Laizhou Bar by RooMoo Design Studio – Shanghai’s Sustainable Whiskey Bar Experience

Laizhou Bar, designed by RooMoo Design Studio, embodies the intersection of sustainable design, whiskey culture, and immersive interior experiences. Inspired by the production beauty of Bacchus, one of China’s leading whiskey distilleries, the bar transforms the distillery’s environmentally conscious approach into a flagship hospitality space. With a design philosophy rooted in “born from nature, walking with nature,” Laizhou Bar is a celebration of eco-friendly production, carbon-neutral goals, and timeless craftsmanship.

Concept & Spatial Design

The design concept draws directly from the whiskey production process, translating the sequential stages of distillation into the layout and spatial flow. The bar’s sequence—from the entrance tasting area to the main bar—mirrors the flow of whiskey production, emphasizing a symbiotic relationship between the distillery and its bar.

The space includes:

• Whiskey tasting area
• VIP room
• Bar and seating areas
• Kitchen and bathrooms
• Outdoor seating

This careful planning ensures a balance between consumer needs and the brand’s storytelling, creating an environment that communicates Laizhou Distillery’s green and artisanal values.

Materials & Sustainable Design

Laizhou Bar is crafted using over 6,000 discarded whiskey barrel pieces, repurposed to form the bar’s facade, dome ceiling, and interior elements. Each wooden piece varies in curvature, width, length, and grain, providing a textured, organic aesthetic. The double-ring dome structure in the tasting and bar areas creates a continuous visual loop, reflecting the eco-friendly production ethos.

The use of reclaimed metal rings from barrels enhances the industrial character while integrating functional lighting, particularly in the VIP area. Non-woven fabrics and smoked metal panels complement the oak textures, balancing warmth with modern sophistication and bringing a youthful, vibrant ambiance.

Aesthetic & Experience

By emphasizing the traces of whiskey production, such as oak wood cross-sections, carbonized barrel surfaces, and the interplay of material aging and wine smoothness, the bar offers visitors a multi-sensory narrative. Lighting design further accentuates these features, creating dynamic atmospheres that evolve from day to night. The overall effect is a space that narrates history, sustainability, and brand identity through design.

Laizhou Bar is more than a whiskey bar—it is a sustainable landmark in Shanghai’s nightlife, merging heritage, craft, and eco-conscious design into one cohesive experience.

All Photographs are works of Wen Studio