Solaire rooftop bar taking former downtown Kabana spot this week

A rendering of Solaire’s outdoor space. (Courtesy Solaire)

Richmond’s tallest rooftop bar will be vacant no longer starting this week. 

A new concept called Solaire is slotting in at the former Kabana Rooftop spot, atop the Shamin Hotels-owned Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites at 700 E. Main St. 

When Kabana went dark at the around 7,000-square-foot space last New Year’s Eve after an eight-year run, Shamin CEO Neil Amin said the company and Kabana operators LX Group felt it was the right time for a refresh. 

Now local hospitality firm LX Group owners Neal Patel and Kunal Shah are helping lead that refresh. Patel and Shah are co-owners of Solaire, and have added on co-owner and partner Aditya Mehta.

“We really enjoyed our time running and managing Kabana, but I think we kind of knew and felt like it was just time for a change,” Patel said. “You want to close a chapter when you’re on a high note.”

They’ve also brought on Fabiana Calandriello, the co-owner of European-inspired Carytown restaurant Botanya, as Solaire’s general manager and operator. Calandriello co-owns Botanya with Shah; the pair opened the spot at 3314 W. Cary St. in 2022. 

The Solaire menu and ambience is much inspired by Calandriello, Patel said. She grew up in Venezuela and later moved to Spain, and told BizSense her experiences working in operations for rooftop bars abroad led her to working on Solaire.  

“We want the heart of this place to be the bar,” Calandriello said. “When I used to live in Spain, that’s what I used to do. Botanya was a dream for me, but something about me really likes the rooftops. It’s fun to go back to what I’ve done for years.” 

The new Solaire concept means a modern upfit for the rooftop space, complete with modernized, all new furniture and accents of greenery throughout. 

Patel said the aim with Solaire is to function as both a bar and a type of social club, where people can feel welcomed to come grab a drink or some food throughout the day. It’s a departure from Kabana, which focused more on the nightlife set. 

“We want to create more of this social club experience where it’s not as focused on nightlife, it’s more focused on daytime,” Patel said.

Patel said the space will also be available to the community to book private or corporate parties or events, which is also a pivot from Kabana that Solaire’s ownership is looking to showcase. 

A rendering of interior space for Solaire. (Courtesy Solaire)

Spanning around 3,000-square-feet of indoor space and 4,000-square-feet of outdoor space, there will be both outdoor and indoor bar seating, high-tops, sofas, accent chairs, and other tables with two, four and six seats. 

The standing capacity for the space is around 400, Calandriello said, while there’s enough seating for around 150 to 200. 

For Solaire’s cocktail menu, guests will find options like the “Red Earth,” with 400 Conejos, Aperol, orange wine and cold-pressed beets, or the “Rojo Fizz,” with Campari, orange juice, passion fruit and egg whites. Cocktails range from $13 to $17. 

The bar also has a small smoothie menu with options like the “Carribean” with mango, papaya and pineapple. Smoothies are $10 to $11 each. 

On the food side, Solaire’s menu seems to focus on appetizers and sandwiches, with options like Parmesan truffle fries, honey soy glaze Brussels sprouts, a turkey. bacon, avocado club and a roast beef baguette. Appetizers range from $9 to $22, while sandwiches go for $15 to $19. 

There is a small entree menu with some fish, meat and pasta options in the $17 to $27 range. 

There will be about 20 staff total between part-time and full-time at Solaire, Patel said. 

As Solaire prepares to open its doors this week, Patel said he’s excited for guests to get their first taste of the new concept during the warmer months. 

“When the weather’s nice, I think [Solaire] can offer something that no other brunch in Richmond could offer, 20 stories above the city,” Patel said. 

Solaire opens to the public on May 15 at 6 p.m. Hours for the bar and  restaurant will be Tuesday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m., Friday, 4 to 11 p.m., Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

LX Group previously ran the now-closed Belle & James restaurant at the bottom of the hotel, and also owns Ember Musical Hall on Broad Street. 

Kabana Rooftop previously opened on the rooftop in 2016.

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