Norse Code at THOR

Posh hotel on Rivington embraces its "cozy" side.

Was it something we said, above, at RIV 105?

Thursday was the premiere of the unofficially named lounge RIV 105, a new addition to The Hotel on Rivington’s already sprawling list of hotel amenities. If the 21-foot ceilings and bustling Euro scenesters at THOR seem tiresome, then RIV promises a more laid-back type of drinking den. One insider says, “We’re trying to bring back the intimacy of New York,” and shooting for “edgy, small, and cozy with a kind of living-room feel.” With all the extravagance going on next door, “cozy” seems a bit of a strech, but they pulled it off.

Cozy living room it was for euro-friends, sociable models, and fashion entrepreneurs who couched a collective approval in mixed accents from Cali to Catalan. Next to the glowing u-shaped bar, PR friends imbibed on black velvet in front of a white canvassed wall. At the back, the red-carpeted lounge comforted us with black leather seating and the hella-groovy (y’all heard!) house beats of DJ Neil. For its first day, RIV 105 promises to be a relaxed, exclusive spot amid all the L.E.S. debauchery, and though hotel room keys won’t guarantee entry, it can’t hurt to flash ‘em. The official grand opening is expected in October. —Vincent Roazzi