Honouring The Setai Hotel‘s Art Deco heritage while infusing it with new warmth, Jo’s Bar has been imagined by Miami-based Saladino Design Studios, the firm also behind the hotel’s Japón, recently named one of the 16 most beautiful restaurants in the world by Prix Versailles. Named in tribute to owner Joe Nakash, it features a sculptural back bar of ‘floating’ resin blocks embedded with gold leaf glows behind brass-edged glass shelves, while the bar itself is anchored in Rosso Levanto stone with a bamboo-inspired relief and rounded edges. Located between Jaya and Japón, and overlooking the hotel’s central courtyard, Jo’s Bar serves as a natural gathering point within the iconic lobby. Presided over by a team including Sean Saladino, Nasly Senior, Ricardo Fernandez and Chris Parra, here, they discuss the standout features of the space.

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What were the primary influences for the design?

Primarily, it was the feel of The Setai itself. The hotel has a strong and legendary identity, with its Art Deco history and Asian influences. From the beginning, we knew Jo’s Bar needed to feel connected to that story without leaning too heavily into any one design language. Because of its location within the hotel, we really saw the bar as a transition space. The design team wanted to find the right balance between subtle references to Asian influence and a more timeless, contemporary approach that could connect naturally with the spaces around it. We also wanted it to complement Japon, the adjacent restaurant that we’ve just finished. The palette of deep burgundy, warm metals, natural stone, layered lighting and rich textures came from that idea. There are references to the hotel throughout, but they are intentionally subtle rather than literal.

What are the venue’s standout features and why?

The back panel of the bar is the element that immediately draws you in. We designed and built it with textured resin blocks embedded with 24k gold leaf, elongated glass shelves and brushed brass framing. The materials catch the light beautifully and give the bar a warm glow, particularly in the evening. Rosso Levanto stone was also very important to the design. Its deep burgundy colour and natural white veining brought richness and character to the space while still feeling timeless. Throughout the bar, there are details that reveal themselves gradually, including a custom wine tower, antique-mirrored columns, the framed entrance archway, subtle bamboo-inspired relief details and custom metallic-mesh pendants. We were very conscious of keeping these references restrained. They connect Jo’s Bar to The Setai without making the space feel themed or overly influenced by one particular style.

How does the design feed into the bar’s atmosphere?

For us, the atmosphere was just as important as the way the space looked. We wanted Jo’s Bar to feel elegant and special, but never too formal. It needed to work throughout the day and into the evening, and also feel like a natural transition as guests move through the hotel. Lighting played a huge role in creating that feeling. We layered warm, low lighting with reflective surfaces, brass, stone and deeper colours so the space becomes increasingly intimate as the day progresses. There is a sense of glamour, but it is quiet and understated. The idea was never for one element to dominate the experience. Everything works together to create a space that feels warm, comfortable and connected to the character of The Setai.

How do you hope the design has a lasting impression on guests?

More than anything, we hope people remember how they felt when they were there. Of course, we want guests to notice the materials and details, but we think the most successful spaces are the ones that create an unforgettable feeling without necessarily pinpointing one reason why – that’s something that unites all Saladino Design Studio projects. We wanted Jo’s Bar to have its own identity, but we also wanted the venue’s longstanding clients to feel just as comfortable and happy to be at the bar they have always enjoyed. If guests return years from now and the space still feels relevant and unmistakably part of The Setai, then we will feel that we achieved what we set out to do.