Vandell

​​Vandell reimagines a former restaurant space as an intimate, 800-square-foot cocktail bar designed to function as a true neighborhood “third place” in Los Feliz. Conceived in collaboration with AERO COLLECTIVE, the layout unfolds as a sequence of layered rooms that balance energy and intimacy: a 12-seat central bar anchors the main room, a sunlit banquette lounge opens toward the street, and a middle room with tailored booths greets guests just inside the entry.

A secluded back room—evoking the atmosphere of a Japanese whisky bar—extends the experience with its own well and seating, allowing the compact footprint to flex between everyday use and private gatherings. Large front windows and a sage green façade establish a strong street presence, inviting passersby in and reinforcing the bar’s role within the neighborhood fabric.

Material choices root the space in a timeless hospitality language. Tiled floors, a 30-foot soapstone bar, and wood-and-leather booths reference 1930s-era cocktail culture while maintaining a contemporary restraint. A hand-painted neighborhood map mural and park scenes by a local artist anchor the interior in its Los Feliz context, transforming blank walls into moments of storytelling and place-making. Through careful spatial sequencing, durable materials, and subtle historic cues, the design succeeds in creating a warm, layered environment that feels both transportive and unmistakably local.