Dark and Dramatic Lighting Are Key to Mimi Bar’s Cinematic Ambiance

Summary

• Ste Marie designed the MIMI Bar in Edmonton, Canada, as an intimate late-night cultural hub
• Dark oxblood and chocolate tones create intimacy, evoking cinematic and supper club atmospheres
• Dramatic lighting and mirrored panels enhance depth, supporting its cultural, hybrid destination role

The MIMI Bar, designed by the Canadian studio Ste Marie, is a sophisticated lounge located at the base of the Citizen on Jasper residential tower in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The bar is one of three distinct yet interconnected hospitality venues – MIMI, Olia and Va Caffè – within the development and is conceived as the late-night component, offering a dynamic environment that hosts DJ sets, arthouse film screenings and live jazz.

The aesthetic of MIMI is defined by a darker, moody palette that favors intimacy over bright spectacle. The space is enveloped in rich, atmospheric tones of oxblood red and chocolate, which imbue the lounge with a sense of warmth and seclusion. This deliberate chromatic choice, common across Ste Marie’s narrative-rich spaces, helps create a transportive experience, giving the venue a distinct cinematic or supper club vibe suited for late-night entertainment and intimate gatherings.

Illumination is a key design element, dramatically controlled to heighten the atmosphere. The space is atmospherically lit by a central row of light boxes that hover above the tables. These fixtures are wrapped around the sides with patterned fabric, serving as unique visual anchors. Furthermore, globe-shaped lamps are affixed to mirrored wall panels along one edge of the room. This creative use of mirrors works to visually extend the space, enhancing the feeling of depth in the lounge.

Ultimately, MIMI functions as a hybrid destination, going beyond traditional bar typology to serve as a catalyst for the local cultural scene. Its design language, from the dark, rich color palette to the meticulously placed lighting and mirrored panels, is engineered to provide an evocative setting that complements its varied programming, encouraging guests to linger and enjoy the immersive quality of the late-night experience.