Life is, for the most part, like a jazz music: it comes out best when you improvise, said George Gershwin. Well, 55 Jazz is just that, a jazz chord improvisation. Designed by Cosmin and Mihaela Tolbes from Sparkdesign, 55 Jazz won first place for interior design at the Insign Awards supported by Galeriile Noblesse in 2013.
The small bar is located on Franceza Street number 9, a slightly quieter street in the Old Town. Clearly inspired by jazz culture, I can confidently say that 55 Jazz is one of the most bohemian bars in Bucharest.
As soon as you enter, you feel like you've stepped onto the land of jazz and expect Duke Ellington to appear with his orchestra. The fairytale atmosphere is also contributed to by the branch décor installation which creates an imaginary booth for the two tables it covers. An unusual idea that brings an extra touch of mystery and refinement to the establishment.
The space is not very bright, and to accentuate the bohemian atmosphere, the walls and ceiling have been painted a dark color. But the walls are more than just a single element; the decorations tell an entire story. They are dressed in a structure of dark wood that separates the decorations adorning them.
Occasionally, posters featuring Duke Ellington or Ray Charles can be seen. Upon entering, the establishment's logo, written in white letters on a piece of white brick wall, reigns on the right-hand wall. Opposite it, you can admire a guitar and a piano hung on the wall.
The furniture was chosen so as not to compete stylistically with the decorations. The tables are either round or square, simple, without any decorative elements, and the chairs were selected from the same family. Referencing the bar's name, some of them feature the numeral "5" in place of a backrest.
The furniture is "responsible" for adding a splash of color to the decor: chairs are available in blue, wenge, or white. The small bar and the sofa placed on the right wall are also covered with colorful square ceramic tiles.
Some of the most spectacular design elements of the bar are the decorations chosen for the ceiling: it is covered with dozens of vinyl records hung at different heights, and some of them have even been transformed into light fixtures!
55 Jazz is a tribute to jazz culture, a venue that transports you into a storybook atmosphere on musical chords, and if you weren't a fan of this genre of music before, after visiting 55 Jazz you surely will be!
