Sonora Cocktail Bar

Perched on the top floor of the Nhow Hotel in Amsterdam, the Sonora Cocktail Bar offers tropical cocktails inspired by Latin America, perfectly complementing its culinary counterpart, the Selva restaurant, which shares the 24th floor in separate spaces.

Challenges
The triangular, compact space has stunning views of Amsterdam’s new outskirts, thanks to an impressive floor-to-ceiling glass façade designed by OMA studio of architect Rem Koolhaas.

From the beginning, we understood that one of the main challenges would be ensuring the bar, typically the focal point of any cocktail bar, could stand out against the views.

Concept and Design
At Sonora, the cocktail bar takes centre stage with its gleaming golden finish that stretches up to the ceiling, creating an enveloping, organic surface reminiscent of a long-extinct aquatic creature. This design references pre-Columbian gold figures, tied to the legend of “El Dorado”, and used in sacred rituals and ceremonies.

The bar’s curved and sophisticated shape dazzles in the centre of the space, emerging like a golden idol in a mysterious setting of green tones, lush vegetation, and aquatic patterns—an homage to the swamps of Latin American jungles.

Reflective surfaces around the room echo the glass façade, evoking images of cascading water and blending seamlessly with the verdant, watery-patterned carpet.

Eclectic, organically-shaped furniture is scattered near the façade, inviting guests to enjoy the Amsterdam views.

These pieces, featuring vibrant reds and bold patterns, evoke poisonous fruits or hidden dangerous animals in a pond.

Design: EL EQUIPO CREATIVO
Partners: Oliver Franz Schmidt, Natali Canas del Pozo, Lucas Echeveste Lacy
Project Leaders: Marcos Merino, Daniel Trujillo
Project Team: Ricard Fabregat, Rafaela Aranzaens, Michele Soares, Yesica Peña, Maria di Bello
Lighting Design: MMas lighting
Construction: Martinez & Otero
Photography: Adria Goula