Via Vecchia drips with 1920s Euro mystique. “One of the first things we did was paint the entire ceiling metallic gold, to warm the space and be sure we gave it a glow,” says designer Wendy Polstein. Carefully placed chandeliers, antique pendant lights, and lampposts framing the booths all reflect from the ceiling onto a rich assemblage of textures—green velvet against brick, quartz on the bar, live flora on the walls—and delicious tilework by Paul White. We love the traditional black–and–white hex mosaic track at the bar base. “It anchors the bar to the space and makes it seem as though it’s been there a long while,” says Wendy. We want to stay all night.
