About

NUR KHAN is renowned as one of the preeminent figures of New York City’s nightlife scene. As owner and Creative Director of Electric Hospitality, 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, spanning from classic blues, rock, psych, electro, and punk to hipster-chic.

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 oversaw the restaurant and lounge concept of Kenmare, which became the ultimate 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.

Khan was then asked to revamp 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.