The pre-war townhouse on South 16th Street gives little away from the outside. Inside, Paige West and designer Ghislaine Viñas have built a two-floor Swedish-inspired lounge around a fictional character – Andra Hem, imagined as the former proprietor of the building.

The space runs across two distinct colour palettes – the same furniture, panelling, and floral damask wallpaper appearing on both floors, but shifting from peacock blue downstairs to mustard and black above. The ground floor bar is framed by flowered walls and ceiling, with an L-shaped seating area alongside. Upstairs, a sleek bar with brass stools opens into a lounge area, with black bistro curtains maintaining the intimacy of the room. Throughout, statement pendant lights do significant work – swirling black and white orbs, cream lanterns, striped golden tiers – and a beehive installation on the upper floor spills across the surrounding walls. Both bathrooms are dark and moody, with murals by artist Mark Mulroney and bee-accented fittings. Guests leave with a postcard featuring one of the art pieces in the space.

Aquavit runs through the drinks list as a house speciality, sitting alongside a spirits selection and wine list that both prioritise female-led producers. Seasonal produce comes from a local farmers’ market, and the menu updates frequently enough that new drinks can be added when inspiration arrives. Fruit leathers, house-made gummies, and dried tea feature as garnishes across the menu, alongside a horseradish foam and a house amaro whipped cream. All juices, syrups, and tinctures are made in-house by a dedicated preparation team working from a full basement kitchen.