Review of Grotto Sapphic Cocktail Bar Experience in NYC

A photoset of a NYC sapphic bar event.

Grotto’s sapphic bar events had been on my radar for months. I’d see them on Instagram and TikTok but every time I tried to snag tickets, they were gone in a flash. Their past events, from a witches’ coven Halloween bash to a Dia de los Muertos celebration with queer performers and brands like Talea Beer, looked amazing. So when the Chinese Lunar New Year event dropped, my girlfriend and I pounced to grab our tickets.

Grotto is a new pop-up cocktail bar concept created by sapphic couple Austa Somvichian-Clausen and Victoria Geddes in 2023. They turn hidden gems into intimate lesbian events. From a Soho House run to collaborations with TALEA and Rockefeller Center’s Pebble Bar, keep the scene fresh and inviting. Each event is a curated and carefully crafted mix of art, elegance, music, culture, and good vibes. The owners bridge queer nightlife with creativity.

Now, Grotto is only run by Austa, a former hospitality journalist with a passion for reimagining queer nightlife. Wanting more queer-friendly venues, she set out to create a new experience. And you can really feel her eye for detail, which transforms overlooked spaces (like Peachys and Blondeau Below) into special events.

The owner, known for her knack for spotting places with character and history, chose the gorgeous Doyer Street in Chinatown. The perfect neighborhood for a Chinese-themed night. Even though the Sapphic Lunar New Year Soiree at Peachys was slated to start at 9:00 PM, we waited about 20 minutes in the cold NYC winter, building our anticipation. Some out-of-town lesbians behind me tried to get sassy with the nice bouncers, but they calmly put them in their place like toddlers.

When the doors finally opened, I was met by a tall feminine lady armed with pages of guest names. She didn’t need my e-ticket, but the exact name from my Apple Pay (which I scrambled to find). And voila, we were in.

Inside, the space featured two roomy areas with tall floral-decorated ceilings, Chinese-themed lanterns, and pretty booth tables. There was also a DJ playing EDM-ish music, a vast bar and waitresses, a curated lineup of cocktails and mocktails, Chinese food to order, and even a tattoo artist offering Chinese New Year designs. We tried both of the mocktails, too sour for our taste at first, but a side of club soda brought it back in balance.

Off the bat, it felt very much like a place where everyone came with their friend group. With the dimmed lights and music, I wasn’t sure how to connect with fellow queers. But I did see a few solo travelers floating around. And as the room quickly filled up, that made it a bit easier to bump elbows and talk to others.

The crowd was a lively mix of beautiful lesbians and sapphics, with most embracing the holiday theme in red or other festive attire. I loved to see a lesbian space where everyone was dressed up so nicely. The entire vibe reminded me of photos and stories of 1950s San Francisco, think: Last Night at the Telegraph Club. It was both romantic and perfect for a date and lively to enjoy the night with your friends.

The guests were roughly 40% chapstick, 40% femmes, and 20% mascs (see lesbian types here). And a cool blend of Gen-Z and Millennial+ queer women, with an 80/20 split between white and BIPOC attendees that mirrors many queer spaces.

At around 10:00 PM, a large dragon danced through the crowd to the beat of Chinese drums, with at least two people inside of it. It was exciting to see remnants of Chinese New Year traditions. Shortly after, a burlesque dancer with a snake puppet took the stage, offering a brief but interesting performance.

In true millennial fashion, and since it was a Thursday night, at 11:00 PM, we called an Uber home with our minds satiated with a new queer experience.

I’d give the evening an 8/10. Grotto’s fresh themes, featured guests, cultural integration, and live performances keep things dynamic. I love that they change venues and events throughout the city. And I’m so happy to see more sapphic events in NYC, filled to the brim!

I can’t wait to see what their next sapphic pop-up cocktail bar in NYC has in store! I’ll update this review when I check out their next one.

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