About
NUR KHAN is renowned as one of the preeminent figures of New York City’s Hospitality and nightlife scene. Khan is the mastermind behind the legendary, ultra-elite hotspots Wax, Sway, Hiro, Rose Bar and Electric Room.
With an unparalleled ability and instinct for designing and delivering the next go-to nightlife spot, Nur Khan was first propelled into the limelight in 1995 when he opened Wax, New York’s first “Ultra-VIP” lounge and has since set the industry standard for social destinations that show the essence of New York nightlife.
Each of Nur’s venues have featured his signature design touches, with color palettes and furnishings that show his insight into how people enjoy themselves, creating iconic nightlife destinations for the most discerning clientele. High in comfort and rich in texture, his spaces pulse with sound as sophisticated and eclectic as its patrons featuring tracks for the musically literate ranging from classic blues, indie, indie dance, electronic, to deep electronic.
Nur’s second venture, Sway in 1996, was a veritable Spring Street speakeasy adorned with Moroccan decor, fusing urban grit with a progressive soundtrack without sacrificing its underground-chic cache. His next projects, Hiro Ballroom in 2003 followed by Rose Bar in 2006 (located in the Gramercy Park Hotel), quickly became legendary landmarks of New York’s VIP nightlife.
In 2009, Nur created and built his restaurant and Lounge concept Kenmare, which became the go to destination for the city’s fashion-forward, musically savvy crowd. The space featured a restaurant with a simple family style concept as well as a downstairs lounge with a cavern like feel that transported one to the Mediterranean.
Nur then acquired and renovated Don Hill’s, New York City’s iconic rock and roll hot spot. Under Nur’s leadership Don Hill’s brought back the old days of NYC’s gritty rock and roll scene, featuring a series of concerts by established iconic rock and roll artists as well as emerging artists poised to become the future elite of rock and roll. In 2011 Nur opened the Electric Room at the Dream Downtown and created what continues to be the go-to destination for New York City’s downtown fashion and music scene.
In September 2013, Nur was named Creative Director of TAO Group’s newly opened TAO Downtown Lounge, a private cocktail lounge inside the 22,000 sq ft Rockwell Group designed TAO Downtown restaurant. Tao Group, who pioneered the Pan-Asian trend that swept New York City over a decade ago, have brought their iconic uptown restaurant to Manhattan’s Meatpacking district, offering the next evolution of the TAO brand.
In 2019 Nur partnered up with old friend John McDonald (Lure Fishbar, Mercer Street Hospitality) and opened Butterfly Soho. Butterfly is a sophisticated and playful lounge in the Sixty Soho Hotel conceptualized by Khan and designer Jason Volenec.
The initial inspiration for Butterfly came from the sensual interior design eccentricities of Casa Mollino and the parallels that we saw in Nur Khans personal style & taste.
However, rather than simply riffing on Casa Mollino, we wanted to personalize the lounge so it felt as if you were stepping into Nur Khan’s private home. At this point Nur reached out to his long-time friends Damien Hirst and Sante D’orazio, both of whom generously contributed significant artworks to the project.
In April 2024, Nur opened Two Fifteen. Two Fifteen is the brainchild of Nur Khan and Hotelier & Co Founder of Studio 54, Ian Schrager. Two Fifteen offers a vibrant and intriguing environment for socializing in downtown NYC,that is both sophisticated and edgy. Both nightlife connoisseurs agreed that to move forward, one must look back, eventually deciding to draw inspiration from the 2000s,specifically their previous collaboration for Rose Bar at the Gramercy park Hotel.
Two Fifteen Music Description: The sound of Two Fifteen is a more mature and polished version of the 2000s/2010s Indie dance era. It retains a raw emotionality, echoing the genre’s indie roots while exploring modern electronic soundscapes. You can expect to hear textures of indie dance, rock remixes, deep and even organic house. Two Fifteen is located at Public Hotel, at 215 Chrystie St in NYC. See link below for more info.
Inside Two Fifteen, Ian Schrager and Nur Khan’s New York bar
In June 2025 Nur opened his most personal project to date; MAISON NUR.: And then add this description please
Maison Nur: A Seductive Haven of Art, Music, Dining & Nightlife
Maison Nur is the latest masterpiece from legendary New York Hospitality/nightlife impresario Nur Khan-a sultry, intoxicating fusion of old-world elegance and contemporary artistic provocation. Designed as a sanctuary for the city’s cultural provocateurs, musicians, and tastemakers, the venue unfolds across two levels, each offering a distinct yet interconnected experience of indulgence, artistry, and sonic allure alongside a worldclass menu from Michelin starred chef Richard Farnabe from Jean George & Daniel fame. Curated artworks by Damien Hirst, Michael Joo, Araki, Neil Grayson, Sante D’Orazio & Harif Guzman adorn the walls, creating a vibrant & seductive enclave of contemporary art & hedonism.
Ground Floor: The Art Salon, Restaurant, Cocktail Bar & Lounge
A decadent reimagining of an European art salon is the backdrop to the world class menu from Michelin starred chef Richard Farnabe (of Jean George & Daniel fame). The ground floor of Maison Nur drips with old-world charm-deeply patinated walls, plush mohair banquettes, and dimly flickering candlelight create an atmosphere of mystery and allure. But just as one settles into its classic elegance, a jolt of the unexpected disrupts-dramatic contemporary art installations, provocative photography, and bespoke sculptural pieces curated from some of the world’s most rebellious artists.
The bar, a monolithic slab of marble with a sensual curvature, serves up absinthe drips, artisanal cocktails, and rare Japanese whiskeys. The music-curated with a collector’s precision-floats between whispered electronica while exploring modern electronic soundscapes, wrapping guests in a hypnotic embrace. Maison Nur is a place where timeless seduction meets modern decadence-a setting for indulgent dining, whispered deals, and hushed confessions over Negronis.
Lower Level: A Recording Studio-Inspired Lounge & Nightclub
Descend the whimsical patterned staircase into a world where music is religion, and the night stretches infinitely. Inspired by the raw intimacy of legendary recording studios, the lower level nightclub is Maison Nur’s pulsing, hedonistic heart. Decorative sound panel walls absorb the vibrations of live performances and DJ sets, while moody crimson lighting and vintage decor pay homage to rock & roll’s golden age.
The space is deliberately cinematic-sleek velvet sofas, decorative sound panelled walls and a large video screen on the ceiling that projects a variety of contemporary art installations by Nur’s closest friends…. a clandestine escape for industry insiders and late-night conspirators.
The music-an ever-evolving mix of indie dance, electronic, deeper electronica, house, and unexpected live sets-creates a sonic experience both intimate and electrifying. It’s a place where sound, seduction, and surrealism collide… where the right moment can turn a night into legend.
The Maison Nur Experience
Maison Nur is more than a restaurant, more than a bar, more than a club-it is a portal into a world of unbridled artistic energy, sensual indulgence, and electric connection. It is where the city’s most enigmatic souls gather-not just to see and be seen, but to lose themselves in the rhythm of something darker, deeper, and infinitely seductive.
This is Nur Khan’s vision of nightlife: a space where history, art, and music converge to create an experience that lingers like the last sip of a perfect cocktail-warm, smoky, and unforgettable.ellipsis-horizontal
Jason Volenec
Volenec Studio | Founder
