APERO

CLUB

In the heart of a storied California surf town lies The Apéro Club, a singular watering hole—a love letter to the ancestral wine makers of the world and living library of liquid history. When my dear friends Hannah and Aran Healy invited me to help design, their second natural wine shop, it was an immediate yes.

We conjured a space reminiscent of the captain’s quarters of a sun-chasing ship. Truth be told, we may have been inspired by the delightful, transportive wines we savored together while building our vision. Whatever the spark, we recognized the opportunity to create an inclusive haven, the belly of the ship where all could gather.

The layout was designed to allow for more opportunities for intimate conversations. A newly created mezzanine would host a row of shotgun seating; below, the library lounge would allow space for guest DJs. The occupation of the bold-red beadboard bathroom, wrapped with vibrant zellige tiles, is playfully signaled by an authentic, red ship’s light mounted outside the door.

Our carpenter skillfully lengthened a charming, yet short 15th-century cellar door by incorporating a metal kickplate, and a space below a large soffit in the main room was outfitted with shelves to house a curated library of wines from distant lands. The color palette of earthy tones throughout speaks to timeworn wooden vessels that once held ancestral wines.

The outside space would also need to become a sanctuary for locals to gather for apéro hour. Decomposed granite-lined beds and walkways overflowing with native coastal greenery surrounds the exterior café seating for 20+ people.