Long Beach’s first Bacari (pronounced bah-kuh-ree) will open its doors on June 1, following a friends and family preview that will launch beforehand. Announcing it would take over the former Michael’s on Naples space in September of 2025, Bacari—with eight existing spots stretching from San Diego to Sherman Oaks—has followed through with what it has become known for: Totally recreating spaces in dramatic, design-forward fashion.
Eschewing any sense of minimalism, Bacari’s Long Beach location reads less like a clean, contemporary restaurant buildout and more like a transportive, layered environment. Think Mediterranean villa meets an old-world European brasserie meets a romantic lounge. It carries a deliberate sense of age and warmth, as if the space has existed for decades rather than being newly introduced to Naples.
A look inside Bacari’s dramatic build-out for its first Long Beach location.
Bacari’s first Long Beach location appears to lean heavily into an old-world Mediterranean aesthetic layered with European brasserie influences. The effect is rather immediate upon entry: warm, almost cinematic in its sense of hospitality.
The former Michael’s on Naples space has been transformed into something that feels intentionally transportive. Rich wood flooring. Exposed timber beams. Textured plaster walls. Arched masonry details. Vintage-style chandeliers. Uniquely upholstered chairs. All create the feeling of a well-worn gathering place rather than a newly built restaurant.
You’ll see extremely subtle hints of remnants from Michael’s—the marble bartop on the roof remains the most obvious—but Bacari is nearly the opposite of everything Michael’s was aesthetically. Bentwood-style chairs sit under dried florals, and softer candlelit elements prevent the room from feeling overly formal and less dungeon-like.
There is an intentional imperfection to it: Layered textures. Varied, Bohemiam-style seating. Decorative details that create the impression of a restaurant assembled over time rather than designed all at once…
The rooftop at Bacari in Long Beach will undoubtedbly become a new hotspot.
The rooftop and dining areas continue that approach, blending Mediterranean garden energy with indoor-outdoor California living. Striped awnings. Chandeliers suspended over open-air seating. Plenty of greenery. Abundant natural light. Beam structures overhead—a gorgeous olive green—have details that make it feel like Parisian Grand Palais vibes.
In many ways, the design language mirrors Bacari’s larger identity: Approachable but elevated. Romantic without becoming precious. And intentionally built around the idea of gathering. Bacari has emphasized atmosphere as part of its identity across its locations, and the Long Beach space appears to continue that philosophy while adapting it to Naples’ slower, neighborhood-driven character.
So what, exactly, is the story behind Bacari?
Bacari’s roots trace back to 2008, when USC grads and LA natives Danny and Robert Kronfli teamed up with Chef Lior Hillel—whose resume includes a stint at the three-Michelin-starred Jean-Georges kitchen—to open their first location near the USC campus.
But the spark for it all came a few years earlier: Robert’s SoCal college experience included a pop-up supper club, Paladar Underground, which started as casual weekday dinners in his USC apartment and grew into a full-blown phenomenon—so much so that it inspired a documentary.
With the success of that venture under his belt, Robert joined Danny’s Bacaro LA (also near USC), and together, they launched the Bacari concept. Over time, the family-run group expanded, adding locations across greater Los Angeles—including Playa del Rey (Bacari PDR), Glendale (Bacari GDL), Silver Lake, Beverly Hills, Sherman Oaks, and more—each with its own décor and local flavor.
By 2016, the group—under Kronfli Bros.—also included other concepts like a café called Nature’s Brew, generating approximately $4.5M in revenue with over 110 employees. Success didn’t slow down; by 2024, Bacari had grown to seven spots in LA. In April they confirmed they would open their first location outside LA in San Diego, which is now open.
Bacari Long Beach is located at E. 2nd St. It will open to the public on June 1.
