The team behind Santō has partnered with creative director Olivia Lopez to open Barr Seco, a neighborhood café and wine bar on Sunset Blvd. in Silver Lake. Tapping Chef David Potes (Okonomi in Brooklyn and Fuji Ramen in New York) to oversee the menu, the concept combines the best elements of café and wine bar cultures, with an LA twist. The concept (adjacent to Santō) will reflect the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Mexicans and Asians in Los Angeles, while drawing inspiration from Mexico City, Asia, and the Mediterranean, and Potes’ penchant for blending classic bistro fare with Pan-Asian ingredients.
During the day, Barr Seco will serve elevated everyday fare, including fermented grain bowls, bocadillos, seasonal salads, aguas frescas, and coffee. In the evening, the menu will shift to feature bar snacks and aperitivos such as a Jamón plate with Ibérico Pata Negra and chorizo picante; scallop crudo with tomatillo, avocado, pickled onion, red radish, hazelnut salsa macha, and cilantro, served with tostadas; and Dry Aged Wagyu Skirt Steak Misozuke accompanied by roasted shishito peppers and yuzu chimichurri. To pair with the food, sommelier Kae Whalen curates a natural wine list focusing on small, thoughtful producers. Notably, Whalen has developed a reputation for sourcing wines made with integrity through personal relationships with winemakers.
Partners Jos Gozain and Olivia Lopez are thrilled to collaborate on their first project together and breathe new life into the space. Jos Gozain, a third-generation restaurateur, co-founded SANTŌ group in 2017, focusing on blending Asian and Latin-inspired projects in Mexico and the U.S. Olivia Lopez, a creative multi-hyphenate splitting her time between Los Angeles and New York, bridges the worlds of hospitality, media, and design through her work. An author and host of ‘The Art of Travel,’ Lopez brings her seasoned eye for culture and design to Barr Seco’s concept development.
Architect Lena Kohl, known for her work on La Cha Cha Chá, Loreto, Maizano, Entrenos, and more, has crafted a warm, organic space with curvatures of wood and textured paint. The ambiance is enhanced by small yet significant details: plates sourced from Oaxaca, walls painted with hues shipped from Berlin, and green tiles evoking the essence of 1970’s Mexico City. The art pieces and custom cutlery contribute to a European neighborhood cafe and wine bar, inviting guests to spend the day comfortably.
Embracing Silver Lake’s artistic heritage, particularly in areas akin to New York City’s Dimes Square, Barr Seco has collaborated with local artists and artisans to enrich the space with texture, color, and a unique regional flair. Custom metal bread plates by LA/Mexico City-based studio Ananas Ananas, café tables by Los Angeles furniture designer Michael Felix, dessert glassware by Highland Park designer Valerie Quant of LOQ, Oaxacan plateware from 1050 Grados in Oaxaca, and a commissioned painting by Ashley Roberts all seamlessly come together to create a community-centered niche in Silver Lake.
Barr Seco Is is located at 3820 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026.
HOURS OF OPERATION
Tuesday- Friday
11:00am-3:00pm – cafe
5:00pm-11:00pm – dinner
Saturday-Sunday
10:00am-3:00pm- cafe
5:00pm-11:00pm – dinner
