Originally designed by our Studio in 2007, Starlite began as a true design/build project, hand-crafted by the firm’s principals as a steakhouse lounge that evoked the glamour of the Rat Pack era while blending influences from John Lautner’s organic architecture, the stalactites of Carlsbad Caverns, Star Wars set design, 1970s Italian Futurism, and Hitchcock’s North by Northwest.
Sixteen years later, our studio revisited their creation, carrying forward the DNA of the original concept while elevating it into a more theatrical expression of space. Reimagining a beloved institution with a fiercely loyal clientele, the designers faced the challenge of evolving the concept without compromising its soul. They preserved the spirit and details that made Starlite iconic while introducing a new sense of grandeur and refinement befitting the present moment.
The refreshed Starlite pairs raw, imposing rock walls with a softer, tactile palette of rich fabrics and custom furnishings, creating tension between ruggedness and luxury that amplifies the drama of the space. At its center, a sculptural hexagonal bar in travertine and wood anchors the room beneath a chandelier reminiscent of a starry constellation, nodding both to the bar’s name and its cinematic inspirations. Warm tones of copper, walnut, and velvet evoke grounded luxury, while a mirrored ceiling deepens the subterranean, cave-like ambiance and enhances the guest’s visual experience.
Every element, from materials to lighting, was designed to preserve the bar’s original character while introducing it anew in a more glamorous and immersive form. The result is both familiar and transformative. Patrons recognize the spirit of the original Starlite, yet encounter a revitalized version that feels cinematic, sensual, and modern.
Balancing nostalgia and innovation, our studio reinterprets its earlier vision with maturity and boldness. The reborn Starlite honors its past while embracing evolution, emerging as a dreamlike lounge that captures the mystique of midcentury modern glamour, now rendered with richer texture, greater sophistication, and an unmistakable sense of drama.