Lolita Uses Light to Serve Up Dark Vibes

Inside Lolita in Boston’s Back Bay, the rooms feature macabre wall hangings, haunting skeletons and other dark gothic twists. And that’s just how they like it. The restaurant is revered by diners for its chilling yet inviting décor as well as its authentic Mexican cuisine and craft cocktails. The interior boasts a blend of mystical ornamentation, gothic accents and even a skull-covered ceiling. Applebee’s it’s not.

The spaces are meticulously curated to enhance the macabre ambiance that reflects the rich history and tradition of Mexico. When re-modeling the space with a new vision that launched in late 2022, Lolita’s owners understood lighting would play a vital role in everything from inspired wall décor to face-flattering LED perimeter lights.

Yet the challenge remained: how do you create ambiance that turns potentially “scary” and “creepy” into “alluring,” “appealing” and “appetizing”? Only the right lighting could bring the darkness to life.

Chris Jamison, owner of Lolita’s management group, told Eater, “We’re always going to try and push the boundaries on what we think a beautiful space looks like and should look like.”

Lolita embraces a gothic-style aesthetic, offering a unique dining experience that breaks away from conventional restaurant interiors. Each room is designed to embody Lolita’s rebellious spirit that draws inspiration from dimly lit rooms brimming with slightly twisted sophistication.

Ryan Fischer, Senior Lighting Designer with Focus Lighting, stated about Lolita, “It’s got-gothic flair to it with vaulted archways, seating, heavy wood tables and the skulls on the tables.” He considered his options and specified several QTL lighting products to orchestrate perfect ambient lighting that reinforced the vibrant, gothic look and feel—everywhere from the entryway to the newly expanded dining room.

Signature design elements set the mood and bring the Spanish-inspired vision to life and QTL lights LED the way. LALO ESSENTIALS with grazer lights showcase hand-painted wall murals and illuminate the dazzling textures in vintage wrought iron décor.

 The recent $2.75 million makeover led to the debut of an 85-seat dining room as well as a plush new bar devoted to mezcal that features curved back bar millwork utilizing flexible Q-CAP ANYBEND lighting 24K to softly illuminate the wide selection of bottles. The ceilings were rebuilt in unique groin vault shapes and adorned with ornate chandeliers. In the private dining room, our chair-rail-level grazing lights highlight Lolita’s “good bones” to create a slightly sinister glow on an arresting array of skulls that blanket the private dining room’s wall and ceiling.

 With spaces—especially textured surfaces and walls—filled with blacks, browns and deep reds, Ryan believed the restaurant’s vibe should feel dark without being dark. The proper lighting makes navigation easy while it reveals all the vibrant décor and details.

Ryan explained, “The black surface actually absorbs a lot of the bounce light around the millwork, that way it can maintain a dimmer, moodier atmosphere while.” He commented, “Having so many dark black surfaces, is somewhat of a challenge, but QTL’s MICRO 5 TILT actually makes the objects—like the tequila bottles on the shelves—pop against the dark background.”

Illuminated shelving units, recessed into the wall around the perimeter of the restaurant, feature 22K static white LED strips that assures even, accurate and consistent light. “Incorporating shelving with decorative objects adds interest to the space so we found niches where they could add shelving into the existing wall cavity,” Ryan detailed. Mexican calaveras (colorful, decorative skulls made from sugar or clay that honor deceased loved ones) are frequently photographed favorites, with a pair of MICRO 5 TILT fixtures highlighting them from both sides.

2200K is typically used by restaurants where a cozy, inviting atmosphere is desired. Ryan included Lutron controls with QZ power supplies, which dim down to .1%, to maximize the dimming capabilities of low-watt 1.5w and 3.0w static white LED strips. The warm 2200K color temperature assures an eye-pleasing ambiance, highlights architectural textures and offers flattering face-level perimeter glow.

 “Dimming levels were very important to the owner,” Ryan added. “We progressively dim the lighting lower over the course of the evening, which allows the skull centerpieces with red rose mohawks to flicker in the candlelight on each table.”

 The result of Ryan’s commitment to illuminating one of the most visually interesting restaurants in Boston? A macabre masterpiece hailed by The Boston Globe as an “escapist destination.” Now, lighting throughout the venue highlights key design elements to create a captivating atmosphere for guests who savor culinary delights amidst the timeless elegance.

 Shortly after its grand re-opening, online reviewers began mentioning Lolita’s “cool moody atmosphere,” “gothic-chic vibe,” “gorgeous décor and even better food.” We also hear Ryan has earned a new nickname: The Prince of Darkness.

Imagine what could be served up for your next restaurant lighting project.