In the vibrant world of hospitality, the restroom experience is often overlooked, missing a prime opportunity to surprise and delight guests. Abigail Plantier, the chief experience curator at Maximalist – Experience Design, underlines this niche by emphasizing how essential it is for bars and restaurants to infuse creativity into their lavatories.
Plantier, who has a rich background in interior design and brand strategy, expressed her passion for restroom design, stating, “Restrooms may be one of my favorite places in a restaurant or bar to design.” She relishes the reactions she hears from guests as they venture back to their seats after encountering an impressive restroom.
So what makes a restroom stand out in a crowded hospitality scene? The secret lies in the little details—enticing wallpaper that inspires mirror selfies, custom designs that evoke surprise, or unique touches that spark conversations among guests.
Among numerous establishments, here are twelve standout bar and restaurant bathrooms scattered across Denver, each offering a memorable experience.
**Glo Noodle House**
At Glo Noodle House, the concept revolves around creating an atmosphere akin to a Tokyo alleyway. One bathroom mimics an arcade with a custom cabinet designed by co-owner Ariana Teigland’s father that elegantly wraps around the sink. The other restroom resembles a bodega filled with faux Japanese snacks, flower displays, and cigarette boxes, providing a whimsical backdrop perfect for selfies.
**B&GC**
B&GC, a hidden gem in Cherry Creek, offers a bathroom that invites guests to snap some selfies. Marrying sexiness with high design, this restroom features a striking gold geometric mirror and captivating artistic wallpaper showcasing bare legs through a kaleidoscope effect.
**Sắp Sửa**
Sắp Sửa, a modern Vietnamese eatery on East Colfax, departs from its minimalist design to celebrate bold creativity in its bathrooms. General manager Heeji Kim proves that bathrooms can shine by hanging around 60 shimmering silver disco balls from the ceiling, illuminated by midnight blue lighting. Additionally, one can find framed drawings of dogs created by Kim, adding a personal touch.
**The Family Jones Spirit House**
Located in LoHi, The Family Jones Spirit House entices customers to sink into sapphire blue banquettes while enjoying views of a 17-foot copper still. The elegant design spills into the bathrooms, where custom-made, black-and-white wallpaper adorned with vintage film reels evokes nostalgia for old family movies.
**FlyteCo Tower**
FlyteCo Tower has taken an old air traffic control tower and transformed it into an entertainment hub, complete with bowling lanes and pinball machines. The bathroom pays homage to the building’s aviation history with stalls wrapped in colorful collages of vintage flight maps, neon bag tags, and safety brochures from defunct airlines. Notably, guests can listen to live air traffic control broadcasts from Denver International Airport, ensuring a unique experience.
**Room for Milly**
The exquisite design of Room for Milly shines through with velvet curtains, terrazzo floors, and hand-painted wallpaper. The Baroque-inspired bathroom features sub-tropical floral wallpaper and an eccentric ceiling lamp that resembles a monkey, contrasting wonderfully with typical restroom aesthetics. Special hand soaps and diffusers contribute to a luxurious experience with scents of rose, tobacco, and jasmine.
**Hey Kiddo**
Awarding the title for the most selfie-friendly bathroom in Denver would likely go to Hey Kiddo. Brightly colored walls adorned with multi-hued tiles offer a playful backdrop, while several small square mirrors become perfect frames for cheeky selfies. The artistic design has led to an influx of social media shares, prompting designer Kevin Nguyen to create a montage of bathroom selfies taken by delighted patrons.
**Fire at the Art, a Hotel**
In Fire Restaurant at the Art, a Hotel, the bathrooms take exhibit-worthy aesthetics to another level. In the men’s restroom, a unique mosaic presents a man whose image completes when viewed in the mirror, while a similar design in the women’s restroom features a full face of a woman, crafted from single-colored tiles.
**Bar Dough**
Bar Dough undertook an ambitious redesign with only a week to execute a vision of warmth and comfort, likened to making a homemade bowl of pasta. The reimagined restrooms feature vintage Italian frames for signage and custom wallpaper inspired by trinkets that one might find in a curio cabinet, encapsulating butterflies, birds, and flowers with an Italian twist.
**Cabrón Carbón**
Cabrón Carbón’s bathrooms have evolved into creative spaces, resembling art galleries rather than standard restrooms. Thanks to Denver artist A. Michel Velázquez Rosas, glow-in-the-dark murals enhance the atmosphere, including tributes to the revered Mexican movie star Maria Felix and Mexican singer Vicente Fernandez, each paired with quotes celebrating their artistry.
**TrashHawk Tavern**
At TrashHawk Tavern, where dive bar meets thrift store chic, the bathrooms are adorned with vintage magazine ads featuring nostalgic products like Schmidt beer and Marlboro cigarettes. The bar embraces the holiday spirit by embellishing its Christmas tree with empty beer cans, tying the atmosphere together with quirky charm.
These twelve Denver establishments prove that a well-designed restroom can be an integral part of the overall dining or drinking experience. From engaging decor to immersive themes, these bathrooms not only serve a function but also generate conversations and lasting memories among patrons. Next time you’re out on the town, don’t forget to explore these must-see (or must-pee) masterpieces.
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