Design notable Luca Lanzetta and Bonhomme Group joined forces to craft two of the West Loop’s most eye-popping new hospitality ventures.
Coquette’s kitchen and bar counters were created with 3-inch slabs of sustainably harvested bubinga wood from Gabon in Central Africa.
Nearly 15 years ago, while watching soccer at his debut Chicago venue English, Daniel Alonso (founder, creative director and CEO of Bonhomme Group) met then-rising star Luca Lanzetta, who had just launched his eponymous luxury design firm and lifestyle brand Luca Lanzetta Group the year before.
Coquette’s custom steel and glass partitions were inspired by notable Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s work.
With Alonso’s impeccable eye for hospitality design and Lanzetta’s industry know-how, the two are a match made in interiors heaven, and their recent collab on the Casa Beatnik Hotel—a visually stunning maximalist boutique space in Galicia, Spain—is proof of the magic they’re capable of. Their latest creation? A pair of showstopping West Loop dining hot spots, Bambola Cocktail Bar & Restaurant and Coquette Wine Bar & Restaurant.
Lanzetta
“I described my ideas to Luca over one of our regular dinners, and the rest is history,” says Alonso of the concepts’ inception. “I’ve had a design crush on so many of the artists and manufacturers Luca partners with, and I have a deep respect for his vision, talent and principles. I had a very good feeling that we would be wonderful collaborators. We’re equally committed to the pursuit of crafting spaces that reflect impeccable style, harmony, precision and panache.”
Alonso
Connected by a secret door, Bambola and Coquette offer wildly different experiences. At Bambola, a confluence of cultures found along the Silk Road, from Italian to Chinese, inform the design aesthetic and create a transportive essence rich with rare antique furnishings from India, Pakistan and flailand; dazzling handblown glass chandeliers; refined millwork; and fine Italian textiles.
Splashy hues at Bambola
“The shared bathroom’s stone sinks are pieces of art, and the folding-shaped mirrors are playful designs to delight the guests,” Lanzetta adds. “The reception wardrobe of Bambola is an anticipation of what is coming next inside, and the secret doors between Coquette and Bambola are just perfect.”
Bambola’s stately facade.
Next door, a Parisian party bursting with Bonhomme’s signature maximalism from floor to ceiling awaits. “I love the curves of the main seating area and the long torpedo lighting fixture designs above the tables,” Lanzetta says.
At Coquette, Season dining chairs by Piero Lissoni for Viccarbe
A modern take on the classic French bistro, Coquette is characterized by geometric shapes, soft textures and loud lavender and pink hues that create a playful postmodern aesthetic elevated by music, bubbles and the inviting kitchen counter where guests can set the mood by selecting tunes from the Coquette’s record collection.
An indoor-outdoor dining area at Bambola
A key to making their partnership so successful is Lanzetta’s ability to bring Alonso’s grand visions to life—despite the fact he’s a self-proclaimed minimalist. “Dani is a volcano of ideas, colors and textures,” Lanzetta shares, “and the design was always evolving (and it still is).”
Both spaces feature custom handmade cement and zellige tiles by Morocco’s Popham Design.
The spaces were inspired by the same collection of muses that inform all Bonhomme projects: travel, culture and style. “This project was a new interpretation of modern Italian design enriched with so many elements, colors and fabrics that Dani and I selected for both restaurants,” says Lanzetta.
Rodolfo Dordoni-designed chair for Bambola
“I aimed to create a world of escapism for our guests that would transcend what had been done before in Chicago,” Alonso concludes. And though these spaces are wrapped up and open for exploration, this is certainly not the end of Lanzetta and Alonso’s work together. As he enters the development phase of a second Spanish hotel, Alonso enthuses, “I very much hope to work with Luca and his team on this project too.” Bambola, 1402 W. Randolph St.; Coquette, 165 N. Ogden Ave.
Sogni Di Cristallo’s handblown glass chandeliers and lamps illuminate Bambola.
Photography by: PHOTOS BY WADE MCELROY
