Photography gets its place of worship at New York’s Chapel Bar

Fotografiska has opened a members-only bar next to its Manhattan photography museum, with interiors that revel in its holy history.

The museum has partnered with workspace company NeueHouse to open Chapel Bar, which, as the name suggests, inhabits a gothic revival church that dates back to the 1860s – although it was only used as a chapel for several years before becoming a school.

Located on Park Avenue, the bar is filled with references to its religious past, from the soaring ceilings and aisle-like rows of seating to the portraits of Catholic saints created by Miles Aldridge for his Immaculeé series. Fotografiska CEO Josh Wyatt has described the space as ‘a sanctuary for culture’.

Design studio Roman and Williams oversaw Chapel Bar’s interiors, bringing in globes of light, velvet seating and dark colours that lend the space an ironically sinful ambience. An intricate glass chandelier and a series of hanging floral pieces add some extra grandeur.

275 Park Ave S, New York, NY 10010