El Copitas was founded by three friends — Igor Zernov, Artem Peruk, and Nikolay Kiselyov — in a small, neglected basement. In its early days, the interior was created from improvised materials: the owners built the central wooden table by hand, while chairs were collected from friends in other bars. Over time, the space gained authenticity through meaningful details, including a Frida Kahlo fresco on a Maya Blue wall, ceramic skulls, rabbit figures inspired by Aztec mythology, personalized “copitas,” and a mural filled with guests’ wishes.
The interior concept is inspired by a legend from Oaxaca, where after a devastating fire only a fresco of Virgen de Juquila, the patroness of tequila makers, survived. This story shaped the image of a mystical, sacred space reborn after destruction. The renovated bar became monochromatic, with dark walls, dark wood furniture, soft lighting, and illuminated “altars” behind the bar.
The new design offers gradual immersion, preserving familiar rituals while adding arches, communal concrete tables, and subtle references to Mexican culture, creating an atmosphere of mystery, escapism, and celebration.
Bio DA Bureau is a team of architects and designers working on projects around the world. Our main goals are to create unique and memorable spaces and to change the urban environment. Design and architecture are our passion and our lifestyle. We work a lot with spatial organisation and storytelling in our projects, creating unique visual concepts. It is important for us to make the world around a little better and more beautiful, that's why we work with projects from a mere concept up to the launch and know how to bring our ideas into life.
