The canals of Venice abound across Va Bene Cicchetti, a new cocktail bar in Warsaw, Poland. Housed within a sprawling Socialist Realist housing estate from the 1950s, the concept was crafted by locally based Noke Architects to immerse guests in an homage to the City of Water.
“Venice is a temple of art—both contemporary and Renaissance. We wanted to create a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas, a meeting point for the worlds of architecture, culture, and art,” says Noke partner and architect Piotr Maciaszek. “You could not wish for more in this cozy corner of the old socialist buildings next to a beautiful relief.”
An archway clad with antique mirrors heralds guests along to a deep red travertine bar that features a bar face is hollowed out to accommodate drink coolers. Notes of red and color nod to the Venetian flag, while inviting seafoam hues adorn the floor, skirting tiles, and seating bases to channel the floodwaters of the city. Custom lamps comprising artisan glass illuminate designer furniture, including a table fashioned to resemble Venetian posts emerging from the canals.
Black and white stripes distinguish the bathrooms with a nod to gondolier uniforms beneath red ceilings. Outfitted with a range of diverse shapes, colors, and textures, Va Bene Cicchetti also employs a subtle mosaic as one of its main focal points, radiating the palette’s signature red and green hues. The Lion of Venice is another muse for the design, appearing as a logotype in artistic neon signage of large brass doorknobs.
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