trust me I have my receipts to probe it) Â and that is just not acceptable.
You guy you have a great place just inform all staff about not changing the prices of drinks unless there is something special on it.
And seriously I really dont care about coming back.
This was so HORRIBLE
On New Year's eve my friend and I decided to ring in the new year at XL Nightclub. We both purchased VIP tickets and made our way to the club prior to midnight. I had journeyed from New Haven, CT to experience the nightclub for the first time and he made his way from Brooklyn.
While I was at Grand Central Station, I rang the club to find out what to expect once I arrived. The response I received set the tone for everything that was to happen that night. When I informed the contact at the other end of the phone that I had bought a VIP ticket and wanted to know if I had to wait in line, I was essentially told that I would find out what to do when I got there.
Upon arrival, I was ushered inside and asked for my ticket. I advised the representative that the link that was texted to my phone was broken. This had caused me some trouble when I was trying to access 42nd street because the police officers wanted to see reservations for anyone trying to access the area that was blocked off. Ultimately, I was given a band and nothing else. I found my friend waiting inside but was clueless as to where to go, where to check my coat and very unimpressed with the treatment I had received so far.
I went downstairs and paid $6 to check my coat. My friend, Kenny, advised me that this was what he was advised by the person at the VIP coat check area upstairs. I found this quite peculiar but decided not to argue because I was frankly exhausted after my travels. We went back upstairs to the buffet area to get some food to nibble on. I beckoned one of the staff members over and asked him about the free bottle of champagne I was to receive. He asked me if I had a table and I advised him that I had just arrived. Kenny had been at the club about 30 minutes to an hour before me and was not seated at a table. The attendant said that we could stand by the bar or sit in a corner area of the club and he would bring over a bottle of champagne. Once we were seated, he brought over the bottle of champagne. Before he left, I asked him if he was going to bring over another bottle of champagne for Kenny. He said it was only one bottle per table. I advised him Kenny had also paid for a VIP ticket and should also be entitled to a bottle of champagne. He, Kenny and I spent a good 5 minutes arguing over the logistics of how this process worked. Kenny and I honestly felt we were being duped...and disrespected because of the manner in which we were being spoken to. At this point, we were not being treated like VIPs but like hoodlums who had crashed an upscale party. We asked for the general manager and were told he was busy. I insisted he get the general manager so we could put this issue to bed.
When the general manager arrived, we explained that we had both bought VIP tickets and didn't understand the concept of sharing a bottle of champagne. I asked him if Kenny were a total stranger if I was still expected to share the bottle of champagne with him. Â He said yes. At this point, I was totally perplexed. Mid-conversation, the attendant and the general manager turned their backs on us and walked away. The attendant took the bottle of champagne with him. I thought that we were on an episode of Punk'd with Ashton Kutcher. I asked the attendant what happened to our bottle of champagne and he had the wait staff return it to our area. We were virtually ignored for the rest of the night. Kenny also advised me that the general manager uttered something to the effect of him forgetting about his f&^*ing bottle of champagne.
I decided to put my rational hat on and speak with the couple seated next to us. She was a fabulous Latina who suggested I speak with her friend, David Lopez, who is the general manager of The Out - an ultra chic hotel within the same building. David confirmed what XL's nightclub manager and the attendant had told us. It was supposed to be one bottle per table. I told him that this was a rather confusing promotion and he did not disagree. Then, David did something that totally resolved the entire matter for me. He noted that he had VIPs at his table who had all paid for their tickets and were all sharing his bottle of champagne. Apart from that, David was courteous, an effective listener and truly a class act. He exemplified everything a small to medium business owner/manager should be. Â I explained what I had learned to Kenny and this calmed him down somewhat. David even offered to try and get us another bottle of champagne for all the aggravation we had been through.
I think XL nightclub's staff is in desperate need of customer service training. Kenny and I could have chochosen to patronize any business that night. We selected this nightclub and are ever so upset that we did. We will never patronize this establishment again. Â We would, however, visit The Out, where Mr. Lopez seems to have a handle on what superior customer service is.
Every time my gay husband came to town we would try a different gay bar and ended up disappointed. We wanted to find a place where men didn't have a stick up their asses and were willing to have a good time. I recently move to the HK/Times Square area and I thought this would be a good place to try since Yelp claimed it to be dance friendly. It was!
Things you might want to know...
-Huge dance floor
-Weird bi-level unisex bathroom
-Coat check required
-Friendly bar tenders and go go dancers
-Pretty much no women (slightly awkward for me but whatever)
-Decent DJ
Any gay man in NYC can tell you that XL is "the gay club" in the city. Â While that may be true, it definitely has on and off nights.
The drinks are outrageously expensive, so expect that. Â Your best bet is to know someone in the VIP section with a table so you can partake in their bottle service.
The way your night will go completely depends on the crowd. Â If it's fun, young, thirsty cute boys you're looking for, and you end up on a night featuring older gentlemen, you may not have fun, and vice versa. Â Roll with larger groups of friends to maximize your time there. Â
The go-go boys generally don't disappoint, either.
I'm So Upset I Went There Last Night. And Talk To So Rude By The Coat Check Guys. And Told I Have To Pay 3 More Dollars To Get Something Out Of My Coat. Grand Total $9 For Checking And Two Things. Crazy! And When Going To The Bath Room. The Door Guy Told Me Time For You To Go Home, Push Me Out The Door, And Hit Me And My Face And Push Me To The Ground. I Pad To Go The The Doctor After That. Pain All Over My Body Now. Will Be Calling My Lawyer Right Away. He Too BIG To Put His Hands On Anybody!
Review Source:H O R R I B L E !
went for the first time on new years eve...paid for the "ultra VIP bottle service" Â Â What a joke---every time we went to dance we came back to our table to find strangers drinking our champagne. Â No waiters present controlling the area... Just total disinterest in running things well. Â This is no Roxy and John Blair should be ashamed...
The new year countdown sucked, the performances were weak and the festivities were lame. Â
All in all, I won't return to this lame dump.
Went here for a show, which cost me $25. The show was great. I saw Pam Ann and I had already seen her a few times. She's amazing and worth $25. This was, however, my first time at XL Nightclub. I was not impressed.
I paid $25 to get in and then was seated at a table that had a sign stating I needed to buy two drinks. This wasn't a problem, but I find it rather tacky to sit at tables with such signs. The drinks, however, were super expensive and weak. When my partner and I got the bill, they had added gratuity to our bill. This was completely uncalled for and unacceptable. Why add gratuity to a bill for two people?
I'm willing to pay to see great performers like Pam Ann, but I won't be returning to this place. If they want New Yorkers to come, they need to make some serious changes. My night cost over a $100 and ended before 10 PM. That's insane.
This is a tourist trap. Go some place else. NYC isn't as expensive as it seems, if you know where to go. Don't go to XL Nightclub.
Living in Los Angeles and frequently visiting other nightlife meccas, such as Las Vegas, I was excited to try XL. As someone who regularly buys bottle service at other nightclubs, I am pretty familiar with the drill and was excited to overpay, as usual, for a bottle of mid-shelf vodka and a couch.
Our waiter, after dropping off the bottle, kindly informed us that he would do us a "favor" by making our first round of drinks. Considering that bottle service includes the word "service, you'd expect him to make us not only our first drink but as many as we'd like. Additionally, every club that I've ever been to encourages patrons to make shots from their bottle... the more alcohol used, the closer to another bottle sale the club is. Alas, our waiter informed us he was "not allowed" to make shots from our bottle. Eventually he did us another solid by taking the bottle to the bar, for no apparent reason, then returning with some shots and the bottle. Why was this necessary? Baffling.
By far the most obnoxious part of the night occurred when my friend stepped outside to smoke a cigarette. His phone had died, but we agreed that I'd wait at the table for him. The security staff did not advise him or any of the other patrons that they would not be allowed back in the club, since the club would be closing in an hour. Â Even after pleading with security to let him back in, explaining that we had bottle service they refused. It was of no concern that hundreds of people were still inside, dancing the night away.
Growing concerned about his well-being, I went to look for my friend. As I stepped outside, I was also not warned about the no re-admittance policy. Finding my friend, I went to go back in and was denied entry. Half a bottle of vodka was left on the table with nobody to drink it. Can you think of anything more awful than vodka going to waste?
While the club certainly is beautiful, the staff certainly needs more training, especially when it comes to VIP guests. In particular, the security staff was not only unhelpful but condescending, rude and all together unpleasant.
We got there at 11pm after seeing the promo that said cover was $15 before midnight and $20 after midnight with member card. Â They still charged us $20 and did not honor their own promo.
The place wasn't crowded until around 1am. Â The drinks were expensive but ok. Â It was weird that the bartenders run your credit card and since they don't need a signature there's no way to tip them if you don't have cash. Â
Being from L.A., I was not impressed.
This was an incredible evening. Â We went to the Club with a group of friends to celebrate our best friends birthday. Â Â It is well worth the lines and cost of admission (it is NYC and one of the hottest clubs out there!). We actually went early.....like 10:30 and did not have to deal with the line. Â I did think that drinks were expensive, at first, ($13 for red bull and vodka) but you only need 2 drinks and you are are and hitting the dance floor.
I was impressed with the friendly and helpful staff....did not expect that for a club. Â Everyone seemed to be having a fun time. We would go back again!
3.5
I went for the RuPaul DRagRace All-star party and the show was an absolute delight. The drinks were as steep as the previous reviews warned. I paid $9 for a vodka-soda, in a tiny cup. so. that was that.
The venue is HUGE though and I really noticed it as I walked out of the place a realized I had to walk through several rooms, bars, lounges, and mini stages before I made it to the exit.
I'm planning on going back to see the regular drag performances on Friday nights, but I'll be sure to start my night somewhere cheaper first.
p.s. the bathroom is in two levels, urinals first and then stalls in the (sub-basement..?) pretty clean, can't complain about that, just a little too dark.
My one visit has convinced me to never ever try this place again. I had a terrible time. The music is WAY too loud, the bartenders aren't friendly or helpful, and the drinks are crazy expensive. Â A weak well drink for $9? Really? Â And if the bartenders spent as much time helping customers as they do applying glitter all over their faces, they might deserve a slightly higher rating. Â
It reminds me a lot of Splash, another night club that's designed more for tourists who don't know there are better places throughout the city. Â I hate Splash too but, honestly, XL is even worse. Â
And what is up with the bathroom downstairs? There were two attendants, which is annoying enough, but they were gathered in a circle with a few other people having a conversation, and there is absolutely NO privacy whatsoever. Â I realize it's a trashy gay club, but, come on! All the urinals are very close to each other and just out in the open. The idea of peeing in front of the attendants and their friends chatting nearby just wasn't for me. Â If I'm not mistaken, there was even a girl in there, which is really weird considering there were only urinals to use. Â
The crowd here was full of your typical bitchy gays that one usually associates with Chelsea. Â The only saving grace is that we arrived before 11pm and didn't have to pay a cover (although the door guy seemed confused about this). Â With all the places in the city to hang out, I can't imagine anyone actually wasting money on this dump.
This venue is gorgeous. The bathroom is like nothing I've ever seen before. Great space for dancing, mingling with friends, having a real night out on the town in New York City. It's got a sophisticated, yet fun atmosphere. Be ready to spend $10 - $15 cover, even if you're a XL card holder. Sadly, a club is only as good as the people who work there.
I've been here several times, on different nights. For some reason, the bartenders would ALWAYS ignore me, put me to last, mess up my drinks, and overall just be very rude. I never understood why. I'm another 20-something at the bar, attractive, ready to have fun, spend money... and yet I get treated that way by various bartenders at this place. I never understood why, until I spoke with another friend of mine who goes here.
I told him my experience and he informed me he's treated the same way, and he believes it's because the bartenders are racist. I'm hispanic, as is he, and I don't know if this is the truth or not, but it would sure explain why I get treated the way I do when I interact with them. I'd be curious to observe the bartenders interactions with patrons with what he told me in mind. I have never been treated like this at any other club/bar I've been to. It's pretty unbelievable. Whatever the reason, XL can rest assure I will be pregaming on those rare occasions I decide to come back and not spending any of my money at their bar.
A mix between the old Roxy and Splash, this place is fun for a night out dancing in a gay environment. There aren't to many places of this size that does that anymore so it was nice.
A little on the pricey side when it comes to drinks and they charge a $15 entry fee which was annoying, but again, the place was fund and had a nice dance floor which is pretty sizable for a NYC club.
If you're under 35 you will probably like this place.
I like boys who wear make up and they like me too.
So I got invited to see some stellar drag performance artists
and my oh my was it an event.
The XL night club is a Very large space to do alot of things you may regret in the a.m.
The VIP is lush, there is a very big stage and projection screen, more than 1 bar.
Even the bathroom looks like youre in tron that's how stylish it is in the urinal section even.Running around and interacting- looking at the shirtless staff, (or they may be painted or wearing a special outfit if its a promo event) you know you are in a pretty posh club - with a crowd  that was a little avante garde and art, some people were dressed like 90s club kids, and others were modern day fashion conscious  and chic.
Oooh the night I was there we tore the roof off!!
Oh yes we did! There is no roof left, some one took it and made a hand bag and matching shoes.Dance! Crazy good times
Imagine this: You're 3 levels under the bowels of this glitzy, pretentious, poseur-ridden douche corral, and a fire breaks out. Then, imagine clawing your way over the burning bodies packed into the tiny staircase that leads from the ridiculous bathrooms downstairs.
Kicking, clawing, and fighting your way past the throng of panicked people that are surging up the stairs, all in what will be a vain attempt to escape certain death. That's what I've imagined the two times that I've been in this a-hole place. Fiery death trap.
To boot, they shamelessly pork you every chance they get; 6$ per item at coat check, 12$ well drinks, 10$ beers....whatever, it's NYC right? Add to that a surly, indifferent staff, and a crowd that is so lame I'm actually embarrassed to be seen in there. It reminds me of that ridiculous club in "Queer as Folk" that the cast would retire to after work.
Glitzy, obnoxious, and not fun. I miss Roxy, and I just can't stand this place.
"Stretched-Out Medium"
XL has yet to disappoint my friends and I. Â HK and Chelsea can't rely on the Ritz and Splash alone for our dancing needs. I mean remember the days of The Roxy, Spirit and Limelight...to name a few. Â You eventually developed your favourite spot. Â
Crowd is very mixed and gaggles of like minded gays tend to cling in certain areas of the dance floor.  The main dance floor appeals to the more remix/dance/electronic  music whereas the other side is much more pop.  Need I mention the stellar sound and lighting system.  (Saturday is one of the best nights for music)
I finally attended their '20 something' party and had a blast. It wasn't that crowded for a holiday but the people there were cute and fun. Â Coat check line always moves pretty quick, or at least when the people waiting in line pay attention when the attendant says "Next". Â Contrary to other reviews I have never paid $6 for coat check, so I don't know what that's about. Â Besides...soon you won't even be needing it.
The bartenders are always amicable and observant. Â The promoters and door guys definitely remember a face. Â
The outside smoking area is convenient and well planned. Â I have rarely waited for the bathrooms here and if there is a line it moves fast. Tip your attendant!
Oh and if you don't have an XL membership card, you're silly. Â It's complimentary and grants you discounts on any door cover and drinks!!
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