Despite that Ototo’s name comes from it being concieved as a “little brother” (in japanese) to next door Tsubaki (also run by the talented Chef Charles Namba & Courtney Kaplan), besides the square footage, there isn’t much “little” to the space or concept. Weekends was brought in to help shape what a contemporary sake bar (with great food) could be. We worked closely with Courtney and Charles to create a space that reflected their dedication to craft, detail and enthusiasm for sharing their love of food and sake with the Los Angeles. For this project Weekends transformed a former hair salon into a sake bar complete with custom designed furniture, shou-sugi-ban inspired wood elements, a private tasting/dining room, and a white oak bar. We also created all the branding, illustration and design elements.
Photo credit: Wyatt Conlon