Rupee Bar, Seattle

Owners Joe Sundberg, Rachel Johnson, and Patrick Thalasinos opened their second restaurant, Rupee Bar, in a small neighborhood street in Seattle. Rupee Bar, a follow up to the trio’s well-regarded restaurant Manolin, which was also designed in collaboration with Heliotrope Architects. Inspired by the owners’ journeys to South Asia, Rupee Bar features a menu of Indian and Sri Lankan-inspired food and cocktails.

The 700-square-foot intimate space seats 26 and brings two architectural gestures together to set the tone – colour and warm materiality. A vibrant, peacock green is used to visually immerse guests within the setting and mentally transport them away from the typical grey skies of Seattle. A layer of warmth is added with natural materials, such as wood and hand-crafted objects. Oregon walnut was chosen for its depth of colour and richness. It monolithically tops the nine seat bar and wraps the bar casework, adding a subtle nod of the Pacific Northwest. Polished brass is used for trim elements and combined with leather for stool seating, while Indian clay tiles and slatted pendant lights add a further layer of visual interest. All these elements coalesce to create a holistic experience that accompanies the aromatic dishes and spiced cocktails.