Rockwell Group brings "theatricality of dining" to Las Vegas steakhouse

Design studio Rockwell Group has completed the theatre-style interiors of a Korean steakhouse at The Venetian resort in Las Vegas.

Led by James Beard Award-nominated restaurateur Simon Kim, COTE Vegas is the fourth location in the series by Gracious Hospitality Management (GHM), and the first outpost in the American West.

Entrance to a restaurant: an angular tunnel lined with dark stone tiles — Entry to COTE Vegas is via an angular tunnel lined with dark stone tiles

Rockwell Group's aim for the 17,000-square-foot (1,579 square metre) space inside The Venetian on the famous Vegas strip was to lean into the theatrical, over-the-top nature of the city.

Entry to the restaurant is through an angular opening lined with dark stone tiles, with facets that adjust the space from large to small as guests pass the glossy host stand to the doorway.

An oval-shaped bar at the centre of a restaurant, with petal-like ceiling panels overhead — An oval-shaped bar is the focal point, with petal-like ceiling panels overhead

In the main dining space, tables are arranged similarly to an amphitheatre around the central bar, which acts as the "stage".

Behind are a pair of green walls that stretch up from the floor to the tall ceiling, framing a balcony in between that becomes a DJ booth at night.

Restaurant interior viewed from overhead, showing tables are arranged around a bar like an amphitheatre — The tables are arranged around the bar like an amphitheatre

High above the oval-shaped bar, layers of metallic petal-like panels emanate across the ceiling and span over the tables, highlighted by cove lighting that changes colour.

"From the moment guests step through a cinematic gold-and-crimson portal, they're transported into a grand, theatre-inspired dining room that unfurls like a flower – an homage to the COTE emblem – spiraling around a glowing, high-energy central bar," said the COTE team.

Collection of ribbed leather benches and horseshoe-shaped booths surrounding black marbles tables — Ribbed leather benches and horseshoe-shaped booths surround black marble tables

Ribbed leather bench seats and horseshoe-shaped booths surround black marble tables, all of which face the bar and DJ booth.

At the back, trios of booths are tucked into niches lined entirely in gold leaf, creating a opulent sheen around the perimeter.

Tables facing a pair of green walls flank an elevated DJ booth — Behind the bar, a pair of green walls flank an elevated DJ booth

Private dining rooms also circle the space and are elevated like stadium boxes, with windows overlooking the restaurant and bar below.

One features green glossy tiles and teal velvet curtains, while another is decorated with wood panelling and bronze accents.

Wine storage racks are illuminated with red lighting and provide partitions for the bathrooms, which feature green marble basins.

Although this is Rockwell Group's first interior for the COTE brand, the studio's previous work for GHM includes Coqodaq, a Korean fried chicken restaurant in Manhattan.

A private dining room with a long table, green-tiled walls and a window overlooking the restaurant below — Private dining rooms that surround the perimeter are elevated like stadium boxes

"Our collaboration with Simon Kim and Gracious Hospitality has resulted in some of the most rewarding and exciting creative experiences," said Rockwell Group founder David Rockwell.

"We are thrilled to have helped conceive a journey for COTE Vegas diners that alludes to the language and atmosphere of its predecessors but takes an entirely new and unprecedented approach to the theatricality of dining."

A glowing red wine rack forms a partition for a restaurant bathroom, which features green marble basins — Glowing red wine racks form partitions for the bathroom, which feature green marble basins

Las Vegas is renowned as an entertainment capital, with venues including The Sphere and the upcoming "Armadillo" stadium designed by BIG for the Las Vegas Athletics, drawing tourists from around the world.

Other hospitality spaces in the Nevada city include The Pinky Ring cocktail lounge and live music venue at the Bellagio casino, designed by Bruno Mars and Yabu Pushelberg.

The photography is by Michael Kleinberg.

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