Sugar Restaurant & Bar, located on Park St. Courtesy of Chloe Landers.

Sugar, a new restaurant from the hospitality group behind Standard Hall, Forno Kitchen + Bar and Astra Rooftop, opened to the public Aug. 27.

The Latin- and Mediterranean-inspired restaurant and bar, owned by One Hospitality, is located at 504 Park St. in the Short North Arts District. It is open from 4 p.m. till 1 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday and 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.

“Sugar is the third piece of the Park Street revitalization,” said Chris Corso, owner of One Hospitality. “Astra [Rooftop] was first. Spruce St. Sporting was second. Sugar is a general style restaurant, open lunch, brunch and late night. Then we have Spice, which is going to be more Asian-oriented, coming in November.”

Chloe Landers, director of brand experience at One Hospitality, said Sugar is intended to be more dining-focused despite the restaurant’s late-night hours and fully-fleshed bar. Each of the restaurant group’s venues features a different cuisine, with Sugar being the first of its kind.

“Sugar is going to rework how we brand it, because it’s Mexican with some Mediterranean mashup in there,” Landers said. “It was food that’s craveable, food that’s good. We wanted it to be a spot that you can count on to get really delicious tacos and not break the bank. It’s that reliable spot.”

Landers said Sugar’s interior was designed to feel like an escape to a tropical environment, as its dining area features tree sculptures and boho-style draperies, as well as a vibrant and retro design.

“It’s maximalist,” Landers said. “It’s eclectic. It’s like an ‘I SPY’ book. If you look anywhere, you’ll catch a detail and you’ll be like, ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’ It’s really fun to look at, because it’s a little out there in the best way possible.”

The restaurant features two levels, with an indoor dining area and bar, as well as an outdoor patio, bar and lounge space.

Sugar features an extensive Latin- and Mediterranean-inspired food and drink menu, including chipotle chicken tacos, tuna tostadas, lamb lollipops and a variety of salads, according to the website. House-made drinks include margaritas and cocktails such as a house spritz, Spanish paloma and horchata espresso martini.

Sugar Restaurant & Bar, located on Park St. Credit: Helena Hennessy | Managing Arts & Life Editor.

Happy hour deals are offered Monday through Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., and boast $6 margaritas, including their house, spicy hibiscus, mango and guava flavors, $4 16-ounce draft beers, half-price 6-ounce glasses of wine, $3 tacos and quesadillas ranging from $3 to $5, according to the website.

The restaurant’s name references the former nightclub, The Sugar Bar, on Park Street, which closed in 2010, according to a Columbus Underground article.

“This is the third piece of eight venues that will be on this street, which goes back to 2005 to 2015 when we had eight nightclubs on this street,” Corso said. “Now, it’s going to be more of a restaurant, spiritual vibe. [We’re] not doing any nightclubs. We’re bringing back Park Street in a little different fashion.”

Landers said through One Hospitality’s goal of revitalizing Park Street, the group aims to offer a fresh dining and nightlife scene for Ohio State students to explore.

“We have Standard Hall, which really hits the college, young person market,” Landers said. “We’re really trying to make Park Street give people options aside from the Short North [Arts District], to walk over somewhere where it’s safe, and there’s parking and you can count on a good time.”

Sugar strives to be more than merely a bar, as it features One Hospitality executive chefs Javier Canales, Christian Jones and Chad DeVault, and a James Beard Award-nominated drink curator, Hans Maggard, Landers said.

Sugar Restaurant & Bar, located on Park St. Courtesy of Chloe Landers.

“We’re really working to get the best talent to give people more than just a great party,” Landers said. “We want them to have great drinks in their hands, and food and expand some palates if we can and learn together.”

Sugar will begin serving brunch and lunch Saturday, with hours adjusting to 11 a.m. to midnight on Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 11 to 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and 4 p.m. to midnight on Monday, Landers said.

One Hospitality is currently working to open their next restaurant venue, Spice in November — located across from Sugar at 491 Park St., Landers said.

Reservations for Sugar can be made on the restaurant’s website.