Glossy Reds Echo ‘Suspiria’ At This Bold Mexico City Bar

The glossy red ceiling gleams beneath shifting lights, its vibrant reflection dancing across the energy on the dance floor below. At Carmin, a former warehouse in Coyoacán transformed into a hypnotic nightlife venue, bold colors and dynamic textures breathe life into the space. Zigzag mirrors distort perceptions, while Venetian tiles shimmer as the evening evolves.

The highlight of the nearly 970-square-foot space is an imposing bar crowned by a striking crimson textile screen, cascading like the flowing red costumes featured in Suspiria (2018). Luca Guadagnino’s reimagining of Dario Argento’s 1977 Italian horror classic—featuring Tilda Swinton in three roles and Dakota Johnson as a dancer lured into a sinister Berlin academy—inspired Mexican designer Maye Ruiz in crafting Carmin’s aura. For her, the film was more than a chromatic reference; it embodied an ethereal metamorphosis. “The way Suspiria builds tension through color and movement resonated with me,” says Ruiz, founder of MAYE Estudio.

How Maye Ruiz Brings Theatricality To Carmin

dark bar with moody red ceiling sculpture by Maye Ruiz — Carmín, a 970-square-foot bar in Mexico City designed by Maye Ruiz, is a mix of mystery and sophistication.

This cinematic influence also emerges in Carmin’s layered textures. A custom-mixed green patina envelops the walls, contrasting the sleek ceiling. “I love contrast,” Ruiz says of the pairing, which balances age and fluidity. Scarlet, wine, and champagne Venetian mosaics meet green stucco, while glass tiles cloak the bar, honoring Italian and Mexican craftsmanship.

As the evening unfolds at the bar, the energy evolves. “At the start of the night, it feels like a normal bar,” the designer says. “By the end, everything is bathed in red—it’s dramatic, immersive, like the climax of the film,” Ruiz explains, highlighting the impact of the lighting.

Mirrors amplify the illusion, splitting and multiplying reflections in a transformation that goes beyond the visual. “I love how it lets you step out of reality,” Ruiz reflects on her design. “Even shy people, like me, can become someone else for the night.”

A Rich Red Palette Envelopes Diners At Carmin

dining area with bright red borders and blue chairs by Maye Ruiz — Inspired by the aesthetics of horror film *Suspiria*, which takes shape in Coyoacán, the film’s essence is brought into a Mexican context, with characteristic blue in a space where red reigns supreme.

dining area with green patina and striped walls — The cinematic nature of Carmin is brought to life with a custom-mixed green patina enveloping the walls and contrasting the sleek ceiling.

dining area with bright blue chairs, artwork and red tables by Maye Ruiz — The red and blue hues pop along the bar’s walls lined with banquette seating.

Grab A Drink At This Bar Inspired By ‘Suspiria’

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