Luxury cocktails in a sustainable bar in the heart of London? Yes, please!
Nestled within the city’s vibrant Notting Hill neighborhood is Viajante87, a high-end, eco-friendly cocktail bar whose design won a prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Award in 2023.
The brain behind the design? Manuela Hamilford, founder of Hamilford Design. Her London-based firm creates luxury residential and commercial interiors all over the world.
For this project, though, she kept things a little closer to home with Viajante87 being right in the firm’s backyard.
The Bar
As we enter the main bar area, we see a gently backlit bottle wall, giving patrons a view to admire while they select their beverage for the night. Made from recycled glass, the bar boasts a sleek design with rich black and gold tones.
Blue velvet stools hug the bar, their plush material and metal frame adding a quiet elegance to the space, as well as a comfortable seating option for guests.
“Sustainability is at the heart of the design,” Manuela says. The interior of the space features carved cork walls imported from Portugal, reflecting its “zero-waste green ethos.”
Cork is prized for its sustainable harvesting process, which doesn’t harm cork trees thanks to their ability to regenerate their bark (a process spanning on average between nine and twelve years).
The cork wall’s subtle tonal variations and earthy texture create a laid-back yet elevated feeling, its natural origins a unique find in the heart of the bustling city.
The Artwork
Throughout the bar, you’ll find work by Mexican artist Oms Rocha, whose use of circular shapes and rugged, naturalistic patterns bring a “Pan-Pacific vibe” to the space.
The vivid piece above contrasts with his typical earth-inspired palette, a pop of royal blue amidst the dark neutral interior.
Here, Oms’ work is framed by an arched ceiling, lights illuminating both ceiling and artwork to create an intriguing focal point that draws the viewer with an air of mystery and sophistication.
The Seating
The emphasis on sustainability continues in the seating area, where repurposed furniture is arranged in a way that encourages gathering while making bar-goers feel at home.
Comfort, both in ambiance and in physicality, takes priority. Velvet stools offer plenty of cozy spots for casual cocktail sipping, while low, warm lighting creates a relaxed atmosphere.
Manuela designed the lighting to make the interior feel like a “dark hideaway” while contributing to a “subterranean feel.”
The bar’s dark interior and myriad of “secluded hidden corners” create a feeling of secrecy and separation from the outside world – much like that of a speakeasy.
Related: Breaking Down What ACTUALLY Makes Cork Decor So Sustainable
Credits
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We hope you enjoyed this tour of Viajante87, a sustainable cocktail bar in London!
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