Queensborough Unveils 6,000-Square-Foot Underground Social Club

The “downtown” companion to Queensborough’s “uptown” cocktail parlor is now welcoming drinkers into its subterranean 6,000 square-foot lounge which offers a fresh option for Gaslamp revelers. Continuing the 1920s New York City-theme of the upstairs cocktail bar, which launched in July, the just-opened downstairs social club is a sleek space designed by partner Matthew Ellis of Bluemotif Architecture (Juniper & Ivy, Crack Shack, Kettner Exchange) with white tiled walls, vintage mosaic subway signs and a white marble-topped bar.

Reservations are encouraged at Downtown Queensborough, open Thursday through Saturday from 8 a.m. until late night, which will also offer the menu created for the Uptown Queensborough space by executive chef/partner Taylor Houseman (Lionfish, Ironside Fish & Oyster). The venue has a state-of-the-art lighting and sound system for the visiting roster of DJs that will take the stage, and future entertainment options may also include a live jazz night.

Traditional bottle service will be available, as well as a dedicated list of classic craft cocktails, but a new feature that will rolling out soon is a build-your-own barrel aged cocktail option, developed by Mike Vizcarra (Seven Grand Whiskey Bar, Searsucker, Bang Bang), whose hospitality group Brethren Collective, co-founded with Shane Brennan (Holsem, Omnia, Stingaree, Searsucker) is part of the team behind the two-level space. Guests will be able to work with bar staff to customize a 5-liter barrel filled with a drink of their choosing, which will rest for four to six weeks before it is tapped for each party; prices will start at one hundred dollars and go up depending on the spirits used.