When I began designing The Downbeat, I wanted the space to feel the way jazz sounds: layered, soulful, seductive, and impossible to place in one single moment in time. Jazz has the ability to transcend decades. It can feel classic and modern at once, polished and improvised, familiar and unexpected. That became the foundation for the design.
The material palette was built around depth, contrast, and rhythm. Dark walnut woods, figured veneers, black marble, antiqued brass, navy velvet, smoked mirror, stone, and richly textured wall finishes all work together to create a space that feels intimate and cinematic. There is a deliberate tension between masculine materials and refined details: strong wood tones softened by velvet drapery, dramatic black stone balanced by creamy marble, brass accents layered against deep midnight blue.
The furnishings continue that balance between past and present. Curved banquettes, tailored lounge seating, brass cocktail tables, vintage Italian lighting, and abstract art create the feeling of a classic supper club, but with a modern point of view. The space references some of my favorite French and New York City jazz rooms, while still feeling current and edited. Every surface, material, and sightline was considered through the lens of music.
Official renovations will begin in January of 2027, but you can visit for the time being on Thursday and Friday nights or Saturday by musical event.
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