Following the complete redesign of Eleven Madison Park in 2017, Allied Works has returned to the restaurant to design the Clemente Bar, an intimate cocktail bar and chef’s counter, on the restaurant’s second floor. The Clemente bar unites the life and work of artist Francesco Clemente with chef Daniel Humm’s exquisite culinary vision.
Drawing from historic precedent, the initial idea for the Clemente Bar was inspired by the iconic Kronnenhalle in Zürich, which features works by Joan Miro, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Klee, with custom light fixtures by Diego Giacometti. Allied Works elaborated upon the design concept of an art bar and, with the introduction of artist Francesco Clemente, one of Humm’s close friends, as a central generative force, worked collaboratively to create an experience that celebrates creativity, connection, and fine cuisine.
For the new bar, Allied Works transformed three private dining rooms and kitchen on the restaurant’s second floor and created separate experiences to serve different purposes. Rooms feature a rich color palette of burgundies, browns, and gold, and complement a series of work by Clemente, including three new dramatic 17-foot-long murals and smaller works throughout. The cocktail lounge and second floor corridor are lined with detailed custom walnut panels, accented with unique “jewel” pieces carved by hand in the Allied Works’ woodshop. This intricate millwork harkens back to the wood sculpture of artist Leroy Setziol from the Pacific Northwest. The design team also assembled vintage furniture designs, and worked with Brett Robinson and Carsten Höller to develop customized pieces from their collections for the cocktail lounge.
At the chef’s counter, the design was centered on an intimate experience, focused on beautiful food and its preparation. The design features custom, carved wood battens that envelop the room and which bring a calmness and richness to the space, allowing guests to feel more connected to each other and to their meal. The guest counter is made of solid Hinoki, a wood symbolizing purity, protection, and longevity, and the chef's side of the counter is a velvety natural stone. The chairs are vintage Niels Møller paper cord chairs and the art pieces are original drawings by Alba Clemente.