Inside New York’s Park South Hotel, Stone & Soil has debuted as a new cocktail bar that blends Japanese bartending traditions with Japandi interiors.
The concept is part of JK Park Hospitality—founded by industry veterans Jimmy Rizvi, cofounder of Bungalow and GupShup, and Kanvar Singh, founder of Elsie Rooftop and Elsie Penthouse—which oversees the hotel’s F&B programming.
Conceived by Rizvi and Singh alongside Hirotomo Akutsu (formerly of Bar Trench in Tokyo) and Rio Azmee (formerly of Bar Moga and Morimoto), the bar centers on precision and sustainability, with a guest experience that draws from omotenashi, the Japanese philosophy of wholehearted hospitality.
Clean, calming lines inside Stone & Soil
Located a few steps below street level, the bar is tucked behind a traditional Kyoto-inspired façade that quietly signals its point of departure. Interior designer Shaila Rizvi, also behind Bungalow and GupShup, looked to Japandi principles—a fusion of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality—to shape the space. Clean lines and natural materials are paired against a restrained palette to create a calming atmosphere.
At the front of the space, an elevated platform features dark blue banquette seating paired with low lounge tables, set against an exposed brick wall original to the building. While the brick once ran the length of the interiors, portions were enclosed in the main dining room to give way to a textured wave mural. Rendered in clay limestone, the installation adds depth and movement, bringing a sense of movement and texture to the otherwise restrained palette.
A focus on craftsmanship
Notably, no plastic or artificial materials were used throughout the bar.
All wood elements are fashioned from recycled wood imported from Japan, including the liquor shelving, bar face, and fluted ceiling millwork. The latter, conceived to discreetly conceal HVAC systems, was installed as one continuous piece. When a gap was discovered between the millwork and the existing ceiling, the team introduced a dropped false ceiling with recessed lighting—an adjustment that ultimately heightened the sense of intimacy and layered glow.
Behind the bar, the liquor display is divided into three distinct niches to avoid visual clutter. Each section acts as a composed vignette—among them is an imitation window crafted from backlit origami paper, creating the illusion of a softly illuminated exterior view. Custom pendant lanterns cast warm, diffused light over bespoke bar seating, too.
Handcrafted details drive the design narrative. Paint behind the bar was applied entirely by hand without brushes, lending subtle texture. Seaweed curtains sourced from Japan create a soft partition between the bar and kitchen, and custom bar stools are precisely arched for ergonomic comfort.
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