Desert 5 Spot’s Rousing Rodeo Hits New York

On a balmy summer night in late July, a hotspot from Hollywood named Desert 5 Spot opened in Brooklyn. Those familiar with the destination’s mainstay location in Los Angeles have grown to love its honky-tonk flair atop the Tommie Hotel, which opened in 2022—so much so that Ten Five Hospitality decided to bring it to the East Coast. 

After scouting a perfect space for two years, the brand landed upon a large location on the bustling Wythe Avenue. Past its double-swinging wood doors and dimly lit Western ranch facade were gorgeous decorated interiors by Bernadette Blanc inspired by Pioneertown, featuring a mechanical bull, framed cowboy posters, velvet tufted couches, steer skulls with horns, rich rugs in warm colors, wooden barrels, tiles arranged in Western patterns, and more. 

“It’s just different,” said Dan Daley, Managing Partner of Ten Five Hospitality, the company responsible for the project. “When we think about doing a new concept, we always ask ourselves, ‘Is there a need for this? Is it radically unique? Is anyone else doing this?’ With Desert 5 Spot, we certainly felt like New York needed an authentic country bar centered around live entertainment, great drinks, and great food in a beautiful space that feels transportive.”

Past the carefully curated decor and design pieces, Desert 5 Spot has a dynamic menu of food and beverages—cue the Tennessee whisky, Texas margaritas, tacos, and nachos—and a robust calendar of entertainment programming, from live music to vintage markets. 

Whitewall spoke with Daley about bringing the Wild West to a metropolitan mecca and what you can expect to explore at the Brooklyn rodeo this fall. 

Desert 5 Spot Opens in New York

WHITEWALL: Desert 5 Spot recently expanded from its outpost in Los Angeles to a second iteration in New York. What does this expansion mean for the space?

DAN DALEY: My partners and I all spent the formative years of our careers in New York and so we were excited at the possibility of bringing Desert 5 to the city we called home for so many years. It took us two years to find the right space and we couldn’t be more excited that we’re here. In terms of expansion to other markets, it depends on finding the right location in a market where we think the brand would resonate. We would never expand for expansion’s sake. That’s a recipe for failure.

WW: What does the New York-based Desert 5 space do differently than its West Coast counterpart? What’s different about the vibe?

DD: We very much wanted to stay true to who we are as a brand so the programming and the essence of what we do in Los Angeles is very much the same in New York. The design of the space is a bit different but the core pillars are very much the same.

What’s Happening at Desert 5 Spot This Fall

WW: What upcoming programming is happening at the New York space this fall that you’re looking forward to?

DD: On Wednesdays, we host an amazing line dancing class where you can learn to two-step. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays we have live music and on Sundays, we host a vintage trading post where we partner with local vendors who sell an array of vintage goods.

WW: How do you recommend newcomers to the space experience it?

DD: That’s the wonderful thing about Desert 5. You can come any night of the week and have an amazing time. Live music on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays is a blast. I would definitely try the braised beef tacos, finished with a Jolene. And of course, no experience at Desert 5 can ever be complete without a ride on Betsy the Bull.

WW: What are you working on next?

DD: We’re opening the third location of Mother Wolf in Miami in the fall and working on several big projects in Dallas.