After experiencing the Madison nightlife for more than three years, it's always nice to see what else is out there.

Now don't get me wrong, there are many places in Madison to have a spectacular night on the town, but the word "ultra-lounge" just doesn't come to mind. Madison needs something new that will blow everything away. Something common to big cities that is a total departure from the ordinary college town.

You might be wondering, "whats an ultra-lounge? Is it a nightclub, a lounge, or both?" Ultra-lounges are swanky bars that have cover charges, a DJ, and a delicious food menu (think lobster lasagna). You can do four things: drink, dance, eat, and lounge! Some ultra-lounges are free to enter before a certain hour, and some don't open until late — like any nightclub.

Essentially, an ultra-lounge is a club with a small dance floor where you can chitchat up a storm in a more intimate, relaxed environment.

Swanky, fashion-focused lounges attract big spenders with their bumping beats, high-end drink menu, and décor. DJs are common, spinning anything from mainstream mixes to trance to hard techno.

Grey Goose is the order of the evening. The high-end extensive drink menu will consist of top-shelf liquor and drinks uncommon to most bars, like the Mojito — muddled mint, sugar, soda water, lime and rum, garnished with rock candy.

Additionally, martinis and bottle service seem to be very popular among the crowd. As you step into the lounge, you suddenly become enthralled by what is around you. A lot of ultra-lounges have hardwood floors, warm earth tones, brightly colored walls, and amazing bathrooms (imagine locking your bathroom door and having the glass fog up). These elements come together to create a classy, sexy, yet trendy interior.

Ultra-lounges typically cater to the twenty- to thirty-year-old crowd. A well-mixed crowd is standard, but they tend to be more refined than the average dive bar. Such a place is where you bring your friends rather than make new ones.

Girls looking fashionable in tight jeans or sexy skirts with slinky tops and guys in collared shirts and trendy jeans are the norm. Guys, these places always mean business and enforce strict dress codes. Baseball hats, tennis shoes, gang paraphernalia and overly baggy clothing are not allowed. Showing it off in a tasteful manner is the name of the game.

If Madison did have an ultra-lounge, the question would be, would students actually go? Cover charges can be expensive, although probably not in the $20 range that is normal in larger cities like Chicago.

Maybe ultra-lounges aren't right for Madison, considering we live in a college town and not a big city. How many students prefer dancing to Kanye West's "Gold Digger" rather than the typical techno beat of most ultra-lounges? How many would trade in their old-school, comfortable Adidas shoes for some shiny leather loafers?

However, it's always fun to get dressed up for a night on the town. If the right place opened, I'm sure students would go just to get a feel for the big-city atmosphere.

Although we've yet to see a true ultra-lounge in Madison, there are plenty of stylish places to make an appearance. The State Bar & Grill and Madison Avenue are regular stops for many students, but just a little farther away you'll find the Kimia Lounge where State Street meets the Capitol Square, the Blue Velvet on Gilman Street, and Madison's Dining & Diversions near Club Majestic.

Monica Roberts ([email protected]) is a junior majoring in journalism and political science.