Download Now

La Cañita South Beach is the third location in the La Cañita restaurant and bar family, located at the corner of Ocean Drive and 12th Street in South Beach, Miami. The project involved a full interior refurbishment of an existing building, transforming the space into a Caribbean-inspired restaurant and nightlife destination. Lighting designer Laura Arroyo was brought on to help translate the owners' vision into an immersive guest experience.

Arroyo explains, "The main brief was that people should feel like they can get a piece of the Caribbean. That when they enter this space, they feel like they're in the Caribbean. The music, the environment, the flavors. That's why I'm emphasizing the warm environment. It's about transporting people into that place. There are a lot of Latin Americans going to this place. It's about feeling a little bit of home, but very specifically in the Caribbean. The idea is that people look good and feel good under the light. It's not about the lights themselves. It's about what's happening with the people. PureEdge's Light Channel helped us achieve that."

The outside perimeter of the bar is welcoming with Light Channel .6" Surface Mount which enhances spaces with depth and dimension, seamlessly integrating into the architecture while delivering premium task lighting for applications like under cabinets, bathrooms, work surfaces, and more. Our slim profile, made-to-order LED channel offered in 2, 5, or 7 watts per foot and multiple static white color temperatures from 2400K to 4000K, with up to 95 CRI, ensuring outstanding color rendering. Available with a diffused white lens or clear lens for maximum light levels, both offered with black or white louver options. Order in 2" or 3" increments from 12" up to 120"(10').

At the back of the bar is a section just for glasses which was highlighted by our Light Channel .6" Recessed Millwork. This is tailored for projects requiring a seamless design with ample illumination. The shallow profile integrates into various depths of millwork, while the flat 1/8" finished flange offers a minimal aesthetic, enhancing spaces with depth and dimension, seamlessly blending into the architecture while delivering premium task lighting for applications like under cabinets, bathrooms, work surfaces, and more. Our slim, aluminum channel extrusions, LED strips, and lenses are field-cuttable and ordered in various increments anywhere from 2 to 7 watts per foot. Offered in a broad range of wattages and Color Temperatures from 2400K through 4000K, Warm Dim (27D or 30D), Pro-Dim (27KPD or 30KPD), Tunable White (2K6K or 27K6), Dynamic RGB, RGB+White in 2000K (special order in 27K, 30K and 40K), and TruColor™ RGBTW Color Changing RGB with Tunable White 1500K-6500K. Available with a diffused white or clear lens for maximum light levels, both offered with black or white louver options.

The 24VDC, 45° Surface-mounted Light Channel was used to light the glasses underneath the bottles, and is a versatile made-to-order, Class 2 luminaire. The channel's unique 45° angle design provides designers with enhanced flexibility when it comes to illuminating challenging areas. Offered in lengths from 12" to 120"(10') in 2" or 3" increments for precise sizing. Light Channel 45° is available in multiple wattage and static white color temperatures, from 2400K to 4000K up to 95 CRI, ensuring outstanding color rendering. With its combination of flexibility, customization, and lighting quality, the Light Channel 45° is an excellent choice for a wide range of applications.

Arroyo continues, "The idea was to highlight the textures, the copper, the reflections, the colors of the bar, the bottles, and the movement of the bartenders. Everything is very contained. We use a few decorative fixtures, but the magic is really the architectural lighting. The LED strips from PureEdge and some downlighting are where everything comes together. We have LED shelves with acrylic on top, so all the bottles light up when you place them there, We also have indirect linear lighting and lighting inside glass cabinets, so even when they're closed, you still see the bottles glowing. There's also a small stage with lighting that works with the music. It all comes together, the flavors, the music, the environment, so people don't want to leave. They stay all night, have another mojito, and enjoy everything."

Arroyo concludes, "I've worked with PureEdge probably since 2010, when I started in lighting design. We used PureEdge in this project, in other La Cañita locations, and in many other commercial projects. The quality is very good, and the pricing is fair compared to other manufacturers. But it's also about the technical support and the relationship with the team. There's a lot of coordination between contractors, millworkers, interior designers, and electricians. Having good support from the manufacturer is essential so the project actually comes to life the way it was designed. Besides a good product and good specifications, collaboration and communication are key. That's something I really appreciate about working with PureEdge."