Ay Papi is a vibe. From Culinary Creative Group, the Cherry Creek North bar and eatery—which opened just a block away from its sister location, cocktail hot spot Forget Me Not, in July—evokes sultry Havana nights and a posh Miami attitude. Menu highlights include halibut ceviche, Cuban sandwiches, and appropriately rum-centric cocktails, but Ay Papi’s captivating island aesthetic is worth savoring on its own.
“The space is meant to [transport you] someplace you’re not,” says Nicole Lebedevitch, Culinary Creative Group’s director of operations and beverage, of the breezy interior inspired by vintage paintings of the Cuban capital and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Inside, the back bar’s arched walnut built-ins and brushed-gold shelving ground the space, while mosaic tile flooring, rich goldenrod-upholstered seating, and soft aqua blue accents add color…