Kabin Lounge “inspired by 1970s alpine culture” Opens in Dupont Circle June 29th

1337 Connecticut Avenue, NW

From a press release:

Discotheque meets après-ski chalet at KABIN, due to open in Dupont Circle on Saturday, June 29. Nestled above bustling Connecticut Avenue, KABIN dares Washingtonians to step out of the everyday and into the alps. Owners Kunal Shah, Vinoda Basnayake, Dustin Huynh and Rajeev Subramanian will spearhead the new venue just south of the circle. Shah and Basnayake are also the former owners of Eden nightclub and current partners at the Karma by Erwin Gomez salon.

The 3,200 square-foot, 252-person lounge pays homage to alpine culture, both in mise-en-scene and mood. The KABIN concept and experience, say the owners, completely upends DC nightlife norms. “At Eden, we tried to bring Miami to DC, but at KABIN we want to create something more reminiscent of destinations like the French Alps and Aspen,” Basnayake remarked. “It’s unlike anything else in the District.”

In addition to a full cocktail menu, DC partygoers will also have a chance to indulge in one very specific emblem of ski lodge culture: the Three Pins shot, named for the three pins telemark skiers used to lock their boots onto their skis, is a classic après-ski libation used to warm up after a long day on the slopes. The spirit is a traditional mountain villa herbal liqueur made with over a dozen herbs and flowers, most of which are found along the alpine trails and remote mountain passes that the Three Pinner calls home.

Designer Brien Z. Watson of Invironment Design LLC has invoked a sleek, modern aesthetic inspired by 1970s alpine culture, from Vail, Colorado to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Guests can expect subtle stylistic gestures to these settings – not a heavy-handed replica of a log cabin. “We did not want to recreate a literal interpretation of an alpine ski chalet,” says Watson. “It’s a 360-degree departure from DC social life.”

KABIN is a chilly reprieve from the impending summer heat and a nightlife scene where guests get a breathtaking view at every turn – without shelling out for a lift pass. Old World luxury charm permeates: man-made design elements like bronze and raw steel merge with elegant, natural materials like charred wood and polished marble. From textured, charcoal-finished wood walls (a faux bois shou-sugi-ban technique) to custom furnishings – including tanned-leather banquettes, polished brass and bronze mirrors, herringbone floors and candlelit onyx accents – the space is fraught with fine-tuned details. Overhead, the mirrored prism ceiling refracts views and light from every angle, creating a visual experience akin to that of an abstracted mountain view. A virtual infinity fire-box warms and centers the room, while stone-and-glass VIP lookouts offer panoramic vantage points from which guests can watch every moment and movement of the soiree.

HOURS OF OPERATION:
Thursday: 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.
Friday – Saturday: 10 p.m. – 3 a.m.