THE HONEY BAR

Honey Bar — Reno, Nevada • 960 SF • Rhys Williams, Project Manager/Designer/Fabricator while member at Formgrey Studio, LLC

Tucked inside Reno Public House, Honey Bar is a compact, craft-focused insert that transforms an existing neighborhood favorite into a layered destination. Designed and built as a seamless intervention, the bar threads new warmth and texture into the historic envelope—think honeyed wood tones, a soft ambient glow, and clean, hard-wearing details that stand up to nightly service.

We hand-built the entire bar façade in metal, developing a laser-cut kit of parts that was fabricated off-site and precisely assembled on site. The cladding is intentionally offset from the substrate to house an LED system that casts a honeycomb glow behind the panels, enriching depth, legibility, and nighttime presence.

The layout maximizes a tight footprint: an efficient back-of-bar spine, ergonomic work zones, and clear guest flow from entry to perch points. Materials are honest and durable, with custom millwork, metal accents, and subtly reflective surfaces that amplify light without glare. The result is a nimble, character-rich bar that feels both discovered and inevitable—distinct in identity and perfectly at home within Reno Public House.

Photo credit: Frame Architecture