Brucato Amaro is a fully operational distillery in the heart of San Francisco, that features a restaurant, tasting room and tincture lab to allow guests to become familiar with and explore the distinct flavors of amaro. This project was an adaptive reuse, converting an old ice cream factory into the newly code compliant and seismically stable distillery fit for hosting.

On a busy street in SF, Brucato Amaro Distillery and Restaurant was inspired by the vibrant history and diverse agriculture of California and the Italian heritage of amaro. The restaurant, bar and distillery are made of many moments including a rootbeer colored tiled plinth in the dining room. The tasting room exudes a Nor-Cali Italian vibe through hues of greens, chartreuse, rootbeer and pinky oranges (check out the woo in the loo!) that complement the bounty and creativity of California ingredients.

“In today's world [so] many experiences take place virtually. It is increasingly difficult to find what is true and honest. [With Bar Brucato], we wanted to have a real place where guests can physically see, touch, smell, and taste what we are making.” - Sierra Clark, Co-Founder

One of our mantras at Studio BBA is that the Back of the House is as important as the Front of the House. This is exemplified in this SF Distillery, Tasting Room and Bar/Restaurant. The restaurant entry and shipping/receiving are side by side, such that guests are immersed in the hubbub a working distillery - not just a pretty place to eat and drink. On sunny weekends, the loading yard is converted into outdoor seating so guests can see the stills from their table.

We worked closely with the Clients to bring this tricky project to fruition. The hospitality program includes Distillery Tours, Family Style dining at the Tasting Table, Private Dining and Distilling classes in the Lab and the Main Dining room and Bar.

Team:

Architects: Studio BBA - Architecture and Design

Photographer: Molly Decoudreaux