DEJAVU doesn’t announce itself loudly. It reveals itself slowly, over espresso in the morning, caviar in the afternoon, and candlelight, jazz, and late-night conversations after dark. Located on West Street in the West Village, DEJAVU is a modern social salon designed to evolve throughout the day, inviting guests to arrive early, linger often, and stay late with reservations now live on Resy.
The concept is the vision of restaurateur and nightlife entrepreneur Barış Köroğlu, whose work has long explored the intersection of dining, music, and atmosphere. Trained in premier restaurants across Europe and known for co-founding the immersive nightlife concept The Lullaby and Aquarelle, Köroğlu approaches hospitality as a form of storytelling, one built on rhythm, mood, and sensory detail rather than rigid schedules. At DEJAVU, that philosophy takes shape through a space that feels refined yet intimate, encouraging connection over consumption.
By day, DEJAVU operates as a European-inspired Caviar Café, open from early morning through late afternoon. Drawing from the traditions of continental cafés and tea salons, the daytime experience favors unhurried elegance. Plush seating, warm lighting, and understated European detailing create a setting suited to conversation, quiet meetings, and moments of indulgence, woven seamlessly into everyday life.
The Caviar Café menu centers on premium, sustainably sourced caviars served in the classical manner, by the tin with blinis, crème fraîche, and fine accompaniments. Guests can enjoy traditional service or explore guided caviar tastings throughout the day, inviting a deeper appreciation of provenance, texture, and nuance. The caviar program is complemented by a thoughtful espresso offering, elegant breakfast dishes, a light luncheon menu, and traditional afternoon tea service, an intentional nod to old-world rituals reimagined for modern New York.
“Our intention was to restore the café as a true social salon,” Köroğlu explains. “A place where people can begin their day slowly, return for conversation, and experience luxury in a way that feels intimate and part of everyday life.”
As daylight fades, DEJAVU shifts seamlessly into evening. Candlelight replaces natural light, music deepens, and the space transforms into a sexy Supper Club where dining and nightlife merge effortlessly. DEJAVU at night is cinematic and immersive, anchored by live jazz and an atmosphere that unfolds gradually rather than rushes toward a finale.
The 2,800-square-foot space is organized into three distinct rooms that evolve with the evening. The Emerald Room, a lively green-and-gold front bar anchored by a nine-seat centerpiece, sets the tone with cocktails and conversation. The Golden Room, the main dining space, features soft cream tones, antique drapery, and warm lighting that frame the dinner experience with understated elegance. Hidden behind velvet curtains, the Red Room, also known as the Desire Room, offers an intimate speakeasy setting with just ten seats, hosting private tasting menus and immersive burlesque performances.
The culinary program mirrors the layered nature of the space itself. Rooted in Mediterranean flavors with Modern Turkish and Italian influences, the menu balances comfort and sophistication while encouraging sharing. Starters include scallop crudo with fennel and orange zest, tuna tartare with yuzu ponzu, shrimp carpaccio finished with caviar, hamachi accented with blood orange, and signature pastrami croquettes filled with dry-aged spicy beef and Turkish sausage. Hand-crafted pastas such as lobster ravioli, fresh truffle pappardelle, and tagliatelle with bottarga anchor the menu, alongside mains like steak frites, grilled lamb chops, pan-seared seabass, and filet scallops finished with caviar beurre blanc.
Cocktails at DEJAVU are treated as a performance in their own right. Using modern techniques such as sous vide infusion and fat-washing, the bar program blends precision with nostalgia. Standouts include the DejaVu cocktail with white rum, lychee, yuzu, pineapple, and matcha foam; a truffle coffee Negroni with lingering depth; and the Emerald Dream, a basil-forward tequila cocktail served in a coupe.
More than a restaurant, DEJAVU is a place designed to move at a slow pace. From morning coffee and caviar to jazz-filled nights that stretch into early morning, it offers continuity in a city defined by constant motion. As Köroğlu puts it, “DEJAVU was designed to move with people, not the clock.”
