There is a specific tempo to the Milanese bar—a theatrical, dimly lit environment where the aperitivo hour is treated with architectural gravity. Replicating this in Los Angeles, a city often defined by its sprawl and sunshine, requires more than just a good Negroni; it requires a deliberate manipulation of atmosphere. Bar di Bello, recently opened on Sunset Boulevard in Silver Lake, attempts this feat by leaning into the tension between classic Italian design and American Mid-century modernism.
Designed by Dean Levin of the Los Angeles studio 22RE, the interior draws from an eclectic but disciplined set of references. Levin looked to the sharp lines of Italian Futurism and the austere elegance of Mies van der Rohe, specifically invoking the spirit of Philip Johnson’s legendary Grill Room. The result is a space that avoids the clichés of the "Italian-ish" institutions Levin frequented as a child—like Musso & Frank—opting instead for a sophisticated, structured warmth.
The experience begins with a transition through deep maroon curtains, a soft boundary that separates the noise of Sunset Row from the curated stillness inside. Even the name, Bar di Bello, suggests a certain aesthetic confidence over linguistic precision; co-owner Alex Wilmot admits the phrase "bar of beauty" is a loose, perhaps grammatically shaky, translation. Yet, in a room so carefully considered, the name functions less as a label and more as a mood, anchoring a space where the design is intended to earn its own atmosphere.
With reporting from The Cool Hunter.
Source · The Cool Hunter
