During the very first visit to an abandoned venue in the heart of Warsaw we came across nothing but old racks scattered around the former tailor’s workshop. The place was almost empty, yet filled with an indescribable aura, something almost tangible, something you’d never experience in a modern building. We knew from day one that we would do anything to retain the spirit of that place.

Our investors approached us with a request to design a cocktail bar right next to Bibenda – their restaurant, a popular spot frequented by both locals and tourists. It was a big deal for us to be working with such successful restaurant owners, and we knew the bar had been set up very high. Although creating a follow-up to a popular spot might have been tempting, it wasn’t enough for us. We wanted to create something unique that would stand on its own and win people’s hearts simply by being what it is. And we did so – after long, exciting months of intense work, Barbara came to life.

The name and design for the place were not clear from the start. Today we can’t imagine it being called or designed any other way, but the concept evolved iteratively. It was quite a journey, and every step we took brought us closer to discovering who Barbara really was. One thing, however, remained intact throughout the entire process: the desire to create a place that would fill the void in the old townhouse and make it feel like it had been there forever.

Morning brews, brunches with friends, I-want-it-all dinners and late-night drinks – you name it, Barbara has it. The dusk-to-dawn vibe of the place served us as an important guideline when designing it and led us to divide it into two main areas: the bar and the restaurant. Natural light does the magic here: the corner location with its south-east exposure created perfect conditions for the wandering sunlight that subtly transforms the atmosphere of Barbara with every passing hour.

When the sun sets, the venue glows with jewel-like lighting, including vintage sconces we hunted down online, knowing they deserved a second life. The windows are partially hidden with semi-transparent milky curtains. Their delicate fabric warms up the raw, industrial-like plaster, wrapping the interiors in a romantic aura and evoking the charm of Italian trattorias.

No matter the time, Barbara unmistakably feels like Warsaw. But there is something about it that makes you think of these Neapolitan bars full of sun and dulce far niente.

Welcome to Barbara. When you enter the place, and the first thing you can see are the heavy, brick-red curtains. At this point you already know you’re about to see something unique. You take two more steps and get to see the heart of the whole place: a round, decorative bar covered with a green-and-rust stone countertop. What crowns it is a metal frame contrasted with a subtle curtain. Fancy a drink? Then take a seat at one of the second-hand stools dug up online by Agata Zięba, Barbara’s head chef herself.

Right behind the main bar, there is a lower bar with the very same greenish stone, and at the very back of this area guests get enchanted with a hidden nook perfect for when you feel like getting cosy.

But what’s hidden behind yet another brick-red curtain to the other side of the venue, you may wonder. And then you discover a hidden restaurant accessed through a mysterious wooden portal surrounded by a glass block wall. Inside, marble tables and vintage hazelnut chairs stand on the one-of-a-kind floor made from recycled pieces of marble arranged in a pattern you won’t find anywhere else. We wanted the design of it to harmonize with the original elements of the townhouse, and, together with the investors, we handpicked the marble ourselves.

Inside the restaurant you finally get to meet Barbara. She greets you from the central wall that we reserved for a true gem: a mosaic made with plenty of tiny pieces of glass that form a shape of a woman. Barbara tosses her head setting her hair in motion, looking cheerful and fresh, but also a bit nostalgic. She is a true soul of the place and a piece of art created by Magdalena Łapińska-Rozenbaum. The mosaic is a tribute to the communist-era Poland abundant in glass wall decorations, while at the same time it pairs beautifully with the new-but-vintage floor.

Breathing life into Barbara was no easy task – it required both our creative vision and technical expertise. Its undeniable success is a collective effort between us, the investors and many experts who left their mark throughout the entire process of creating this special place. We are confident the best is yet to come, as Barbara’s guests continue to shape its identity day by day, and night by night.