Walking along Boston’s Harborwalk in the city’s historic Fort Point Channel, one is surprised to come across flickering lights beckoning from behind thick brick walls and multi-paned windows. Ensconced within the base of a historic 1900’s building, Lolita’s subtle exterior appearance belies what one encounters upon passing through a pair of large, solid mesquite doors. Inspired by El Día de los Muertos (The Day of the Dead), the restaurant leads the patron into Lolita’s captivating world of color, texture and intrigue.

Lolita Cocina & Tequila Bar is a vibrant restaurant and tequila lounge with the hush-hush feel of a speakeasy, paired with playful interpretations of Mexican-inspired cuisine. The bold and colorful design of Lolita’s Fort Point location embraces Mexican culture and Old Spanish influences, while celebrating the beautiful and haunting themes from The Day of the Dead holiday.

Our client, COJE Management – known for their signature style of high-touch social dining – led the design for Lolita. As Project Architect, we worked closely with their team to bring their dramatic vision of an Old Spanish setting to life. The restaurant is reminiscent of a reclaimed church contrasted by leather, bold colors, bright art work, skulls with red rose Mohawks, hanging red-glass candelabras, and a private dining room with a ceiling encrusted with skulls. Upon entry, a procession-like walkway draws patrons to the altar-themed main bar. Hand-painted “stained glass” artwork and dramatic full-wall murals reflect Lolita’s enticing and rebellious spirit.

Lolita feels like a “found” space with a lengthy history. Wooden chairs wrapped in leather, exposed beams and thick granite walls, tables with polished skulls, and seductive lighting – all playing into a provocative journey of the senses. Located in the basement space of a building that dates back to 1902, our design team was tasked with converting the former storage area into the alluring restaurant that now occupies the space. The basement’s irregular earthen and cracked concrete ground was replaced with a new flooring system. In order to maximize the ceiling heights of the basement level space, areas were designed on different levels, creating a sense of intrigue for the patron. Adjacent to a public walkway, the entrance of the restaurant is marked by subtle signage and gas lanterns, discretely luring in its visitors.

Catering to both introverts and extroverts, Lolita’s private areas were designed to provide more “intimate” experiences.  A generously sized tequila room is hidden behind large wrought iron screening and serves as a private space for parties and group socializing.

A delicious and enticing evening awaits all visitors to Lolita, where the food, drinks and ambiance are designed to bring out the coquettish nature in us all.