Getting into Josephine’s Party: Ultrachic Club Graces K Street Nightlife
We take a peek at the exclusive and luxurious new club on K Street.
By
Peter Bryce
The gold room at Josephine, the latest addition to the growing club scene on K Street. Photographs courtesy of Josephine Lounge.
Named after Napoleon’s wife, the new club Josephine (1008 Vermont Ave. NW; 202-347-8601) offers an exclusive grandeur befitting an emperor. Translation: Dress well and bring money.
If you’re not on the guest list, you’ll pay a hefty cover to mingle and drink with some of Washington’s prettiest people. Whether the price of admission and cocktails—most well into the double digits—is worth it depends on your attitude toward fashion, society, and consumption in a capitalist society: If you love to hate it or hate to love it, Josephine is for you.
We’ve got to admit the place is stunning. Modern design is spurned in favor of ornate furnishings and gold walls. Spend a Saturday night here and it’s certain to feel like an event—a thrilling, slightly voyeuristic celebration of excess. Reserve a spot at one of the tables ($300 minimum for a party of six—forgive our gaucheness, but we had to tell you the exact price—and you get a bottle of vodka, some mixers, and one of the best people-watching spots in the area. Those without a table stand in circles and pairs around the seated, who lounge comfortably on the Christopher Guy-designed furniture.
For a group with something to celebrate (or if you just want to be seen) Josephine is a million-dollar nightcap. Sadly—or is that fortunately?—the whole experience washes away in the morning, when comfortable jeans and torn T-shirts are once again acceptable.
Have you been to Josephine? What did you think of the new nightclub? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
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Posted by: Coach Outlet Online, Oct 04, 2011 08:11:52 PM
WOW.these comments are ridiculous. If you dont agree with how the club is set up or runned then dont go there. Not everyone in this world is racist. Take a look around at all the interracial relationships. I am sorry but i DO NOT believe a dress code is created just to keep "black" people out of this particular club. WOW! They still play hip hop music, therefore thats a contradiction.
Posted by: Annoyed, Mar 31, 2011 02:19:29 PM
Josephine is definetly the best place to go in DC!
Posted by: Matt, Sep 30, 2010 08:27:52 PM
The dress code is to mainly to keep Black peoples out from Josephines and now business is not as good as at was in the past so now they has a Hip-Hop night on Wednesday to boost theirs revenue, I have NO PROBLEMS getting in clubs in Germany, England, Spain, France, Holland, Thailand, Korea & the Philippines. Most of the owners of these newer clubs are flat out RACISTS, just stating a fact.
Posted by: b, Sep 29, 2010 09:05:59 PM
I do not frequent DC nightclubs, so I have a question about the crowd at K street. Is K street the most exclusive, very trendy part of DC? I am just curious about the dynamics of different areas of DC with regards to nightlife.
Posted by: yay no login., Aug 13, 2009 10:09:09 AM
R U SERIOUS?
Posted by: Inna Moth, Apr 16, 2009 09:34:20 PM
Had a great time at Josephine a few Friday’s ago, however the $20 cover charge was a joke. I arrived with 4 other attractive, well dressed women and they told us the cover was $20 EACH. We turned around to walk away because we weren’t going to pay that, and they quickly ushered us back and straight to the front of the line with no cover charge at all.
Posted by: Sarah, Apr 09, 2009 02:57:37 PM
Best international night in DC, (thursdays). Music will leave your ears ringing though
Posted by: Thursday night at Josephies, Mar 30, 2009 04:55:22 PM
all about ownership people, if the mind of the owner is weak, as it seems, then you get the riff raff being spoken about. If the owner has class and true taste (not just a done up club), well......Its a nice joint all night, top to bottom. Period
Posted by: YO, Jan 25, 2009 08:55:28 AM
It depends on what night you go. For some reason the nights the black people are promoting there its always drama and people thinking they are celebs. When I went on a regular night (meaning more white folks) me and my girl walked right in no problem they told us to have a good time and we did, free drinks, cute guys it was a great night.
so i am 50/50 with this place.
Posted by: Tiffany, Dec 16, 2008 01:08:08 PM
Went there this past week. Filled with underage coke heads and hookers. The bartenders are lousy (please send them back to bartending school).
This place is a joke.
Posted by: Iman, Dec 13, 2008 11:15:20 AM
I’ve been to similar establishments across the globe. I took Wanda there when we lived in Georgetown. She found it too exuberant for her simple Polish tastes. Personally I found it declasse. Have seen better spots in Mandinka...but enough of that.
Posted by: Alfred Broadmoor, Apr 28, 2008 12:22:44 AM
Inside the club is beautiful but its claim to being exclusive is an absolute joke. My friends and I had 3 tables reserved and ordered lots of alcohol. However, they packed the club way over the maxium capacity. You couldn’t move let alone dance. They let everyone in and it was no longer worth it to have a table because there were crowds of people all around it to the point where you couldn’t move or breathe,. We were having such a miserable time we went to Play where we could enjoy our table without having to worry about everyone and their mother crowding around.
Posted by: DC Socialite, Apr 09, 2008 08:11:13 PM
It’s just like the other places. Awkward looking table seeking men accompanied by coked up gold-digging gals.
Posted by: Lora Li, Apr 06, 2008 07:42:24 PM
If it’s not your thing, go across the street, there are plenty of spots to chose from. We should celebrate the variety of places we have available to us. I’ve also been to clubs everywhere from Miami, NYC, LA and Europe and I must admit, DC does not fall short, believe me. The crowd, well that’s a whole other story, but Josephine definitely offers some of the best we can see in DC...you will find a well dressed crowd that actually takes pride in their club going experience, and you will also find comfort in the table experience. It’s not just about "drinking" it’s also about your own private area where you won’t be bothered. Overall, I think it’s a very nice, chic place......and although it might be easier for some to get in, for those who stick around and wait, it will be worth it if you have the right attitude......don’t hate....congratulate!
Posted by: Not your cup of tea?, Mar 18, 2008 12:25:00 PM
bump all the booshie clubs. ozios’s is the truth. they let you smoke, you drink good, and the crowd is down to earth. yes its a little tight, but you will have a good time. i drove past this club and the line was off the hook. WHY???? it was cold as balls and those people were waiting for what...was p.diddy serving dranks. was kim kardashian inside or something...
Posted by: jay d, Mar 11, 2008 12:30:38 PM
Well, isn’t "RUSERIOUS" special? Tell us more about your world travels, O Special One.
Posted by: Pfft, Mar 03, 2008 06:19:03 AM
I recently went to Josephine on a Thursday night with a group of friends. We reserved a table with bottle service and had a good time. The $500 minimum got 8 of is in the door with no wait or cover (and there was a pretty big line when we arrived). Considering we split the check, we basically each spent about $80 (with tax and tip), I thought it was reasonable. We probably would have spent close to the same had we all just hung around the bar all night.
Posted by: Nada, Mar 02, 2008 07:37:43 AM
Some people need to get a life. I read these blog comments and amazed at how many people seem to be so miserable and judgemental. If you don’t like a place, don’t go back, it’s really that simple. What is a good place to one person may not be to another..which is why there is a variety of places to choose from. It’s a good thing that we have more choices now in DC. The people who say, "the night clubs are trying to be like New York, LA or Miami" need to get over themselves. I have partied in those cities as well as some of the best clubs in Paris, London and the South of France and some nights you have an amazing experience and the next night you may not..if you are a happy person that is comfortable with yourself and with a good group of friends, you should be able to enjoy yourself anywhere you go.
Posted by: RUSERIOUS, Feb 29, 2008 07:36:50 AM
We went to Josephine’s two weeks ago on a Friday and the scene does not come close to the review above. There was a line, but it was no problem getting in, and we didn’t pay a cover. The crowd was 100% the international set, but largely an unattractive slice of that group who made up for what they lacked with hair gel and cologne. The bartenders (female) serve drinks in s&m style lingerie that actually makes it embarassing to pay them for a drink. No one was on the dance floor, and most tables were empty, so people were just standing around in a large crowd near the bar. $300 for a table to watch this group shout to each other over the music in a circle? No thanks.
Posted by: Not impressed at all, Feb 28, 2008 08:45:43 AM
What’s with all the "ultrachic" clubs in DC imposing silly dress codes? I can understand being selective about people who walk in wearing jerseys, baseball caps and/or workout type clothing. But most of the t-shirts you see worn in clubs cost more than a nights worth of drinks. And "sneakers" is a broad term now with virtually every designer on the planet creating casually-chic tennis shoes to go with those fancy D&G t’s and Armani jeans.
What I ask is, why would I go to a club in DC that turns me away for wearing the same clothes that would be celebrated in true club towns like Miami, LA and Vegas?
Answer: I wouldn’t, which is why Travelocity is my new best friend.
Posted by: DCNatfan, Feb 28, 2008 08:37:19 AM
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