WellUrban

Personal reflections on urbanism, urban life and sustainable urban design in Wellington, New Zealand.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Mystery bar number 40

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At the risk of overdoing the boozy theme this week, it's time for another mystery bar. Last week's didn't take long to identify, which is not surprising since it's just opened in a high-profile location. An anonymous commenter identified it as Boss, which has taken over both Diva and the old La Casa Pasta upstairs. Diva closed quite some time ago (last year, I think). The transformation has taken a long, long time: possibly due to the installation of 7 acoustically-isolated karaoke booths upstairs, and partly because the redesign is the work of, ahem, enthusiastic amateurs.

Mystery bar #40 - sofasThis week's mystery bar is much more professional, and yet it still has a decor that is eclectic, verging on the eccentric. The studded leather sofas hint at gentlemen's club conservatism; gaudy chandeliers and shimmering curtains steer more towards grandiose Trumpery; surrealist artworks speak of conspicuous connoisseurship; and a monograph on Gaudí has been left casually on a table to signify that the intended clientele seeks the unconventional in art in architecture. On the other hand, the exterior of the building has an austerity that makes the syncretic oddity within all the more surprising.

Mystery bar #40 - chandelierThe location, in a part of town that has been rapidly improving, could be something really special. The narrow windows emphasise privacy rather than openness, but there are plans for this establishment to take more advantage of the view. As a bar it's fairly unambitious at the moment, with a short (though expensive) wine list and little pretense to be a cocktail bar. But if the expansion plans of its high-profile owner go ahead, this could make a very important contribution to the streetscape and fill a gap in the hospitality map.

5 Comments:

At 12:53 pm, August 28, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

...touche

 
At 1:47 pm, August 29, 2006, Blogger Jules said...

It is the bar of the Museum Hotel. SWANKY!

 
At 4:51 pm, August 29, 2006, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is that "swanky" with a silent "s"?

 
At 7:32 pm, August 29, 2006, Blogger s. said...

[S]wanky or no, can they drop a decent 'tini, Tom?

 
At 11:46 am, August 30, 2006, Blogger Tom said...

Stephen: I didn't try a 'tini, since it didn't have a big spirits selection and it looked like they had the ingredients. This was the lobby bar, though I gather there's another on the 3rd floor that might be more comprehensive.

Maximus: no name required; in fact, I don't think it has a name per se. Remind me to buy you a drink some time!

 

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