Where glasses clink and delicacies sizzle! The fusion of culinary excellence and immersive dining has flourished as an art form in its own right. In the ever-evolving landscape of hospitality, meticulously crafted restaurants with thematic bars have popped up as cultural epicentres. Here architecture, interior design and mixology concoct remarkable experiences.
From sleek contemporary marvels to cosy themed hideaways and euphoric expanses, restaurant bars offer a canvas for ingenuity, innovation, and indulgence. Let us explore and delve into the enchanting world of 10 restaurant bar designs and uncover the secrets behind their allure.
PAPA Dubai, the dining and entertainment at the heart of riverside Al Habtoor City, is audacious and bold. The chic venue flaunts nine magnificent themed bar villages, which include installations and artworks such as indigenous Polynesian tiki totems, Mexican crafts, black ink Japanese art, and much more. Every theme ripples in stylish hues and sophisticated elements of interior design, offering a multicultural and unrivalled sensory-driven experience. Expressive archways in various finishes adorn the expansive space as a unifying element between each bar, along with seamless transition employed in monochrome tones, weaves a cohesive village feel.
The Polynesian tiki totems bars stand out as the most intriguing. Set against textured and lively orange backdrops, the totem art evokes depth and character. In its surrounding, slender bamboo-like slats in different patterns clad surfaces – stirring a simple, yet effective narrative.
Embellished like a sizzling champagne, Moët & Chandon Champagne Bar in London takes centre stage facing out onto Basil Street in Knightsbridge. Inside, it’s quite a spectacle with its glittering golden hand-sculpted 21×5 metre chandelier, beckoning every patron to gaze in awe and dine in glamour. Capturing the four heartbeats of Moet: pleasure, prestige, place and philosophy in red, gold, white and black – the vision unravels a shimmering spatial experience with a curving bar, poseur tables, bubble graphics and elegant soft decor with features reminiscing futuristic designers of the past.
Exquisitely crafted in a tropical romance with shades of blushed pink and blissful greens, Pierre’s Bistro & Bar at the InterContinental in Dubai Festival City harbours an iconic dining ambience that’s classy, bold and feminine. Fostering various seating arrangements along an outdoor terrace, lounge dining and a lounge bar, the forum exhibits an interesting mix of subtle shades, floral wall graphics, tropical terrazzo flooring, along with pink flamingos and giant turtles dotting the entrance. Reusing existing high back and wing armchairs, redone in bold print fabric and banquet seating reupholstered in vibrant coloured leather add to the refreshing persona of the bistro.
What’s most breathtaking in the space, is the bar’s floor to ceiling mosaic art. The brooding brown, blooming pink and green bring out the sheen in the bronze metals used in the bar chairs and racks. Overall, the grandeur of the scheme is rendered inescapable through the sheer number of mosiac tiles used and the volume they occupy.
An animated pop of purples, blues and yellows fused with natural plants unfurls the vibrant Trianglo Lounge Bar in Kosovo. Envisioned to attract the youth with a fashionista zeal, the venue echoes a spirited glee through every element of the space. Integrating a captivating ceramic tile called ‘Araldica’ by Italian designer Federico Pepe and the artistic works of local artist Jakup Ferri, weave a distinct character and lively ambience to the space. Illuminated neon strip lights, an ornate fountain, and an interplay of light using glass add to the joint’s mystifying allure.
Here, the bar counter and wall stand out for being translucent and diffusing light from within. If that wasn’t enough to grab attention, and thin led-strips mimicking the silhouette of a cloud crowns the island bar.
Dressed in a rustic theme with exposed brickwork and terracotta hues along with eye-catching massive 7-tiered chandeliers made of inverted ceramic mugs is a restaurant that tells a story of timelessness and craftsmanship. Salobie Restaurant, a modern Georgian cuisine restaurant, occupied in the so-called “stalinka” building erected in 1953 in central Chernihiv, Ukraine, is an eclectic vision that honors its impressive lineage. From leather couches to decorative elements and some tableware seeped in shades of brown, inclines to the terracotta theme, and occupies two floors. ‘Vinyl bar’ in the basement is like a venue within a venue, with a fog machine that creates a chamber-like vibe.
Talk about unique propositions for restaurant bars! Salobie features a low-height bar counter bedecked in cream-coloured ceramic tiles. Right from its rounded, blue rims to the black and white patterned upholstery for the pairing chairs, each design decision taking here deviates from the norm. Unique doesn’t always mean bold, and this bar is a testament to it. Yet another bar in the restaurant leverage a deep, red tone to build on the austere vibe.
Like a Persian palace from the days of yore, Ariana’s Persian Kitchen is a ritzy diner designed to celebrate femininity and the strength of Iranian women, as well as pay homage to Chef Ariana Bundy. The design narrative is driven by the provincial Iranian design language and culture of the historical villas and gardens, configured in elements such as traditional plasters and chamber layouts. Floral embellishments inside curved white ceilings, latticed sun shaders, stained glass windows and screens and furnishings nourished in pastel greens, turquoise blues, desert browns and rosy pinks, all atop an elegant white marble floor, envision a sumptuous atmosphere for the restaurant.
The bar, particularly, is bookended (from ceiling to ground) by bronze elements. The lustre of the mirrored panels above is thoughtfully replaced with cushioned fractals. Details like a tiny alcove outlined in pink ceramics and miniature Dizi pots in green elevate the novelty of the hero feature – a series of traditional Iranian glass blown bottles moonlighting as elegant beer tap channels.
Sculpted in sandy hues, clotted creams and earthy browns, EVA Beach House presents a Tulum-inspired beachfront diner with dreamlike spaces. An exclusive bar impressed with native-style wooden accents, bespoke decorative lighting, wild cacti trailing the walls and floor-to-ceiling windows flooding natural light, along with scenic views that become the perfect backdrop to the beach house. A sprawling terrace with bright white macramé canopy, plush sun loungers and luxe VIP cabanas add to the scintillating spatial zones for patrons to relish and relax.
The bar at Alchemist is falls into the typical ‘masculine and daunting’ aesthetic. But, there’s skill in executing a bar that garners appreciation while being familiar. A strong, navy blue bar counter pairs with a floor to ceiling bar display done in bold. Lighting (and consequent shadows) plays a pivotal role here in imbuing that boisterous yet nonchalant essence. Elements like textured wall paint and a wooden countertop punctuate the lofty presence.
Sculpted in sandy hues, clotted creams and earthy browns, EVA Beach House presents a Tulum-inspired beachfront diner with dreamlike spaces. An exclusive bar impressed with native-style wooden accents, bespoke decorative lighting, wild cacti trailing the walls and floor-to-ceiling windows flooding natural light, along with scenic views that become the perfect backdrop to the beach house. A sprawling terrace with bright white macramé canopy, plush sun loungers and luxe VIP cabanas add to the scintillating spatial zones for patrons to relish and relax.
What one can’t miss here is yet again – the bar. This one at the EVA Beach House has a double layered backdrop that is as fascinating as it is genius. First, the earthy, yet powerful abstract wooden art sculpture begins from the wall and continues its journey onto the ceiling like a dense and determined creeper. Next, consecutive shell-shaped panels in a cement-finish are sandwiched between the wall and bottle display. Finished with a bar in a similar cement finish, this set-up toes the line between ‘less is more’ and ‘more is more’.
Crafted as a cosy and heart-warming abode, Thiptara Restaurant at the Palace Hotel in Downtown Dubai showcases a tactile environment, curated by layers of traditional architecture and luxury. Inspired by the floating markets of Thailand, upon entry one is transported into a world of warmth, intimacy and hospitality. With an organic bar and an astonishing layout connected by arched walkways, the venue invites its guests to mingle and offers a rich harmony of in-house seating options along with an outdoor deck with views to the breathtaking dancing fountain.
The ‘rustic but contemporary’ theme of restaurant extends to its bar as well. Small format tiles. a mosaic countertop and curvy, metallic pendant lights embody a natural oomph. Topping it all is a metal-mesh gambrel roof that reinstates the hut-like charm of Thiptara in the space.
Graced by the mesmerising concept of a peacock, the Waldorf Astoria’s restaurant, Peacock Alley is an exceptional fifth-floor garden foyer lounge and day-to-night F&B space that connects to a large outdoor terrace, a swimming pool, mini golf and a barbeque area. Illustrious and ornate curves echo every detail of this venue offering a unique spatial aura – with winding and bending patterns weaving a playful attraction. Incorporating ingenious metal works that mimic a peacock’s tail to a Victorian European stucco ceiling, along with a patterned parquet floor, colonial-style staircase, dome-shaped metal frames and green trellis on the terrace, bestows a regal dining affair. Additionally, a multitude of textures as well as a spectrum of greens and warm colours, splashes a nostalgic vibe to the entire restaurant.
Though, the bar at Peacock Alley Restaurants takes a contrasting route. The counter itself is (or appears to be) a monolith of grey and white marble. a Magnificent curved staircase in the same material and flooring in the same colour palette joins forces conspire towards a layered, but muted narrative. In this unalloyed expanse, a glazed solid arch backing coffee machines provides a focal point. A few metal and wooden accents here and there accentuate this space.
