CLUB WATCH
Soho: Chippewa spot remains the place to be
Youthful, crowded and attractive, Soho remains the place to be
Published: November 13, 2009, 5:03 pm
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What would the Chippewa Strip be without Soho? Since I hit the big 2-1, I knew that if I was partying down on Chippewa, there was going to be a definite stop at Soho. Five years later, not much has changed. Every time I head downtown to party, it’s always on the itinerary.
From the outside, the bar doesn’t sparkle in comparison with some of the other recent additions, but inside it’s party time all the time. The music is fresh, the drinks are flowing, and the energy is on full blast. On those off-nights when it seems like all the other bars are slow, Soho isn’t.
Every time we visit, my girlfriends and I spend a good hour making our way through the crowd searching for familiar faces. I’ve crossed paths with random acquaintances, old college friends, and even a few family members.
The Soho atmosphere is a guilty pleasure. When it comes to meeting someone, the place is a grocery store of beautiful people. The women are dressed scantily to the nines, and every man is wearing his most expensive cologne and a designer-brand T-shirt. And as the early morning hours roll around, expect to see a lot of PDA. If you show up with a date, don’t be surprised to encounter ogling, flirting and once-overs from both men and women.
During good weather the place is especially jam-packed, when the two patios are open: One is street-level and fenced in with cafe tables and seating, the other is upstairs with a great view overlooking the strip. Both are heated and allow smoking.
To keep up with the massive crowd, there are three fully stocked bars staffed by people who look like they should be modeling instead of serving drinks. Prices are pretty standard compared with neighboring bars, but there is a cover charge on Saturday nights. Although seating is offered throughout the bar, pretty much everyone is on their feet, usually to avoid being knocked into by patrons waiting to be served. If you have trouble making your way to the bar, sometimes it’s more convenient to ask the bar waitresses for service; they’re very efficient regardless of the crowd size.
As the World Series wrapped up, I headed to Soho to see if it could keep up with some of the other local sports bars. With 12 flatscreen TVs in plain sight and both the Yankees and Sabres on, I had no complaints.
For frequent downtown partiers, Soho isn’t the starter bar before hitting the town, or a pit stop for a quick shot. It’s the place to be, and the heart of the Chippewa district. •
Soho Bar
64 W. Chippewa St.
856-7646 (SOHO)
Scene: Younger. Mostly college students and twentysomethings.
Music: DJ music, all the latest hip-hop hits or top 20 songs.
Drinks: Popular brands of liquor, bottled beer and happy hour specials throughout the week.
Dresscode:The Chippewa standard, look like you’re ready to mingle.
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