BAR IRIS

When Michelin-celebrated chef David Yoshimura asked us to redesign his cocktail and bites bar, Bar Iris, we were delighted – the previous restaurant, La Folie Lounge (in business there for 30 years before the owner retired!), had been one of Noz’s beloved haunts when she moved to San Francisco in 2008! Having enjoyed many corners of this space over the years, it was an honor to bring to life Chef David’s vision of a sexy, comfortable lounge with touches of Japanese woodwork styling to set off the vibe.

The centerpiece of our design is the custom slatted bar wall that turns dimensional onto the ceiling, representing the undulating texture of the ocean’s surface under a light breeze. While we retained the moody monochromatic minimalism of Chef’s original aesthetic, we operationally transformed the experience by removing the mismatch chairs and small side tables, and replacing them with a wrap-around banquette, uniform oversized dining chairs, and small dining tables –all of which allow the team modularity for varying party sizes, and more surface area to place cocktails and dishes. In the Nisei restroom nextdoor, we covered the walls in gold Sayagata, executed by Caroline Lizarraga. It has been an absolute thrill, and in some ways a “homecoming” for Noz, to have been a part of this chapter of Bar Iris at 2310 Polk St.

Bar Iris has been featured in 7x7.

Photos by Adahlia Cole Photography; construction by YW Builders.