Isern Serra Designs Hidden Retro Cocktail Bar in Barcelona
A secret speakeasy behind a focacceria pays homage to 1960s counterculture aesthetics.
1Hidden Speakeasy Concept
Located at Carrer Tuset 17, Focacha is a hidden cocktail bar designed by Isern Serra for Grupo La Confitería. Patrons enter through an operable refrigerator door concealed behind a traditional focacceria storefront. This transition moves guests from a standard culinary retail space into an immersive, two-zone lounge environment inspired by historical nightlife.
2Visiona Installation Influence
The interior design draws direct inspiration from Verner Panton’s 1968 Visiona installation. Isern Serra utilized a monomaterial approach, wrapping floors, walls, and ceilings in continuous carpeting. This design choice creates a dense, sound-dampening envelope that contrasts sharply with the reflective stainless-steel elements found throughout the main bar area of the venue.
3Metallic Bar Geometry
At the center of the primary lounge, a curved stainless-steel bar features rounded edge profiles. These surfaces are engineered to catch and redistribute ambient light within the space. Seven distinct seating modules surround the counter, transitioning through a calibrated chromatic gradient that shifts from vibrant yellow to deep crimson and dark blue tones.
4Integrated Perimeter Niches
The perimeter of the bar area features curvilinear niches recessed directly into the upholstered walls. These architectural cutouts serve dual purposes by housing functional back-bar bottle shelving and providing secluded, low-slung banquette seating for guests. GUBI Multi-Lite pendants are suspended overhead to highlight the contrast between the reflective steel and matte textiles.
5Space Age DJ Lounge
The second spatial volume functions as a music and DJ lounge, emphasizing a retro-futuristic aesthetic. A circular portal provides access to this area, which is defined by an organic vaulted dome. The room utilizes fluid geometry to evoke the Space Age design era while integrating contemporary technology for high-end nightlife programming and acoustics.
6Dynamic Scenographic Lighting
Lighting systems are concealed within circular ceiling apertures and perimeter wall openings to create a responsive environment. The light temperature and color spectrum shift dynamically in real-time, reacting to the musical tempo of the DJ set. This integration ensures the atmosphere remains fluid and responsive to the specific energy of the venue.
7Curated Period Luminaires
The design incorporates iconic period-specific lighting to anchor the seating arrangements. Key pieces include Louis Poulsen Panthella floor lamps, Tradition Flowerpot VP2 pendants, and Wire Stool VP11 units. A central Dana lamp by Tacchini serves as a sculptural focal point beneath the plaster canopy, reinforcing the project's commitment to mid-century modern design principles.
8Cultural Design Significance
Focacha serves as a programmatic homage to Barcelona’s 1960s and 1970s intellectual counterculture, specifically the ‘gauche divine’ movement. By referencing figures like Oriol Regàs, the project bridges historical nightlife heritage with modern hospitality design. The result is a sophisticated venue that successfully balances thematic storytelling with functional, high-performance interior architecture for urban patrons.