Compose Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge | NYC
A New York City restaurant and cocktail lounge designed for an intimate, interactive dining experience within just 600 square feet. Caseworks’ design features an undulating steel wall, mirrored wood ceiling and custom glass racks, creating a dynamic backdrop for exceptional food and drinks.
Photos by Katie Sokoler
Concept and Design
When the client asked us to design a bar in a compact 600-square-foot space, conventional solutions felt limiting. Early programming expanded the brief to include food service, resulting in a full-service kitchen capable of preparing gourmet meals. Inspired by the small footprint, we created an environment where the chef is both “on display” and actively interacting with guests.
The design centers on a horseshoe-shaped bar seating 15, fostering direct engagement between mixologists, the chef, and patrons. A single-seating-per-evening concept enhances exclusivity, supports a multi-course dining experience, and allows guests to engage with each other as much or as little as they wish.
Despite the limited space, the efficient layout enhances employee productivity while maintaining comfort. Custom glass racks above the bar store glassware, bottles, and integrated lighting, while a continuous ice trough keeps fruit, garnishes, and beverages within reach. A coffered mirrored ceiling and wall mirrors expand the visual space, reflecting the refurbished antique entry door and a custom steel wall that separates the bar from the lobby.
Materials balance sustainability and elegance: wood paneling and flooring, leather seating, granite surfaces, and stainless steel and glass kitchen equipment. The back kitchen wall, visible to guests, features glass tile, as do the fully accessible restrooms.
Lighting is minimal yet purposeful. Low-voltage fixtures illuminate the bar, wall sconces enhance ambiance, and task lighting in the kitchen supports functionality without overpowering the dining area. Compact fluorescent mirrors and indirect coves light the restrooms. A new high-efficiency HVAC system, including a custom kitchen exhaust hood, ensures comfort, while water-saving fixtures promote sustainability.
By balancing efficiency, comfort, and engagement, the design transforms spatial constraints into an opportunity, delivering elevated chef/guest interaction, exceptional dining experiences, and optimized employee performance.
