More Than Just Real Estate - Ж Jazz Room
Ж Jazz Room is more than just a bar – it’s a cultural hub for music lovers, where every detail is crafted with care. We spoke with the creators about the challenges of launching the venue, the audiophile-grade sound system, and the ambiance that makes Ж truly special.
What were the biggest challenges in creating the bar? Is it true that cleaning the walls literally took years off your life?
Savina: Since it was my first project, everything felt like a challenge. I tend to be an "it’s best if I do it myself" kind of person (something I’m working on), so I tackled tasks better left to professionals — like cleaning the brick wall with a steel brush and inhaling what felt like bags of red dust.
Can you walk us through the concept? What kind of space did you want to create? How did the concept of warm analog sound take shape?
Yordan: I wanted an oasis in Sofia – a place where one can come alone and find solace. Ж is welcoming, always warm. It’s no coincidence that the Wi-Fi password is “jazzandwarm.” Talk about a see-through concept.
What was it like working with this space? What architectural challenges did you face? What went surprisingly smoothly?
Savina: Since the building was very old and hadn’t been renovated in at least 20 years, we had to redo everything: the floors were uneven, there was no soundproofing (crucial for an audiophile space), and we spent months searching for the chimney because we initially wanted a real fireplace (in retrospect, we’re glad we didn’t go that route). The pandemic hit just as we were finishing the place, adding another layer of complexity. Despite this, I enjoyed every aspect of the project, especially the challenging parts.
The bar’s logo is highly recognizable. How did the idea come about?
Savina: This would be a Yordan story to tell, as it originates from his father’s personal monogram, created by Stefan Kanchev.
Ж Jazz Room is centered around listening to music. What track set the tone for the bar?
Yordan: Jarrett Trio’s Tokyo Live (1996) – it never stands still. It is quiet and introspective, yet open-minded and wide.
The wall of toy heads – what’s the story behind that?
Yordan: This is an art piece by Missirkov/Bogdanov. The duo are brilliant and I love them dearly. The piece is called “Hunting Trophies” – a more cultured, more refined play on the abysmal trophy rooms in hunter dwellings. There’s a utilitarian point: at zhsofia.com, people can adopt a “head” which allows them to book a table. Ж Jazz Room is a walk-in type of place, and no reservations are allowed apart from our Head Hunters.
About the seating concept… Originally, you considered arranging the chairs theater-style. How did the current layout evolve?
Savina: Yordan initially wanted all the chairs facing the “stage” to encourage active listening. My argument was that the concept was very new for Sofia and we needed to introduce it gradually — giving people the choice to immerse themselves in music or enjoy quiet conversations.
The space shifts from café to jazz lounge. How do you curate this experience?
Yordan: Frankly, we don’t. We love it when things happen. We’ve set the scene to allow for whim and wonder, and things simply take shape when Bilyana is around (our Chief Ж Officer).
What makes The David Lynch Room so special?
Savina: Aside from the fact that it’s completely red, super intimate, and hidden behind a wardrobe — nothing much!
Tell us about the drink selection. How did you come up with your signature drink, sahlep?
Yordan: We were in Istanbul a few years back. It was raining sideways, the wind and cold were conspiring. We ducked into a place and drank all their tea, and were told this was “sahlep weather.” The rest, as they say, is history.
Project by @firstestatesagency
Photography&edits @tattio @tatianalebed.ph
Creative direction @annagreenwich