Horse-Themed Restaurants and Bars Emerge Across U.S. Hospitality Scene

A notable trend of horse-themed bars and restaurants is emerging across the U.S. hospitality landscape. This movement coincides with the Chinese zodiac's current Year of the Horse, influencing new business openings and rebrandings.

In New York City, Derby Cup Coffee opened in February, designed with a Kentucky Derby preparation theme. Its founder, Yasmin Kaytmaz, who has a family background in equestrianism, aimed for a relaxed, preppy, yet moody atmosphere. The decor includes a Dartmouth-green awning, striped walls, a Francis Bacon-inspired horse sculpture, and a barn-inspired water station with a horse-shaped faucet.

April saw the rebranding and reopening of The Paddock in Eugene, Oregon. This 80-year-old establishment, formerly a sports bar, retained its tavern spirit while adding minimalist horse drawings and a new menu featuring nostalgic dishes like eggs Rockefeller, fried oyster sandwiches, and smoked potato poutine.

Upcoming openings include Pony's, a cocktail bar set to open in August in Red Hook, Brooklyn, which hints at its ambiance with a poster depicting a galloping pony. Other recent equine-branded establishments include Il Cavallini in Brooklyn, which opened last summer, and Horse With No Name, a vinyl wine bar that debuted in the East Village last August, featuring mustard-hued walls and rodeo clown paintings. However, the Los Angeles restaurant Horses also recently closed.

According to Nick Johnson, creative director at All Good, an agency specializing in restaurant branding, this trend is part of a broader push towards reinterpreting classic heritage branding. Johnson noted that horses offer a flexible branding opportunity, capable of representing wildness, speed, and adventure, as well as refinement, quiet luxury, or prestige.

(Source: Eater)