Restaurateur Andres Diaz has opened Bar Leone, a two-story cocktail lounge in Manhattan’s Soho neighborhood that brings together artful drinks, shared plates, a rotating art program, and two distinctly designed spaces.
Diaz spent two years working with design firm BOND to reimagine the 4,800-square-foot space, dividing it into contrasting upstairs and downstairs environments. The result is a venue that shifts in mood and function depending on the floor—and the hour.
An elevated martini lounge upstairs
Upstairs, a midcentury-influenced martini lounge is layered in Sapele wood, corduroy velvet, and red travertine, lending the space a warm, tactile character. It also doubles as an intimate gallery, with a lighting scheme designed to draw attention to the rotating artwork.
A late-night disco room downstairs
The mood takes a decidedly different turn downstairs. Drawing on the energy of 1970s downtown New York, the lower level envelops guests in red velvet wallpaper, vinyl banquettes, and a red lacquer-and-chrome bar. The more theatrical setting lends itself to late-night cocktails and dancing.
Here, the gallery concept takes on a nocturnal character, transforming the room into a setting for cocktail parties, private dinners, art collection launches, and other after-hours gatherings.
Art and furniture at Bar Leone
Furniture throughout Bar Leone was designed and fabricated in collaboration with Tommaso Spinzi. Lighting design comes courtesy of Map Studio, with custom fixtures developed by BOND in partnership with Gantri.
Created in collaboration with galleries, curators, and artists, the venue’s rotating art program will be refreshed every three to four months. The installations create a visual thread between the upstairs gallery-lounge and downstairs disco room, giving returning guests something new to discover throughout the year.
