Still OG and Alter Ego
Manu Studios’ Still OG and Alter Ego in San Jose masterfully blends light and dark, creating a captivating duality that transforms the bar experience into a nuanced journey of design and ambiance.
A Duality of Design and Experience is what attracts patrons to this bar. One enters the communal ‘Still OG’, an understated light and airy Japanese vinyl bar serving cocktails on tap. In-the-know reservations are needed to continue further back to the dark and exclusive ‘Alter Ego’ Cocktail Club. ‘Alter Ego’ is a masterclass in contrast and cohesion—a seamless fusion of modern restraint and opulent nostalgia. Designed as a contemporary speakeasy, the venue channels the mystique of the 1920s through a rich tapestry of materials and moods. Art deco curves, steampunk details, and low, sultry lighting wrap patrons in an environment that feels both cinematic and intimate.
The architectural narrative is intentionally layered: Still O.G., with its minimalist palette of warm woods, concrete, and brick, sets the stage with a calm, curated elegance. Hidden within, Alter Ego reveals itself as a moodier counterpart—an immersive lounge where textures, acoustics, and ambiance are tuned like a performance. Here, cocktails become sensory installations, and the food program is designed to echo the space’s precision and depth.
This dual concept bar redefines hospitality in Silicon Valley—transforming every visit into an evocative journey through time, taste, and space.
Design: Manu Studios
Contractor:Â R3 Builders
Photography: Patricia Chang
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