Super Mario–Themed Bar Briefly Popped Up in Washington, D.C.

Fans of old-school video games were able to step back in time when they stepped into Cherry Blossom Pub, a temporary pop-up bar that opened in Washington, D.C., just in time for the annual cherry blossom bloom in April.

As part of Mockingbird Hill and Southern Efficiency — a James Beard-award winning restaurant and bar that also temporarily transformed into a cherry blossom-themed bar for the festival — Cherry Blossom PUB (which stands for pop-up bar) transported patrons to an era of innocence, when afternoons and weekends were spent wishing we could transport ourselves into the world that is Super Mario Brothers.

Green pipes lined the ceiling from which animatronic man-eating plants moved in and out, akin to the plants from the video game that Mario must dodge. Ceiling lights were shaped like the miniature mushrooms, and black paint covered the wall, sporadically splashed with images from the iconic game, like puffy ghosts and red monsters.

The drink menu also played along with themed cocktails like “Princess Is in Another Castle,” “Press Start-A,” “Flower Power” and “It’s Me, Amario,” a concoction of sweet vermouth, spicy ginger ale and local artisanal spirits.

Although the bar closed at the culmination of the festival on April 15, the success and popularity of it may spawn similar creative concepts in the future.