Soft Focus: Definitive Proof that Bars and Restaurants Look Better in Low Light

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Millennials and Gen Z have made one thing very clear: nobody wants to sit under the big ceiling light (informally known as just “the big light”). The second it switches on, the atmosphere disappears. (It’s even worse when the bulb is LED.)

In dim lighting, however, everything changes. Conversations feel softer, faces look warmer, and even an ordinary dinner feels intentional. Low light slows the pace of a room and gives people permission to settle in.

To celebrate that vibe, this collection spotlights restaurants and bars that know the power of dim light. Without further ado, here are five places where lighting takes center stage, shaping atmosphere, emotion and every quiet moment in between.

Neskromniy Wine Bar

By 19 Buro, Kharkiv, Ukraine

Tucked beneath the city streets of Kharkiv, this intimate wine bar unfolds beneath vaulted brick ceilings that have witnessed centuries. The preserved masonry gives the space a sense of quiet permanence, while soft, amber-toned lighting grazes the rough surface, deepening its warmth. Modern metal and wood furnishings introduce a clean counterpoint, keeping the atmosphere refined yet grounded. At the center, a polished stainless-steel bar reflects the muted glow, creating subtle movement and shimmer. The effect is calm and cinematic, a space made for slow conversations, where light, textures and material come together to create an atmosphere that lingers long after the last glass is poured.

Le PasSage

By Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, Dallas, Texas

Located along the Katy Trail, Le PasSage transforms dining into a sensory voyage. Inspired by the Orient Express, the restaurant layers rich textures, deep colors and subtle lighting to evoke a feeling of quiet sophistication. The Cherry Blossom Bar glows in soft reds and ambers, creating a cocoon-like space that invites unhurried conversation. In the main dining room, warm wood panels and plush seating reflect the soft gleam of table lamps, recalling the intimacy of a vintage train carriage. Every corner feels deliberate and atmospheric, where light guides the experience as much as the design itself, immersing guests in an elegant rhythm of shadow and stillness.

KINKALLY restaurant & bar KINKY

By DA bureau, London, United Kingdom

Kinkally unfolds as a dual experience: a refined Georgian-Asian restaurant above and a daring, futuristic bar below. The ground floor feels tactile and grounded, with warm lighting brushing against wood, stone and metal surfaces. Shadows from suspended branches ripple across the space, evoking nature and craftsmanship. Descending into Kinky Bar, the tone shifts dramatically. Stainless steel walls, saturated color and bold lighting transform the basement into a surreal capsule where reflections blur edges and time. The contrast between soft glow and sharp sheen defines the project’s rhythm, offering two distinct moods that flow from quiet intimacy to electric allure.

The Realm of Cognac – Hennessy Store

By MO Studio, Ningbo, China

This Hennessy bar in Ningbo was designed as an immersive retail and tasting space that reflects the brand’s long tradition of craftsmanship and patience. The interior uses warm amber lighting and textured materials to echo the color and character of cognac. Light filters through narrow wall openings, creating soft highlights on the stone and resin surfaces and giving the room a quiet sense of depth. Metal lines across the floor reference the passage of time, inspired by the rhythm of distillation and the changing seasons. Every detail, from the bar counter to the display shelves, was designed to convey care and precision, turning a commercial space into a calm, sensory experience.

The View

By Rockwell Group, New York City, New York

Popular Choice Winner, 13th Annual +Awards, Restaurants (L > 1000 sq ft)

Perched atop the New York Marriott Marquis, The View by Rockwell Group revives the city’s only rotating restaurant with cinematic flair. High above Times Square, the interior unfolds as a moving panorama framed by rich textures, theatrical color and a play of shimmer and shadow. Velvet drapery in deep blues and reds softens the metallic tones of the bar, while mirrored surfaces catch fragments of the skyline as the room revolves. Every seat becomes a shifting stage, illuminated by warm, low light that changes with the city’s glow outside. The design feels timeless and theatrical, a setting where architecture, light and motion turn dining into a constantly unfolding performance.