The space’s yellow facade and overarching floral installation by Floratorium serve as an anchoring brand moment for Bumble.Photo: Aaron Thompson
“From the early days of Bumble, we’ve always prioritized engaging with our community beyond our app through IRL touch points,” explained Bumble’s head of brand partnerships Julia Smith Caulfield. In 2017, the app launched its first iteration of the Bumble Hive in New York, a temporary pop-up space with F&B, entertainment and interactive sessions.
“The pop-up experience resonated with our community in a big way and ultimately inspired the launch of a series of global pop-ups in cities such as London, Los Angeles, Austin and Toronto,” Caulfield said. “It was incredible to see the overwhelmingly positive response from our community, and it showed us that there was a clear appetite for a more permanent space where people could connect.”
Bumble Brew was initially slated to open in the summer but, Caulfield explained, “permit delays and a few unexpected construction elements” caused the delay.
The new venue will serve as both a branded environment and a standalone destination. New York-based interior design firm Float Studio created a concept that features a deliberate mix of custom, vintage and traditional furniture and lighting to help foster different types of interactions, such as dates, group gatherings and larger events. The indoor dining room can comfortably seat 85, in addition to an outdoor patio lining Kenmare Street. The restaurant also includes an expansive coffee bar that transforms into a cocktail and wine bar at night. It’s currently open to the public for breakfast, lunch and dinner service.
The Italian-inspired menu, which was developed by chef Ryan Hardy and the team from Pasquale Jones, focuses on fresh, seasonal vegetables as well as handmade pasta and shareable plates, such as fritti misti, agnolotti with sunchoke and sheep’s milk ricotta, and chicken Milanese.
The multifunctional space is available for buyouts and private events. “Having a versatile space was essential for us, given that scheduled programming will be such a significant component of the space,” Caulfield explained.
To celebrate the opening, Bumble partnered with Caviar, offering New York City-based Bumble users a $10 discount code that’s applicable on delivery and pickup orders of $35 or more on Caviar via the Bumble app through Dec. 22.
See inside Bumble Brew below.
