From Portland to Vancouver, a trio of eclectic interiors invites elevated drinking and dining experiences.
Little Neon Taco
While many Pacific Northwest restaurants play to their surroundings with moodier earth tones and rustic furnishings, the design of Little Neon Taco in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood (1011 Boren Ave.) transports patrons to a warmer climate with bright white walls and bold color complementing its Mexican-inflected menu. Chef/owner Monica Dimas purchased the space to give her former pop-up a permanent home. Photos of old plaster grottos in Mexico inspired Tamara Codor and Sterling Voss of Codor Design to craft the eatery’s focal point, a brightly lit corner bar, in white plaster with built-in block shelves for a lively mix of traditional decor and useful storage. The lighting overhead—large globes suspended from sound-dampening rosettes—offers a beautiful solution to a common problem. littleneontaco.com
Abigail Hall
Downtown Portland’s 20th-century Woodlark Building and the Cornelius Hotel have been combined to create The Woodlark Hotel. In addition to 150 guest rooms, the hotel boasts an elegant cocktail bar, Abigail Hall (813 SW Alder St.). In line with owner Jennifer Quist of Holler Hospitality’s vision for a comfortable hangout with a nod to women’s history, Smith Hanes Studio modeled its design after the Cornelius Hotel’s original lounge: a ladies’ reception hall with a pink and green palette. The original penny tile floors and coffered ceiling were replicated in the space, where hand-painted wallpaper by Michael Paulus begins at the bar and borders velvet barstools, an emerald tiled fireplace, curved booths and marble tables. Quist named the bar after women’s suffrage activist Abigail Scott Duniway. abigailhallpdx.com
Blossom Dim Sum & Grill
Eric Yang, former general manager of acclaimed contemporary Chinese restaurant Mott 32, pays homage to Vancouver’s cultural diversity with his new 6,000-square-foot East-meets-West eatery Blossom Dim Sum & Grill (808 Bute St.). The stylish spot’s design certainly looks the part: a vibrant mix of Asian-influenced decor such as tufted velvet banquettes, a Chinese parasol-themed installation and an eye-catching mural of oversize cherry blossoms by local artist Tyler Toews. “Vancouver is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, and we wanted to bring this to life under one roof,” says Yang. blossomdimsum.com
