Concrete bar

This is the bar of a Philadelphia restaurant called Marathon on the Square (it was Diner on the Square a million years ago…gravy cheese fries then, preferably at 2:30 a.m.; basil & pesto sandwiches now, preferably at brunch if you can get a table). I love the way the concrete countertop is pretty raw: you can see the texture and color variations, and it doesn’t look like it’s been stained. I’m a huge fan of concrete countertops (as much upkeep required as granite, but infinitely more urban and hip), but it’s gotten so slick that it’s sometimes hard to distinguish it from more mainstream materials. This was refreshing to see – and don’t you love the steel blue walls and ceiling surrounding it? This is the only part of the restaurant in which that color appears. (Please forgive the horrific, phone-shot picture.)