Capturing magic: food, drink and interior photography in Le Bateleur restaurant in Nice, France.
Sometimes you get a call for a photography job so exciting that you find yourself mentally packing your camera bag before you’ve even hung up the phone. Being invited to the gorgeous city of Nice to photograph an incredibly cool new bar designed by a high profile Irish architect and interior designer Denise Ryan was one of those moments.
Now based in Luxembourg, Denise brings her visions to life under the brand Fineline Interior Design, and is the creative force behind many spectacular interiors internationally. I first worked with Denise in 2016 after she completed an impressive project in Shannon Airport. Her complete reimagining of the food court and bar is full of colour, light, and life, and provided a brilliant subject for photography. When she asked me if I’d come shoot her newest design project, I knew it would be something special.
Le Bateleur is a fabulous bar placed right at the famous Cours Saleya flower market in Nice, French Rivera. This location, deep in the old town, is bursting with history, character and colour. Le Bateleur fits right in, beginning with the name: French for The Magician, one of the Major Arcana card in the Tarot deck. There is so much magic to be experienced here, and Denise’s design for the bar bristles with details which celebrate all things mysterious and enchanted.
We began the day before the grand opening, in October 2017, shooting the interiors. With these photographs, I wanted to capture all the fascinating textures and touches of this brilliant space. Stepping inside Le Bateleur there is a sense of walking into an alchemist’s laboratory. The primitively glamorous backdrop of the bar seems to transport you to another time, with materials ranging from rough-hewed brick and stone, to gleaming marble and polished dark wood, to vintage tiling and brushed blue velvet. Bar chairs designed by Denise in a unique reptilian leather, antique wicker armchairs, and distinguished leather couches are just a few of the inviting furniture set throughout the space.
The lighting in Le Bateleur sparkles, with crystal fixtures, blown glass pendants, and seductive fringed lampshades. Oeil de sorciere (Witch’s Eye) mirrors reflect light in unexpected ways, adding depth and surprising shadows which trick the eye. In this setting, the taxidermy and objets de curiosité adorning the walls and tucked into the corner create a bewitching sense of discovery everywhere you turn. I don’t think I could choose a favourite feature of this decor, but the stunning stuffed albino peacock is an unforgettable presence in the bar.
Doing justice to an interior this complex, eclectic, and layed was a challenge, but an exciting one. As you’d expect from looking at her designs, Denise has a very sharp eye for detail, so it was immensely rewarding to create images that lived up to her justifiably high expectations. Once we had gotten all the photos we needed, there was a little time to grab some rest before another big day of shooting. My mission on day 2 was to highlight the incredible food and drink on offer at Le Bateleur.
The menu here is served all day, from breakfast to late night nibbles, and every dish is based around quality ingredients and hearty servings with a contemporary twist. Their specialty is their delicious dumplings, each inspired by a different world cuisine. Photographing this tempting array was hungry work, and I did my best to get across the mouth-watering essence of the food they serve their customers every day. And then, of course, drinks are at the heart of every bar, and the range at Le Bateleur is exceptional. The day flew by as I snapped photos of just a few of their fine wines, specialty spirits, and craft beer flights. I also had the joy of shooting their excellent mixologists at work, as they created some of the “mystical cocktails” on the menu, which certainly live up to their name.
It was an immense pleasure and privilege to work with Denise, Thady and Mela, and all the fantastic team at Le Bateleur, and a joy to be able to provide them with photos that showcase all the magic of this unique place.
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