Original Restaurant Venues in the Les by Tao Group

Rockwell Group’s design for Sake no Hana reinterprets the grittiness of the Lower East Side through a Japanese lens. Theatrical and moody, it blends cues from the neighborhood’s 1980s punk scene — shadows, motorcycles, street style — with yankii, a Japanese street subculture of the same era that celebrated an obsession with American rock music, rebellious hairstyles, and clothing.

With a shareable menu of grilled teppanyaki dishes, yakitori skewers, Wagyu beef, and creative sushi rolls, and a curated list of sakes, beers, and cocktails, the restaurant is an ideal location for an intimate dinner, celebration, or night out on the town.

Seating 22, Sake no Hana’s private dining room is located at the rear of the restaurant and elevated to optimize sightlines. A metal screen allows guests to enjoy the main dining room’s sights and sounds. On the back wall, a custom installation of tasseled fabric — inspired by Japanese horsehair and punk hairstyles — transforms into a draped, tent-like ceiling with hanging light fixtures.

An intimate, dreamlike lounge, Silver Lining invites chance encounters with its sultry décor. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Silver Factory, the space sparks creative inspiration with its sexy vibe. Luxurious materials and glimmering surfaces create an interplay of shadow and light, while a hand-painted mural tells the story of the neighborhood.

In one corner sits a small stage with a piano, a perch for musicians and vocalists to provide live entertainment. Perch on a blue velvet chair with a creative cocktail and steal a glance at a stranger. Whether the DJ is spinning or you’re catching a live performance by a rotating mix of piano players and vocalists, you’ll soon be making beautiful music together.

Designed by by Michaelis Boyd, Silver Lining feels sumptuous and sophisticated, thanks to a series of low tables and chairs upholstered in blue color-blocked velvet and velvet drapes in gradient shades of blue. Vaulted ceilings pay homage to downtown loft architecture and a wallcovering made from hand-drawn illustrations tells the neighborhood’s story through characters and places associated with the Bowery.