Bonsai Bar

The inimitable culinary powerhouse, Dylan McGrath, has opened a spanking new bar in the centre of Dublin that promises to transport you into bustling, downtown Tokyo.Bonsai Bar is located below Dylan’s first Japanese dining experience Taste at Rustic.

To create a truly immersive Japanese cocktail experience, Dylan has partnered with two Japanese mixologists to perfect the cocktail menu, which boasts the largest list of premium whiskeys, authentic beers and world renowned Japanese Sake in Ireland.

We worked with Dylan to bring his vision to life, creating a distinctly different, yet incredibly seductive cocktail bar concept. We created a memorable brandmark that fits snugly with the masterbrand but plays homage to one of the most recognisable symbols of Japan – a Bonsai Tree. The removed crossbar of the ‘A’ echos Japanese minimalism aesthetic and Kanji script.

For the menus we took inspiration from traditional Japanese prints and brought them to life using vibrant hues to contrast with the dark moody interiors. Further injections of colour jump from the Tokyo-style red neon wall signage. One of the most striking design features is the series of portraits of the last Samurais. These arresting images were photographed by British photographer Felice Beato and bring a compelling extra dimension to the design aesthetic.