Shadow Room, Washington DC

“Basically, we wanted to create something that was better than anything else in the world—especially Vegas,” says the mastermind behind Shadow Room, 31-year-old CEO and President, Swaptak Das (a.k.a. Das). “To do that, we came up with 28 new innovations to remedy the problems that typically go hand-in-hand with sub-par service.” And when you first step inside Shadow Room, those modernizations are pretty hard to miss.

Politicians, celebrities, athletes, CEOs and socialites party with the rest of us (except in the VIP area), a serviceoriented hotspot has been long overdue because grabbing a drink in DC doesn’t come easy anymore. In fact, just making your way up to the bar at a crowded club or lounge is next to impossible, not to mention actually getting the bartenders attention and placing an order. Even flagging down the cocktail waitress can be virtually impossible. The Shadow Room lounge is a blend of clean lines and contemporary décor (the leather-upholstered seating was actually designed to be danced on) mixed with classic elegance, thanks to the mesmerizing chandeliers hung from the 22-foot ceilings. Take a closer look, and you’ll notice that every one of the 24 tables is equipped with its own touch-pad screen, which can be used to do pretty much anything you can imagine, from ordering drinks to requesting songs.

So, how do you get in to Shadow Room? Admission is prioritized with table reservations topping the list. Next come the VIPs, “people in the know” and regular customers which means that admission is not guaranteed to the general public—but don’t let that stop you from trying.

Every table comes with its own flat-screen, where you can play Playstation, XBox or watch satellite TV. If you’re there for a party, upload photos of you and your friends to the lounge’s web site and, upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a personalized slideshow at your table. Each area has its own waitress with their own iTouch. Step right up, and they’ll gladly order your drink for you, from $8 cocktails to $1,000 bottles. If you are curious about your bar tab, sign in on the touch-pad screens to view your bill at any time. And when you’re ready to go, just pay by credit card at your table or request change from the bar if you are paying with cash. To always remember your night at Shadow Room, simply request the cameras be mounted on the wall to record you and your friends over the course of the night and send you a DVD in the mail. And When you’re ready to leave, you can even alert the valet with the touch screen or iPhone and have your car wating.

If you come carrying your own iPhone, you can simply log on to ShadowRoom. com and order a drink from the dance floor—a text message will be sent to you when your drink is ready at the bar. And they’re not done yet, just getting started... with his two partners, longtime friends Steve Acott and Pat Khunachak, Das has big plans for the future of Shadow Room.

“We cater to high-end professionals, not hardcore clubbers, so the little details that make this place so unparalleled are really important,” he says. Some of those ideas include projection screens, complete with holographic images (think “C.S.I.” style) and mirrored walls, so those on the dance floor can see themselves and those in the VIP section can, well, watch.