Portuguese Bend Distilling
Long Beach, CA | Hospitality
Client: Portuguese Bend, LLC
Size: 3,700 SF
Envisioned as a neighborhood hangout, Portuguese Bend is Long Beach’s first distillery. Offering liquor lockers, distillery tours, crafted cocktails, and bottle service, the restaurant/bar pays homage to the bygone era of bootlegging in Long Beach.
The design aesthetic intentionally reflects a raw quality, and incorporates elements of a renegade past. A suspended boat reminiscent of the famed rumrunners used to smuggle liquor in the 1920s, dominates the restaurant space as a central focus. With the distilling tanks and brass condenser columns always on exhibit as a backdrop, the bar serves dual purpose for product storage and display, reflecting the industrial grassroots of the manufacturing process. The design team juxtaposed raw structure with refined, timeless materials to deepen the brand story and customer experience.
