Tucked away in the Sanlitun section of Beijing, the Scandal bar channels the glamour and allure of 1920s speakeasies with a design from locally based practice Space Modification Unit (SMU). Welcoming guests with pink neon signage and velvet curtains, the contemporary environment balances the aesthetics of a Japanese eatery with an izakaya.
Formerly a workshop space, the two-floor concept contextualizes the height of the interior with a mirror that serves as the focal point of the room behind the rounded cocktail bar. A palette of black marble and jade stone dominates the main floor, while the upper level is awash in hues of Indian snow and apple green marble, which contrasts brass, velvet, and shades of green. Notes of mustard yellow balance out the overall scheme. The dimly lit Scandal also includes a loggia on the second floor that mimics the mirror on the opposite wall for symmetry and depth. The added mezzanine links the main floor more intimately to the loggia and featur