Header: Michael Kleinberg
Rockwell Group, the New York–based architecture and interior design studio, has revealed the design for COTE Vegas, a new 232-seat Korean steakhouse located within The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas. This project was completed in partnership with Gracious Hospitality Management and marks the brand’s first location on the West Coast. It stands as their largest and most detailed project so far, expanding on the original COTE concept with a focus on drama, scale, and immersion that fits the Las Vegas atmosphere.
A bold entrance
The design references the look of previous COTE locations but moves toward a more performative style. The experience begins with a sharp contrast to the rest of The Venetian. While the resort features light-coloured marble, the restaurant storefront is a narrow, black geometric entrance framed by glowing golden light. This draws guests in and allows them to see the bar in the distance.
The walls are clad in angled, black chiselled stone tiles. Semi-transparent horizontal bands in the glass offer a look at the produce and wine displays inside. If guests approach from the Restaurant Row side, they pass angled black metal wall panels and black glass displaying neon signs.
Upon entering, visitors are met by a lacquered-wood host stand with a stone countertop and metal base. This sits on a granite floor that leads into a small, round area covered in green, reeded tile. Moving past a large green wall, guests walk into the main dining room. The layout creates a viewpoint similar to stepping into a grand theatre.
The main stage and dining bowl
The dining room is arranged like an auditorium. Tiers of curving, double-sided banquettes cascade down towards a central island bar. This layout guides visitors into the middle of the room, which opens up gradually. The seating pattern mimics the petals of a flower, inspired by the COTE emblem. The lower tiers feature smaller booths, while the upper levels hold larger, more private spaces under a glowing gold leaf wall with decorative lights. The banquettes are covered in green leather with high-gloss wooden surrounds.
Above the dining area hangs a massive lighting and ceiling installation made of gold metal. It fans out in five petals, mirroring the company logo. This feature provides layers of light and reflection that react to the music played by the DJ, whose booth sits high above the room on the mezzanine level, creating a skybox effect.
Atmosphere and lighting
The LAB at Rockwell Group designed a lighting rig that acts as a performance tool. It can retract and project the logo as a light animation. The sound matches the lighting system, making the ceiling fixture a moving part of the night. The team also included a “lightning bolt button” that staff can press to trigger a burst of light during celebrations. A custom control system allows the staff and DJ to adjust the colours and mood to suit the crowd.
At the tables, leather-finish soapstone surfaces are paired with fluted-glass table lamps by David Rockwell for Leucos. These sit between the booths to provide a soft glow. At the ends of the banquette tiers, large raw-metal table lamps by Manu Bañó feature laser-cut discs that rotate to catch the light from spotlights above.
The central bar is built with a black, fluted die topped with solid marble. The floor around it is engraved with curved bands of leather-finished black granite. This adds a texture that matches the flower pattern on the ceiling. Even the restrooms continue the theme, featuring custom gold shimmering wallcoverings and green soapstone sinks.
The mezzanine and private rooms
Guests reach the second floor via a blackened steel staircase with granite treads, lit by a cool cyan glow. This area features polished red plaster and connects to a double-height dry-ageing storage area, where neon signs add to the display.
The mezzanine holds a secret bar and four private dining rooms. Dark corridors with spaces for artwork lead to these rooms. The largest private room doubles as a karaoke lounge with inset carpets and thick curtains to absorb sound. It includes a chef’s station with two grills, soapstone tables, and a walnut ceiling. Pocket doors open to a balcony that connects to the DJ and artist’s green room lounge.
The three smaller private rooms are connected by a walnut wood enclosure. They feature angled mirrors on the ceiling, green leather chairs, and flexible leather panels that can be moved to join the rooms together or keep them soundproofed.
Rockwell Group and Gracious Hospitality Management have built a space that mixes architecture, food, and performance. By treating the dining room like a theatre and paying attention to every transition and viewpoint, the design matches the energy of the Las Vegas Strip. The result is an environment that turns a dinner service into a complete show, offering a fresh approach to hospitality design in the city.
