Art of Collaboration

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Chef Daniel Humm designs a gallery for art and food that soothes the soul

Custom-millwork- covered walls are the backdrop for lamps designed for the space by Carsten Höller.
Photos by Jason Varney.

Tucked above the iconic Eleven Madison Park, a new story unfolds—one that blends a collaboration of art and design into a transformative experience at Clemente Bar and The Studio. The 701-square-foot lounge has quickly become the go-to destination for cocktail confections and plant-forward cuisine. This cozy new concept is more than an extension of its downstairs sibling; it’s an entirely new chapter. While Eleven Madison Park remains a destination for modern fine dining, Clemente Bar offers a more relaxed vibe with a deeply personal touch. “It was time,” says founder and chef Daniel Humm. “After years of private dining upstairs, I wanted to reimagine this space as something entirely new, something alive with art, conversation and joy.”

At the heart of the space is The Studio, a nine-seat counter experience offering a $225 multi-course prix-fixe menu. Adjacent to The Studio is Clemente Bar, which features eight bar seats and an additional 30 lounge seats for guests to savor snacks and cocktails from EMP Beverage Director Sebastian Tollius. The space takes its name and overall ethos from legendary NYC-based neoexpressionist Francesco Clemente. “Francesco and I have inspired each other for years,” says Humm. “I wanted to build a space that felt like stepping into his imagination—and mine.” His dreamlike works—three of which were commissioned for the bar—act as an anchor for the entire aesthetic.

Each cocktail features a Clemente Bar–branded ice cube, curated by Beverage Director Sebastian Tollius. Photograph by Jodi Hinds.

The design, lighting and textures all echo his work, drawing guests into a living, breathing gallery. A ceiling fresco that is imbued with symbolism hangs above the bar and serves as inspiration for both the menu and conversation. To bring the vision to life, Humm once again turned to Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works, the architectural mind behind Eleven Madison Park’s 2017 renovation. For this project, Humm tasked Cloepfil with curating something entirely fresh—an atmosphere where the art would match the dining experience. The result is textured, tactile and serene, featuring custom furniture by Brett Robinson, glowing lamps by artist Carsten Höller, hand-carved details and a hinoki wood chef ’s counter that evokes the tranquil tea pavilions of Kyoto.

The Studio features a nine-seat counter where guests enjoy a 90-minute dining experience. Photos by Jason Varney.

Humm drew inspiration from his travels—places like Zurich’s art-filled Kronenhalle and Japan’s Shokin-tei—infusing the space with a timeless, global sensibility. “We wanted Clemente to feel like a discovery,” he says. “Familiar yet surprising. Intimate yet expansive.” What makes Clemente Bar unlike anything else in New York isn’t just the art, the architecture or the cocktails. It’s the coherence of it all—a total experience in which every element speaks to the next. “This isn’t just a bar,” Humm says. “It’s an ecosystem. Everything is in conversation—every glass, every dish, every brushstroke.”