| PHOTOGRAPHY Steve Zak | WARDROBE STYLIST Kimmie Smith/Accessory2 | MUA/HAIR STYLIST Christina Padilla |
ATHLEISURE MAG: What is the aesthetic/vibe of the JIMMY at the James Hotel?
JIMMY SOHO: JIMMY is a grown up, stylish, fun and unpretentious cocktail lounge that has indoor/outdoor capacity. We’re not a dance club although often people are bopping their heads to our DJs (THUR/FRI/SAT night and SAT/SUN afternoons in summer). We’re 18 floors above Soho/Tribeca with nearly 360 views of the city. JIMMY is a fairly intimate space, holding about 100 indoors with room for another 75 outside
in good weather. The vibe is for conversation and socializing, whether that’s after work or post-dinner.
AM: Since JIMMY lounge is a rooftop, what areas are guests able to enjoy now that spring is on its way?
JS: Our roof area is always open for people to step outside but right now people are more focused on staying cozy inside, sitting on couches by the floor-to-ceiling windows, grooving to some great music, and catching up with friends or making new ones.
AM: JIMMY Soho just had an Oscars party, what other events do you have coming up that we should place into our calendars?
JS: We always do Super Bowl and Oscar parties. The next afternoon we’ll have a special gathering will be for The Kentucky Derby. And we open
our afternoon pool-deck parties on May 21, which is when we start opening at 3pm on weekends with afternoon DJs. We’ll also be showing the Olympics this summer both out by the pool and indoors.
AM: What is the signature drink of JIMMY lounge and what are some of the favorite dishes that are enjoyed by guests?
JS: We don’t have one signature cocktail, but we have two cocktails since we have opened that we can’t take off the menu, the Legal
in Vermont-which is Bourbon, Maple, Cinnamon and Shisho over a cinnamon bark ice block, and the other one is The Grapes of Wrath-Vodka,
muddled Grapes and Cucumbers with Elderflower syrup and seltzer.
In terms of dishes the most popular are: Cheeseburger Sliders w/ Jalapeño & Parmesan Fries, Artichoke Flatbread w/ Garlic Ricotta & Fresh Basil
and Falafel Bites w/ Cucumber, Mint & Tzatziki.
AM: Who are the creators of JIMMY lounge and what are their backgrounds in terms of the culinary and nightlife/mixology scene?
JS: JIMMY was developed by David Rabin and Johnny Swet. David was a founder of Lotus and other well-known nightspots, and is now a partner in Cafe Clover, The Lambs Club, The Skylark and JIMMY. Johnny Swet worked at many of the most iconic spots in NY like Bowery Bar and Pastis before opening his own places, Hotel Griffou and Rogue and Canon. He’s also the cocktail consultant for the Dream Hotel, Cafe Clover, The Skylark and JIMMY, and several other prominent NYC venues.
AM: What makes JIMMY lounge distinctive in the nightlife scene?
JS: JIMMY is nightlife for people who are either “over” going to big clubs with EDM where they can’t hear themselves speak, or for groups to
gather for a cocktail or two before they head out for a real late-nighter. It’s also the ideal spot to spend a spring/summer weekend afternoon, sipping a cocktail out by the pool. In that way, it’s kind of “day-life”.
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | JIMMY
JIMMY LOUNGE 15 Thompson St NY, NY 10013
