14 April,2010 10:18 AM IST | | Anjana Vaswani
Aer and Hype, 2 new night spots have a similar address but contrasting status. The guide decides to play bar crawler and asks Sobo's nocturnal ffraternity what leaves one buzzing, and the other deserted
Hype, the new nightclub in Atria Mall, someone remarked, was like being part of Justin Timberlake's Rock Your Body video. Attendants at the door, geared up in faux bulletproof jackets, add to the right-out-of-Hollywood-ambience and we loved the matt gold upholstery, even though we didn't enjoy being told that those seats were for preferred customers, never mind that there wasn't a soul around.
"Spend Rs 50,000 and you can be seated at the silver booth where you and up to 14 people, can enjoy unlimited drinks; Spend Rs 1,00,000 and you with 24 guests can enjoy the same privilege in the gold booth," an attendant informed us, ushering us to a corner besides the smoking room. Conversation was impossible as the pounding club-music threatened to pop our eardrums, but then, we would forego conversation any day of the week, for more of the divine Chocolate Martini (Rs 444) we devoured. Selecting the food using torchlight was a struggle but the Crispy Prawns (Rs 800) we ordered didn't disappoint. Though not crisp, its generous servings were value for money. The Crispy Lamb (Rs 600) could've been better, with more seasoning.
Though we couldn't gauge the crowd, because there was none at half past midnight on a Wednesday, we got it on good authority from a thirty-five year-old Dubai-based businessman and Hype regular that the place comes alive later. "We got there at 1.30 am on a Friday and people were stepping in," he said, adding that while he liked the place, "After 3 double vodkas, 2 Long Island Iced Teas and Sambuca shots, Gokul's would be rocking too."
At Aer, you're unlikely to ever be alone. We reached before 8pm on a Sunday and the place was bustling; the crowd seemed to favour the Smoker's section. The service was superb as was the fantastic view from the 34th floor. All the servers were helpful, friendly and happy to furnish you with trivia about the place at every instance. On our ride up in the Lounge's dedicated elevator, it was a tad odd when the security guard announced, "It's the highest lounge in the city," without any provocation. But this, "we're not just servers, we're tour guides too" ethos seems to have been ingrained into the minds of its staff. Priyanka, one of our attendants didn't just did stop by to check if we were comfortable, she also informed us that the Aer Lounge was never part of the Four Seasons' original design. "Perhaps, the management was inspired by the view," she informed; sharing that Bangkok's sky-high bars could also have served as inspiration.
"Hype's too expensive," an Aer aficionado complained, even as we noted that the menu here was as limited as it was at Hype and that Rs 900 seemed like an awful lot for Kebabs or, a Chicken Shawarma. We ordered the Spicy Aubergine (Rs 400) and a Strawberry Cheesecake (Rs 450) for dessert. Neither impressed! The aubergine was almost completely tasteless while the cheesecake masqueraded as a mousse. And for this (plus a glass of Merlot), we paid Rs 2,100 while our bill at Hype had amounted to Rs 2,359 for two non-vegetarian starters, a glass of apple juice and an alcoholic cocktail. Is it the hype around their prices that's serving as a deterrent for would-be-visitors to the Worli nightclub? "Obscurity could be a factor," reasoned Marine Lines resident Josephine Rodriguez who was dining at Aer with a group where not a single person had even heard of the new club.
Hype, 4th floor, Atria Mall, Dr Annie Besant Road, Worli. Call: 24813799, 67363799; aer, 34th floor, The Four Seasons Hotel, 114 Dr E Moses Road, Worli; Call: 24818444.
Hype and Aer didn't know we were there. THE GUIDE reviews anonymously and pays for meals
