An upscale hotel bar with a white marble counter, modern lamps, a large selection of liquor bottles on wall-mounted shelves, and city views through large windows at night.
Stylized beige text spelling 'Starlite' on a white background.

Visual Identity, Collateral Design, Signage, Photoshoot Creative Direction

Starlite in San Francisco, CA

Originally opened in the 1920s, Starlite boasts killer views of the City by the Bay, a world-class cocktail program, and nightly DJs spinning vinyl.

Cozy living room with green velvet couch, two orange and zebra-patterned chairs, a floral ottoman, a round black marble coffee table, lit lamp, painting of a woman with a dog, and dark curtains.
Simple black line drawings of a bridge, a hand holding a champagne glass, a martini glass, a vinyl record with music notes, a pair of legs with arms raised, and a trolley or streetcar.

Our Approach

Atop the Beacon Grand Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square neighborhood sits Starlite Rooftop, a re-imagined expression of the historic Starlight Room. 

Deeply inspired by the space’s enigmatic, colorful, and very neon history, RAY imagined a brand that feels like a verified nightlife concept, much like its previous look from the 1990’s. We crafted iterations of glowing signage dotted with sparkling stars, and detailed iconography that ties both to San Francisco’s history, and to the space’s playful and extravagant concept.

Named one of Esquire’s Best Bars in America for 2024, Starlite has become a new pillar of San Francisco’s cocktail scene. The city has always played with the best, but sometimes the world just needs a little reminder.

Two glasses with drinks covered by coffee napkins on a white marble bar counter, with glasses of water and bottles in the background, and a fruit bowl with oranges and limes to the left.

The Rebirth of a San Francisco Legend

The Starlight Room, as it was formerly dubbed, was known amongst locals as the place to see and be seen. It was one of San Francisco’s early and few rooftop venues, giving it an immediate edge and appeal against the competition.

Sitting shuttered for a few years gave RAY Studio the opportunity to thoughtfully plan for the concept’s rebirth and map out its reemergence to Downtown San Francisco. 

The history and original clientele provided endless creative fodder for our design team. It was the storied past, combined with the visionary prowess of the restaurant and bar team managing the project, that led us to Starlite as it is now known…a space already revered amongst both neighbors and visitors.

“It’s very easy to swoon  over RAY Studio. I often joke that I must be on their payroll given the hyperbole-laden praise I have for their work.  Emily and the team are at the top of the pyramid. The process with them is a dream. I have enough  experience with other studios to say that RAY is truly wonderful to work with, and they will provide world-class design, every time.”

- SCOTT BAIRD, Beverage Director + Trick Dog Bar, Founding Partner

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