"Stay, opened by former nightclub promoters, calculatedly goes for the low-key-but-still-upscale approach: The relaxed door policy is a draw for meatpacking district denizens fed up with power-tripping bouncers … but not with bottle service. A long banquette separates Stay’s two bars. On each side, comfy, oversized chairs and sixties-leftover furniture keep it cozy. Slow weekdays invite drink specials and familiar theme nights: The last Thursday of the month is Brazilian night, complete with belly dancers and Congo drummers; Wednesdays are for The Smiths, Joy Division and, oddly enough, discounts on top-shelf booze (Patron, Grey Goose). Neon lighting and lust-themed house drinks like “STAY Hard” and “STAY Single” complete the mini-club vibe."

-NY MAG
 

"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. "

-CITYSEARCH

"Stay: The East Village is never going to be mistaken for West Chelsea, and that’s why places like Spiral & Abaya, which successfully occupied this space for a while, tend to go over well in these parts. The multicultural crowd that doesn’t do ropes or cover charges will be splitting their time between the aforementioned spots and Stay. A long wall of padded banquettes stretches from front bar to back bar in this rather long space, where house and hip-hop say “dance,” but the vibe and (the city’s archaic cabaret laws) fittingly say “sit…stay…good lounger.” Thanks to funky, geometrically clever furniture and linear minimalism, there’s a bit of a 2001 vibe to this simultaneously futuristic and retro spot—and we mean the movie and the year."

-SHECKY'S