Recess: The Underground Playground

Last night was filled with laughs, dancing, and of course chemical indulgence. I stopped in at a place I hadn't been in for sometime, Recess Lounge on 15th St NW. A small, stylish, lounge with great DJ's and a pair of some of the busiest bartenders I have ever seen. Kyle mixed up all kinds of libations I hadn't even heard of. He was fast, efficient, and didn't water down any drinks. It was obvious he prided himself on putting the right amounts of the right ingredients in front of the right customers.

Adherence to the stylish dress codes will give way to your descent into Recess' subterranean lounge without hinting at what you're in for. The glass doors open up to a small intimate venue that boasts hardwood floors, softly lit rail walls, and laser lighting. Low slung tables and contemporary leather sofas line the walls and centrally place the DJ booth at the back of the venue giving music the focus of this establishment. Depending on the night, spinsters put on hip-hop, pop, R&B, reggae,  and electronica. The DJ even played a bit of Brazilian Lounge Music. The atmosphere is personal and intimate even though it can get insanely busy so ladies should definitely wear their dancing shoes. By the end of the night there were definitely a few slender beauties packed around tables and bleeding out into the dance floor smiling and a tipping a bit as they danced through the night. 

The crowd is usually a 21-35yr old mix of urban professionals, international collegiate graduate and under graduate students, and young quirky hipsters who are really into haute couture trends. Recess' staff and management are innovative and welcoming and remind me of those you'd find at neighborhood bars in Rome or Moscow where the venues are ultra hip but still down to earth. Throughout the night, Sayo, one of the managers walked up to random people including myself and talked about the venue, asked what I liked and didn't like, and gave me a couple pointers on best nights to drop by and he didn't even know I'd be writing this article. I'm told they almost immediately recognize their regulars and treat them well for their frequent patronage.

As far as the venue itself, it's strength is also it's weakness. Since Recess is a small place, it can get really wild, and really packed, really fast. The bathrooms are small, clean, and well attended but can be hard to get through at the back of the lounge when it gets super busy.

All in all, Recess Lounge was it was a great experience and I will definitely be a regular here.

Insider tips: 

• Depending on what time you arrive, there will be a cover charge but you can also go their website, and add yourself to the guest list for free entry before 11p when available.
• It gets really packed with a 21-30yr old crowd on Tuesday night. 
• Follow on Twitter for insiders on when they have Open Bar events