A sanctuary
of sound.

ESP hifi listening bar with live plants hanging around white oak built-ins and bar stools in Denver, Colorado.

Project: ESP Hifi

Location: Denver, Colorado

Size: 1300 SF

Status: Completed 2021

Type: Hospitality

Client: ESP Hifi

Services: Architecture, Interior Design

Inspired by the Japanese Kissa, or listening bar, ESP Hifi serves up a unique mix of high-fidelity music and drinks to ignite the senses.

ESP Hifi

Lined with high-end audio equipment and vinyl albums, ESP Hifi is meant to be a place for audiophiles, Denverites, and visitors alike to relax and unplug from the busy city life that lies just outside the door. Operating on the adage, “less is more”, we worked closely with owner-operators, Mitch Foster and Will Minter, to help create a warm and inviting atmosphere that helps remind people to slow down. The design of the space is meant to be intimate, relaxed, and simple; allowing people to focus on what ESP does best — music. The Mondrian-inspired back of bar hosts their ever expanding collection of vinyls and a high-fidelity speaker system.

White oak bar at ESP Hifi in Denver with vinyl albums and high-fidelity listening equipment on the back wall.

DJ table built into custom bar at ESP hifi in Denver

The design of the back bar was inspired by Mondrian — who believed his abstraction could serve as a universal pictorial language representing the dynamic, evolutionary forces that govern nature and human experience.

Sitting area at a listening bar in Denver, Colorado with peeling concrete walls and rattan accents.

Wood back bar shelving and built-ins with integrated speakers.

Sitting area at ESP hifi with low leather couch and rattan chandelier in looking out at downtown Denver.

Embracing the adage, less is more, we gave small nods to music listening throughout the space — the subtle pattern of the ambient back bar lighting represents the design of a speaker.