Sonora Cocktail Bar

Adrìa Goula

Sonora Cocktail Bar: A golden idol in the jungle

• Architects

Perched on the top floor of the Nhow Hotel in Amsterdam, the Sonora Cocktail Bar offers bold, tropical cocktails inspired by Latin America, perfectly complementing its culinary counterpart, the Selva restaurant, which shares the 24th floor in separate spaces.

Framing spectacular views

The triangular, compact space offers stunning views of Amsterdam’s new outskirts, thanks to an impressive floor-to-ceiling glass façade designed by OMA studio of architect Rem Koolhaas.

From the beginning, EL EQUIPO CREATIVO understood that one of the main challenges would be ensuring that the bar itself, typically the focal point of any cocktail bar, could stand out against the views.

Striking gold through design

At Sonora, the cocktail bar takes centre stage with its gleaming golden finish that stretches up to the ceiling, creating an enveloping, organic surface reminiscent of a long-extinct aquatic creature. This design references pre-Columbian gold figures, tied to the legend of “El Dorado”, and used in sacred rituals and ceremonies.

The bar’s curved and sophisticated shape dazzles in the centre of the space, emerging like a golden idol in a mysterious setting of green tones, lush vegetation, and aquatic patterns—an homage to the swamps of Latin American jungles.

Echoes of Latin America

Reflective surfaces around the room echo the glass façade, evoking images of cascading water and blending seamlessly with the verdant, watery-patterned carpet.

Eclectic, organically-shaped furniture is scattered near the façade, inviting guests to enjoy the Amsterdam views. These pieces, feature vibrant reds and bold patterns, echoing the alertness of approaching poisonous fruit, or the hidden dangers of animals lurking by a pond.