Apothecary Lounge, our latest hospitality project, is now open in Wrigleyville. The moody cocktail bar occupies the ground floor of a three-story mixed-use building, in a space that was previously a sushi restaurant. This was a complete gut renovation of the interior and exterior, transforming the existing restaurant through a cocktail bar design that reshaped the space for its new use.
Cocktail Bar Design Through Adaptive Reuse
The lounge draws its inspiration from our client’s background as a practicing pharmacist and longtime craft cocktail enthusiast. That concept shaped the vibe without ever crossing into theme restaurant territory. Housemade infusions, medicinal-inspired cocktails, and elevated bar food all reinforce the brand on the menu, while the architecture supports the space’s identity.
Good cocktail bar design starts with understanding what is already there. Instead of looking at the existing building as a blank slate, we used its original materials and structure as part of the design.
We didn’t want to erase the building’s character. We wanted to reveal it by peeling back layers of drywall to expose the brick and stripping off the faux-stone exterior facade, which had nothing to do with the structure underneath.
The existing restaurant space was a bit grimy, so we removed all the equipment and materials and gave it a proper power-wash bath. The exposed brick adds warmth and texture inside, while a new storefront modernizes the exterior.
Chicago Cocktail Bar Storefront and Facade Design
We removed the dated faux stone cladding and replaced it with a new storefront system. Part of that system is functional as well as visual. The storefront includes an operable folding section that allows the bar’s Still lounge area to open to the street in warmer weather.
For hospitality projects, storefront design is an important part of cocktail bar design and the overall guest experience. The facade extends the cocktail lounge experience to the street, creating a more direct connection between the interior and Wrigleyville.
Exposed Chicago Common Brick and Venetian Plaster
After removing the layers of previous construction, we found the original Chicago Common brick underneath. That brick became one of the primary interior design elements, adding texture and bringing a piece of Chicago history into the lounge. Cove lighting along the top edge of the brick adds warmth and brightness without covering up the texture we worked to reveal.
To complement the masonry, we chose artisan Venetian plaster for the back bar. Plaster easily adapts to curves and complex geometry, which made it the right choice for a back bar shape that needed to move and flex rather than sit as a flat panel.
The combination of exposed masonry and hand-applied plaster gives the cocktail lounge a material palette that feels industrial and refined.
Interior Design for an Intimate Cocktail Lounge
We designed the interior around the guest experience, layering materials, lighting, and seating to create an intimate atmosphere with the warmth and character of a lounge.
The cocktail lounge design aims for an industrial, lounge-like feel built on natural textures. Plaster, cold-rolled steel, and Venetian plaster convey an industrial feel, while green paint and botanical wallpaper soften things and introduce color and patterns.
The custom botanical wallpaper extends the apothecary concept throughout the space, appearing in both the bar and the bathroom to create a visual connection. We designed the Still Room around the guest experience, pairing the wallpaper with green velvet drapery that absorbs sound and adds texture and visual weight.
The Still Lounge: A More Intimate Space Within the Bar
In larger 19th-century homes, homeowners often designated a room for preparing preserves, teas, herbal remedies, and household cordials. They called this space the Still Room, a precursor to the contemporary pantry.
At Apothecary, that history informs the Still Room Lounge, a private seating area positioned between the bar and the street. A “sofa-in-the-round” anchors the space, with additional seating arranged to keep the room flexible for different uses and group sizes.
Creating smaller zones within a cocktail lounge can help establish a sense of intimacy while allowing the overall space to accommodate different types of guests and experiences.
Historical imagery informed the design details throughout the space
Custom Bar Design and Apothecary-Inspired Details
The back bar anchors the room. We shaped it around the silhouettes of the bottles it displays, using plaster for the structure and hot-rolled carbon steel for the bottle shelving, with mirrors set behind the shelves to deepen the composition.
We topped the bar with quartz and wrapped the bar front in fluted ceramic tile, a detail inspired by the display counters found in 1890s apothecary shops. These historical references remain intentionally subtle. Instead of recreating a historic pharmacy, the cocktail bar design translates those references into contemporary materials and detailing.
Layered lighting creates an intimate, lounge-like atmosphere, with pools of light that shape the bar and seating areas
Opposite the bar, a custom leather banquette runs the length of the back wall. It curves at one end to accommodate a larger round table, using the seating shape to direct guests back toward the bar.
Flooring throughout combines light oak wood and ceramic tile, marking the transition between the main bar and the Still Lounge.
A floating, wall-mounted hostess stand built from solid walnut greets guests near the entry. It is a small custom piece, but one that sets the tone before anyone reaches the bar.
A view into the kitchen offers a glimpse of the work behind the bar’s food program without fully exposing the kitchen. We retained an existing opening in the masonry and fitted it with a custom stainless-steel frame and shelf, creating a focused view into the food-preparation area.
A Chicago Hospitality Project from Architecture Through Construction
Apothecary Lounge is an example of the kind of cocktail bar design and hospitality renovation where architecture, interior design, and construction need to work together from the beginning.
As the architect, builder, and interior designer, we approached the project as a single, integrated design-and-construction process. That meant we could consider decisions about materials, custom millwork, lighting, storefront design, bar construction, and interior finishes together.
For an existing commercial space, that coordination is particularly important. Renovating an existing restaurant or bar often means uncovering unexpected conditions, adapting the design to an existing structure, and finding opportunities within what is already there. At Apothecary Lounge, those existing conditions became part of the design rather than something to hide.
Working in an existing commercial space requires close coordination between design and construction. Restaurant and bar renovations often uncover conditions not visible in the drawings, and the existing structure may not support its new use. At Apothecary, we worked with those conditions and incorporated them into the design.
Existing Conditions | Demo
Frequently Asked Questions About Cocktail Bar Design
What should be considered when designing a cocktail bar?
Cocktail bar design should balance the guest experience with the business’s operational needs. Important considerations include bar layout, customer circulation, seating, lighting, acoustics, kitchen and service areas, storage, plumbing, equipment, accessibility, and the overall atmosphere. The design should also reflect the bar’s identity while working within the constraints of the existing building.
Can an existing restaurant be converted into a cocktail bar?
Yes. Existing restaurants can often be adapted for new hospitality uses, depending on the building, infrastructure, zoning, code requirements, and proposed program. At Apothecary Lounge, we transformed a former sushi restaurant through a complete interior and exterior gut renovation, using existing elements such as the original Chicago Common brick in the new cocktail bar design.
What makes a successful cocktail lounge design?
Successful cocktail lounge design creates an atmosphere that encourages guests to stay. Lighting, seating, acoustics, materials, circulation, and the relationship between the bar and surrounding spaces all contribute to the experience. Smaller seating zones, ambient and accent lighting, comfortable furniture, and tactile materials can help create the intimate atmosphere often associated with cocktail lounges.
Do I need an architect for a bar renovation in Chicago?
Many bar and restaurant renovations involve architectural, building code, accessibility, life-safety, zoning, and permitting requirements that benefit from an architect’s involvement. An architect can also coordinate the interior design and construction requirements so that the finished space is both visually compelling and practical to build.
How much does a cocktail bar renovation cost?
The cost of a cocktail bar renovation varies significantly depending on the size and condition of the existing space, the extent of structural and mechanical work, kitchen and bar equipment, finishes, custom millwork, furniture, and other project requirements. A complete gut renovation, like Apothecary Lounge, will have different costs and considerations than a lighter interior renovation.
Why hire an architect, interior designer, and builder for a hospitality project?
Having architecture, interior design, and construction expertise involved together allows design decisions to be considered alongside budget, schedule, materials, and constructability. This integrated approach can be particularly valuable when renovating an existing commercial space, where unexpected conditions often emerge during construction. For Apothecary Lounge, we were the architect, builder, and interior designer throughout the project.
