The Aladdin Sane is an intimate venue for conversation, with the palate of a spinning globe—and you can't quite put your finger on it.
Creative Direction
The goal is to make The Aladdin Sane feel like a secret world hidden beneath Detroit — moody, intimate, a little surreal, and effortlessly cool. Rather than photographing it like a typical cocktail bar, we focused on the feeling of discovering somewhere special: the low lighting, the ritual of cocktail-making, the rich textures, and the quiet moments between people.
The space blends Japanese cocktail-bar precision with David Bowie-inspired theatricality, dark wood, leather, and vintage details. That combination gave us a distinctive visual identity to build on.
Creative Direction, Copywriting and Social Strategy by Sarah DiMichele
Photography by Hayden Stinebaugh
Awake the city, there’s a Panic in Detroit. Serving you well into the night — doors open at 5pm. #AladdinSane
A quiet flame flickers, and the night is reborn. Doors open from 5-11pm.
Watch That Man, a clever blend of Japanese whisky, umeshu, oloroso sherry, and Cap Corse. Watch it vanish. #AladdinSane
We tip the balance toward adventure. Start your weekend here, we're open til midnight.
Take your Time—some blooms only open at dusk. #aladdinsane
Everybody drank a lot of something nice. We’ll be shaking things up from 5pm-11pm. #AladdinSane
For the connoisseurs and the curious… Panic in Detroit 3-4 Lime Wedges 5-6 Mint Leaves 1 Salted Cherry Blossom 2 oz White Rum .75 oz Sakura Syrup .75 oz Lime Juice Combine all ingredients into a shaker. Lightly muddle the ingredients to express the oils, and release the aromatics. Once done, add ice and shake. Top with seltzer. Garnish with fresh mint and salted cherry blossom.
A little bit of NOLA in Detroit. Sazerac: Rye whiskey, cognac, peychaud's, and absinthe. Let the good times roll from 5 pm til 11pm. #AladdinSane
The smoke lingers, like a memory, soft and fleeting, yet ever-present. Intrigue your palate with Dreams & Reflections. Doors open at 5pm.
We’ll love Aladdin Sane! See you tomorrow night at 5pm #AladdinSane
Takumi Manhattan — crafted to perfection. Here til midnight #Aladdinsane
Moodboard
Social Strategy
Pillar 1: The art of the cocktail
Purpose: Storytelling + product details
Treat every cocktail as a small work of art. Focus on unusual garnishes, glassware, color, ice, smoke,
and the details that make each drink distinctive and catches the audience eye.
Hero shots with dramatic side lighting.
Tight crops of garnishes, bubbles, and melting ice.
A drink alone on the mahogany bar with negative space.
Two contrasting cocktails photographed together.
Overhead compositions with subtle reflections.
Pillar 2: The ritual
Purpose: The process behind the bar
Show the precision and artistry behind the beverage program. The goal is to make cocktail preparation feel like a performance.
Hands stirring, straining, pouring, and expressing citrus.
A large ice cube being placed into a glass.
Bottles and bar tools arranged in the bartender's workspace.
A final garnish being added just before serving.
Bartender portraits in their natural environment.
Pillar 3: The hidden world
Purpose: Atmosphere + a sense of discovery
Make the space feel like a destination that people want to discover for themselves. The architecture and intimate scale are part of the experience.
The entrance, stairs, or curtain that leads into the lounge.
Wide shots that establish the mood without making the room feel empty.
Architectural details, leather, wood, and mirrored surfaces.
The room before service, followed by the same space in action.
A strange little place at the base of the stairs.
Step behind the curtain.