Silencio Founder Arnaud Frisch on Opening in NYC
There’s an opulent new outpost of the storied French club and cultural hub
Sandwiched between a dollar pizza spot and a legal cannabis dispensary in Hell’s Kitchen, you’ll find a door that leads down a flight of stairs to an alley that comes to another door. When you enter, you’re greeted by opulence. This is Silencio, the latest French nightlife export to land in NYC. Known for their late-night parties in Paris, Silencio has opened up outposts in Ibiza and a second in the City of Lights, while only dipping their toes in the US market (with an Art Basel pop-up almost 10 years ago). While the original location credits filmmaker David Lynch as the designer, the brand new spot was richly imagined by Crosby Studios‘ founder Harry Nuriev.
On Silencio’s opening night, you could see Swizz Beats holding court, drinking Tres Generaciones tequila, to celebrate his personal art collection, known as The Dean Collection, being displayed at the iconic Brooklyn Museum. On another night, Olivier Zahm—under a plume of smoke and his eponymous baseball hat and sunglasses—was chatting French cinema and the new edition of Purple Fashion Magazine. In between parties, we sat down with bon vivant Arnaud Frisch, Silencio’s founder, to talk all about his NYC plans and what revelers can expect in this hidden gem.
Location is crucial in NYC, so why did you choose to open in Midtown West rather than a more fashion-forward area?
The Hell’s Kitchen/Midtown area is rich in history and legends. We think of the Studio 54 era and a time when celebration thrived here. For Silencio, the historical dimension of the location is significant, just as it is in Paris, situated in the heart of the second arrondissement in the former offices of L’Aurore newspaper, where J’Accuse from Émile Zola was printed. The location was a gamble. No one thought this area could welcome the likes of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, The Weeknd or Dua Lipa. This concept extends to Silencio des Pres in the former cultural hub of Saint Germain des Pres. In New York, the aim is to embody this unique spirit of celebration and cultural openness and establish a presence in a vibrant cultural ecosystem. We consider our neighbors iconic cultural hubs, places like MoMA, the Met Museum, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and Broadway.
What type of clientele are you hoping will become regulars here?
At launch, the club will open three times a week, from Thursday to Saturday. Our project is to create parties in collaboration with artists and DJs, fashion designers, galleries and film studios. We hope to attract a clientele seeking enjoyment and a connection.
The original Paris location has rich cultural programming for members. Can we expect something similar in NYC?
Our current members cultural programming includes weekly premieres with directors like Ruben Ostlund or Damien Chazelle, literary conversations with writers like Bret Easton Ellis or Roberto Saviano, live music with musicians like Lana Del Rey or Kendrick Lamar, performances with artists like Takashi Murakami or Björk, dinners with chefs like Massimo Bottura or Mauro Colagreco and private openings or launches. We also have access to a co-working space in Saint Germain des Pres and in our international network of partner clubs, priority access to the club and pop-ups at the Cannes Film Festival, the Venice Biennale and exclusive programs for Paris+ by Art Basel. We extended it to Ibiza, and aspire to offer a similarly rich program in New York.
Speaking of membership, the Paris location is technically members-only. Can we expect something similar in NYC?
Silencio clubs and restaurants are open to non-members who appreciate music and the arts.
You’ve had a star-studded launch with The Dean Collection and Purple Magazine. Can we expect more events with your other French collaborators and friends in the future?
We had the chance to host amazing events for the opening, such as The Dean Collection, Purple Magazine and the after-party for the premiere of “One Love” with Rohan Marley and an exclusive YG Marley show. We are planning to host our Parisian collaborators, with 99Ginger and Harry Nuriev this week, as well as international and local talent.
The room itself looks beautiful, with red velvet and gold. Can you speak a little more about the design direction and the feeling you’re looking to evoke among patrons?
The design, created by Harry Nuriev from Crosby Studios, who is a fan of David Lynch, draws inspiration from the original club on rue Montmartre. The idea is to provide an environment where people feel comfortable, can be themselves and enjoy themselves in a sumptuous setting.
How about the cocktail menu? New York is a city known for its cocktails. Do you have favorite spirits and drinks that made their way here?
We collaborated with Remy Savage, one of the world’s best mixologists, across all our establishments. The menu is articulated around the contrast between the approachability associated with disco cocktails (echoing the Studio 54 era) and the elegance often associated with French products.
You’ve opened Silencio in various parts of the world. How do you make them feel distinct but still part of the same family? How does NYC fit into this?
Silencio is fundamentally about bringing creative communities together, offering spaces designed for that purpose—our brand’s identity. Each project is designed around the history of the town and the location with David Lynch and Raphael Navot in the right bank of Paris, Studio KO in the left bank, balearic designers More Design in Ibiza and Harry Nuriev, who is based between New York and Paris, for our latest location.
What are your thoughts?