André Fu Studio‘s latest project, and his first hospitality project in the USA, is an elegant bar discreetly located in the lobby of The Maybourne Beverly Hills hotel.
Like Maybourne Hotel Group’s many other award-winning bars, this just-opened Maybourne bar promises to bring the quintessential Maybourne cocktail experience from Europe to the West Coast, and is sure to become a destination in Beverly Hills for design aficionados and cocktail connoisseurs alike.
“I have had the pleasure of collaborating with Maybourne Hotel Group extensively over the past 10 years and I am excited to translate Paddy McKillen’s personal vision into reality with their very first north American property,” comments designer, André Fu. “The Maybourne Beverly Hills bar embraces a truly authentic spirit of hospitality, reimagined into a setting of contemporary opulence. I am delighted to be part of the group’s ongoing journey, creating the very best of hospitality experiences.”
As with all his projects for Maybourne, from The Maybourne Riviera in the south of France to a series of luxury suites at The Berkeley hotel London, André has sought to unite and celebrate different cultures in his design for the bar, introducing Art Deco-inspired geometric patterns alongside the vibrant colours of the Californian landscape.
High bar stools in Yves Klein blue and bold tangerine perch against a black and white Art Deco canvas evoking a classic European glamour. Walls of burr walnut panelling in charcoal grey and ivory complement the black and white Hollywood photography of Mary McCartney, while Art Deco style lamps cast a soft and welcoming light.
Inspired by the idea of creating a ‘hidden jewel’ within the heart of the hotel, André has anchored the space with a bar carved from solid Turkish silver onyx and accented with polished nickel. This expression of tactility and authenticity has been a signature of André’s work, seen in many of his hotel and restaurant projects.
Intricate polished nickel metal frames adorn the back bar that appears to intertwine in-between the curation of liquor on display, evoking a cascading vignette. The fixture is also magically lit to create a seductive glow, accentuating the sense of glamour.
Handmade sheer panels by French artisan Pietro Seminelli adorn the backdrop of the bar’s façade, arranged in intricate hand-made pleated geometric patterns that bring a lightness and elegance to the room. The undertone of precious materials carries over to the intricate mosaic floor featuring white Terrazzo, set alongside silver Emperador marble. The bespoke furniture, crafted in solid walnut, evokes a whimsical play of geometry and art deco vignette.
The Maybourne Bar showcases a cocktail menu filled with seasonal interpretations of classic drinks, all handcrafted by award-winning Head Mixologist Chris Amirault, whose résumé includes West Hollywood’s Fiscal Agent and Tim Hollingsworth’s Otium.
“Maybourne Hotel Group is known the world over for its legendary bars,” says Eugene Leonard, General Manager of The Maybourne Beverly Hills. “From exceptional service and welcoming interiors, to exquisite drinks, nothing is more important to us than creating a convivial, inviting atmosphere for our guests. Our new bar at The Maybourne Beverly Hills builds on that great legacy of hospitality, celebrating a meeting of Californian spirit with European style.”