Every inch of this intimate 40-cover spot at The Berkeley hotel in London has been so designed that a leisurely tipple enjoyed here feels almost otherworldly.
The brainchild of Irish interior architect Bryan O’Sullivan, key features include a half-moon marble bar, a hideaway corner called The Snug, and a terrace. Its glass doors open out onto a space with four seats overlooking nearby St Paul’s Knightsbridge church.
Arguably the most iconic space is The Snug, a lounge set away from the main bar that seats up to nine. One’s eye is immediately drawn to the mural of female faces with worldly and enigmatic expressions floating between crisscrossing lines. Inspired by the snug spaces in old public houses reserved for women to gather for a gossip or to share secrets, it is the work of American painter TM Davy, and based on a concept he developed with O’Sullivan.
Art Deco Furnishing
The old-world charm of the indoor space is not only evoked by its Art Deco-esque furnishings – from the globe table lamps and frosted glass sconces to the marble countertops and inlaid floors – but also in the plain fact that each element is bespoke and custom-made for the establishment.
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Half Moon Bar
The half-moon bar features a carved limestone front and Belgian Bluestone countertop.
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Walnut Wood Panels
The 300-year-old walnut wood panels – obtained from a single, storm-felled tree in Fulbeck Estate, Lincolnshire – lining its entire length are also central to the effect. The delicate finish of their complex and beautiful grain produces a warmth that cocoons the space.
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Plaster Frieze
Most endearingly, the tale of this tree and its former home in Fulbeck Estate is captured in the plaster frieze that runs above the walnut panels. Even the soft corals, creams and pinks of the furnishings were selected to complement the richness of the wood.
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The Berkeley Bar & Terrace
The first hospitality project by Bryan’s studio, The Berkeley Bar & Terrace has the design world thrilled. Of course, we’ll be having tipple or two at the bar while patiently anticipating the next best thing they’re working on.
The Berkeley Bar & Terrace is located at The Berkeley Hotel, Wilton Place, Knightsbridge, London SW1X7RL, United Kingdom.
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