Review: The Bubble Room in Kirkwood

For years, if you wanted to hit a dark, house/techo-blaring, pretty-people, nicely decorated lounge, you had to go Downtown – specifically, Washington Avenue. Sure, the names of these hotspots changed, but the vibe did not. Saying, “I’m going out Downtown” meant I’m dressing up, I’m on the make and I’m going to be out very late. With apologies to Pepper Lounge, Rue 13, Velvet, Kitchen K and Club Isis, Downtown’s nightlife has hit a noticeable lull. R.I.P. Tangerine, Lo, Mandarin Bay, Galaxy, Deep 6, etc.

Out in Kirkwood, a surprisingly familiar evolution is taking place. The under-construction, “new-urbanist” lofts jut right up to the Kirkwood Road curb, completely changing the look of the suburb. Up the street, in the corner of Woodbine Center strip mall, is the latest addition – a pretty-people lounge. So, suburban Kirkwood is adding urban lofts and urban clubs? Interesting.

The look ...
Again, an evolution. Joseph’s Italian Café to Bellaluna and the adjacent Jo-Jo’s Jazz Club to The Bubble Room. Like Josephs/Jo-Jo’s, Bellaluna/Bubble Room share investors.

Save Clayton’s Miso and Ballwin’s Enigma Lounge, suburbia doesn’t offer “hip” night spots. Open for less than a year, The Bubble Room attempts to fill that gap, and recreating what’s usually Downtown inevitably invites comparisons, particularly when you bring in the wait staff and DJs from Deep 6.

Contrasted with Downtown spots, The Bubble Room is very small. It’s basically one room. Management did a good job redecorating, relying on blacks, grays, blues and purples, but could only do so much to the undersized space.

Unique brushed steel and motorcycle saddle stools front the tile-topped bar. The wall behind the bar is likewise tiled and showcases the liquor bottles and framed waterfall. Could be me, but the blue liquid streaming down the waterfall reminds me of 2000 Flushes. Kill it.

On every wall hang framed, retouched photos of women and bubbles. A flat-screen television flashes stills of smiling past patrons. “These girls are from St. Louis?” asked a bemused friend.

Black-linen-topped tables surround the tiny dance floor. The corner DJ booth sits next to Jo-Jo’s piano and in front of a dated mural of Demi Moore’s 1996 “Cigar Aficionado” – more Jo-Jo’s. In another corner is a leather L-couch. An intimate grotto with leather couches hides behind flowing sheer drapes. Toward the back, a large area of reservable club chairs and tables. In the rear, another small bar and tables and a small all-red VIP room.

Post-10:30 p.m., Bellaluna’s 12-table patio becomes The Bubble Room’s with another bar, DJ and real hovering bubbles.

The scene …
While Downtown is always PG-13+, The Bubble Room rarely tops G. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The young women of suburbia – 24 to 30 years old and almost exclusively white – have flocked so far. The Kirkwood locale means a shorter, nonconfusing commute; zero scary bums selling Viagra or posing as parking lot attendants; and no cracked sidewalks to catch heels.

Understandably, young men, 25 to 35 years old, have caught on and come en masse. The girls dress to be noticed, so I’m sorry, but I don’t remember how the guys dress. Crowds peak on Saturdays. Opposite sexes meet.

On the weekends, the doorman collects the $5 cover at the stairs to the strip mall’s courtyard. Valet park, but it’s rather ridiculous to drive through a parking lot to valet. Inside, the DJ spins techno and house and the tiny dance floor seems to be girls only. Music volume is noticeably moderate – you can’t feel it vibrate your pants. Outside, people disregard the hip-hop DJ and relax at Bellaluna’s patio tables.

As at a good Downtown lounge, sometimes you’ll swear the unaffected bartenders are ignoring you. Be careful running a tab. In one trip, they gave my credit card to another patron. Oblivious, she left with my card. The comped drinks evened it out, but come on, there were only 10 people in the bar.

The products …
The name of the place implies its specialty – Champagne. If you like yours cold as Valley Forge and with about three ponies of brandy under it, order it that way. Otherwise, consult the menu. The lone by-the-glass house bubbly is $8, while splits run $9 to $20, Moët being the most popular. Full bottles run much more, so the menu is still being tweaked to attract those scared off by the high prices. Frou-frou fans can choose from 10+ sweet and colorful specialty sparkling cocktails – i.e., the Marilyn Monroe blends Apple Pucker, grenadine and Champagne.

If Champagne ain’t your thing, the standard martinis, beers and wines will loosen inhibitions the same. Order eats from next door. Visit www.saucecafe.com for the Guru’s review of Bellaluna.

The straight 411 …
For a G-rated, Downtown lounge in suburbia, Champagne toast at The Bubble Room.