Modern Eclecticism Meets Old-School Diner in an NYC Bar and Lounge Update
Arlo Hotel’s NoMad Diner gets a moody new corner thanks to Stonehill Taylor.
Diners have long been a beloved staple of New York City’s restaurant scene. But as more and more shut their doors due to rising costs and dwindling profits, restaurants are looking at new ways to modernize the diner. Enter NoMad Diner, a stylish restaurant tucked inside the Arlo NoMad Hotel with all the relaxed charm of the diners of old plus plenty of new spunk—its “lucky hour” menu includes the NoMad Happy Meal (a beer, fries, and a fortune cookie that might just win you a free stay at the hotel). Designed by hospitality architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor, the new bar and lounge area of NoMad Diner brings a moody modern eclecticism to the diner experience.
Stonehill Taylor’s task was to add new energy to the lobby of the hotel, which opened in 2017, balancing adding new creativity to the space without interrupting the existing charm. To create a better transition between work and play and imbue the lobby area with a bit of the neighbourhood’s buzziness, the designers knocked down the wall separating the bar and lounge area and the reception so guests can more easily move between the two.
They drew on a wide range of sources for inspiration for the interiors—from the laid-back elegance of Parisian wine bars and all-day bistros to the streetwear culture of NoMad’s fashion district. Most importantly, they sought to revive the classic New York diner experience in a modern and fresh way, balancing contemporary elements with classic 1950s diner features like retro bar stools and bicoloured flooring. Midcentury elements, like dark-wood panelling and leather, tie in the feel of the hotel.
The central bar, with a warm brown, cream, and gold stone top with a double bullnose edge, seats six at retro blue-and-chrome stools. The base of the bar is clad in vertically stacked burgundy tiles, with a strip of wood panelling at the top and kickplate. Echoing the outline of the bar, a drop ceiling painted a warm reddish brown is circled with reeded wood, which extends the perimeter of the area. Along the ceiling, four round bulbs with perforated collars cast a warm glow over the stools, while neat lighter-wood shelves holding bottles and glassware are illuminated from below.
In the lounge area, dark-wood panelling is a handsome backdrop to 1950s-inspired artwork depicting roadside motels and Cadillacs. Deep banquettes, either all leather or with a black-and-white-striped backrest and trim, pair with modern bentwood chairs and compact circular chrome tables. Matching wall sconces feature pairs of chrome ovals reaching toward each other.
A row of narrow mirror panels, framed by wall trim, runs the perimeter of the room, making the lounge feel bigger and casting reflections of the light. Slatted wood walls divide the space and give the illusion of windows without deterring the moody ambiance. Underfoot, Marmoleum tiles in black and cream create geometric waves, a fresh interpretation of the classic checkerboard pattern of 1950s diner floors.
Photographs by David Mitchell.
