New York’s West Village has welcomed Love Thy Neighbor, a 40-seat all-day bar and dining concept that gives new meaning to community through hospitality.
Brought to life by bartender and restaurateur Shigefumi Kabashima and chef Elyas Popa, the intimate venue transitions from a sunlit daytime café to an atmospheric evening cocktail destination. At its core, the space is a celebration of the queer community and the joys of chosen family, anchored by a design ethos that embraces fluidity and rejects rigid boundaries.
“The idea of ‘no straight lines’ became a guiding principle for us,” says Kabashima. “It reflects not only the design of the space, but also how we think about hospitality: fluid, open, and without boundaries. We want guests to feel a sense of freedom here, both in how they experience the space and how they connect with others.”
A hand-shaped environment
Collaborating with Jun Qin of Wild Form Design Studio, the founders stripped down traditional church architecture to create a contemporary environment. Vaulted archways and curved, sculpted booths envelop guests in a comforting embrace, grounded by a warm, monochromatic beige palette inspired by sand and earth.
“We wanted the entire space to feel as though it was sculpted rather than conventionally assembled, so many of the walls, seating areas, ceilings, and curved transitions were created through hand-shaped cement work,” explains Qin. “The microcement surface finish helps unify the entire environment visually, while also preserving a soft and natural texture throughout the space.”
Rather than relying on one dramatic focal point, the architecture relies on cohesive, custom-designed elements. From the niches to the lighting details, the organic curves create a calming, emotional experience.
Details to discover at Love Thy Neighbor
Throughout the space are details that honor history and community. A single brick from the original Stonewall Inn is embedded within the bar, while a quote from late activist Marsha P. Johnson, which reads “No Pride For Some of Us Without Liberation For All of Us,” is set into the floor at the entrance.
“My goal with the space was to embrace our history, paying respect to the literal bricks laid down by our neighbors like the Stonewall Inn, and to create a space that felt warm, embracing, and inclusive,” notes Popa. “Hence, the highlighted brick in the wall at the end of the bar, pulled from Stonewall. A cheeky homage to our shared history.”
He continues: “In design, I love when things are clandestine, objects are hidden and only revealed to those who know where to look. This whole bar is an exercise in restraint and subtlety. At the end of the day, we really wanted to create a space that feels transportive, like as soon as you step into the restaurant you feel like you aren’t in New York anymore—even for just a moment.”
