Nestled within the lively texture of a Brooklyn neighborhood, this coffee shop conceals a hidden speakeasy—a quiet retreat tucked behind the rhythm of the city. From the street, the café presents a pedestrian storefront that appears to have been there for decades, drawing in locals and wanderers alike for morning rituals and midday pauses.

Accessed through an inconspicuous passage tucked behind the coffee counter—camouflaged by coffee beans and vintage espresso equipment—guests slip between sweeping architectural curves, the threshold narrowing briefly before expanding into a hidden interior.

The speakeasy opens with a dimly lit, cocoon-like space where the design language shifts from bright and open to intimate and immersive. The ceiling curves overhead like a vaulted cave, finished in natural plaster that absorbs sound and shadow. Textures deepen, raw stone, burnished metal—and subtle lighting grazes their surfaces with deliberate restraint.

At the heart of the room, a monolithic stone bar anchors the space and subtly illuminated from above, it sits directly beneath a large central skylight—an architectural surprise that floods the bar in soft, diffused daylight by day. The contrast of natural light in an otherwise low-lit room creates a sense of quiet drama, drawing diners inward.

Seating flows around the bar in soft, organic gestures—plush banquettes curve along the walls, offering shadowed corners for conversation, while low-profile chairs frame intimate tables. Acoustic materials, hidden in the walls and ceilings, mute the world beyond, creating an enveloping hush.

The overall effect is theatrical yet grounded. The journey from café to speakeasy is not just physical, but sensory, a slow unfolding of space, light, and texture that invites guests to linger and discover.

Date : 2018
Client : private
Area : 3,200sf
Budget : private
Photos : Peter Storey

In Collaboration with Isaac-Rae Architects