Overview: 15 Romolo is set to reopen in mid-November following two years of renovations inside the historic Basque Hotel building. Owners Jon and Kelly Anne Gasparini have transformed the space into a more functional venue while maintaining its classic speakeasy aesthetic.
The Full Story
Located within an 114-year-old building on Romolo Place, a steep alley off Broadway in North Beach, the bar has undergone significant upgrades. The Gasparinis added air conditioning, upgraded the plumbing, and sanded down the worn, mahogany-paneled walls to address previous quirks like leaks and stifling heat. While the core identity remains intact, the layout has shifted from long banquettes against the wall to roomy, rounded booths that seat up to seven people each.
The renovation effort was described as painstaking by owner Jon Gasparini, who noted that the bar is essentially the same but more functional and nicer. The couple also refurbished the bathrooms and hallways to better match the elegant speakeasy aesthetic. A new 1951 Seeburg jukebox has been installed with a collection of 45-rpm records featuring artists like Blondie, Otis Redding, and Patsy Cline.
Production & Profile
The revised drink menu is anchored by familiar standards such as the bar’s Pimm’s Cup, which is also served by the pitcher. The focus remains on classic base drinks with maybe a little bit of technique, utilizing a pared-down spirit selection. This approach reflects a shift in preference away from high-concept, tweezer-garnished cocktails that have fallen out of favor in the last decade.
A new Basque-inspired food menu will be served by the Gasparinis’ son, Giovanni. The 24-year-old brokered a deal with his parents to cook there for about a year before pursuing a job in fine dining. The couple’s other two children and their niece and nephew also plan to help out during the operation.
Brand & Industry History
15 Romolo was opened in 1998 by Jon Gasparini and Greg Lindgren, who served an Iberian-themed menu before adopting a sherry-centric cocktail list. The venue is situated inside the historic Basque Hotel, which once served as a boardinghouse for shepherds and other migrants from Spain’s País Vasco. Before it closed in 1996, the hotel was a pillar of the small Basque community that thrived on the seam between North Beach and Chinatown.
In 2010, Gasparini and Lindgren brought on Scott Baird and Josh Harris to redesign the cocktail list. Baird and Harris would go on to found acclaimed Mission District bar Trick Dog. In 2023, former Chronicle wine critic Esther Mobley named 15 Romolo one of the city’s best bars.
What This Means
The reopening coincides with a renaissance in North Beach, a historically bohemian neighborhood that was riddled with commercial vacancies even before the pandemic. Owner Jon Gasparini hypothesized that this vibrancy is a reaction to how tech-driven the city is and how online everyone is. He noted that North Beach still feels like an analog, kind of antiquated neighborhood, which he thinks is refreshing for a lot of people.
There hasn’t been a regular line outside 15 Romolo since the North Beach cocktail bar first opened in the late ‘90s. But as 15 Romolo prepares to reopen next month, Gasparini said, barhoppers have already started “rattling the gates.” The venue is set to return in mid-November, though the renovation has repeatedly delayed the date.
Consumer Takeaway
The remodeled bar has already hosted a few private events, but Gasparini said he isn’t planning on any big festivities when it finally reopens to the public. The owners intend to pop the doors open and tell people they are open and have it happen that way. For the drinker, the experience offers a classic speakeasy atmosphere with functional upgrades, including air conditioning and upgraded plumbing, alongside a focus on classic base drinks and Basque-inspired food.
Source: Read the original article
