SA's Nektar Lounge proves to be of preposterous proportions

I recently crossed this imaginary boundary of Bitters Road — that line that too frequently separates partygoers north and south — and forayed into the opulent territory of Stone Oak. I was searching out rumored sweetness stashed at our newest upscale hotspot: Nektar Lounge. I showed up to a sold-out grand opening night, with shiny bottle service buckets lining the posh lounges. The club is undeniably of the typical Stone Oak variety, but it ups the ante when it comes to showiness and outrageous glamour, recreating the atmosphere of an international discotheque. The bar is located front and center and commands attention with its ridiculously incandescent shattered-glass-style surface and trio of shiny gold mannequin heads displayed above. In fact, the bar top was so absurdly aglow that my martini glass lit up like an inverted lampshade when I set it down on the bar. According to the club's website, Nektar aims to "set the new standard in nightlife as the most exclusive lounge in San Antonio to date." Yet somehow I managed to slip in, so...

"This is more of a nightclub — bass, party, entertainment, go-go dancers," says owner Arturo Perez. "It's sound, lights, a complete nightclub." Perez already has made his mark with Pepper Social Grill and Lounge, a North Side restaurant that wants you to "Eat, drink, and socialize." This isn't that. The dance floor, expansive and accompanied by a fog generator, is well equipped to handle a flurry of sky high stilettos and designer leather loafers dancing to the sounds of Top 40, hip-hop, house, and international music. The perfectly coiffed clientele played their part in the orchestrated fashion show. Unfortunately, an Adele remix took its toll, forcing me back across the Bitters line of demarcation to nurse a high-fashion headache.