Starlite

With the redesign of San Diego’s iconic Starlite, which reopened March 2025, boutique interior design team Bells + Whistles was granted the unique opportunity to revisit their debut project and reimagine a space that means so much to so many. Nearly two decades after the original build and with the support of local hospitality group CH Projects, Bells + Whistles has breathed new life into Starlite with a reimagined restoration that implements many of their original design concepts and honors the founders’ vision. Originally conceived by San Diego visionaries, Tim Mays and Matt Hoyt, Starlite opened in 2006 and quickly became a beloved local haunt for musicians, artists and creatives. For Starlite 2.0, Bells + Whistles principals, Jason St John and Barbara Rourke revisited their original designs with some hubris, nostalgia and a lot of experience under their belts. They also had CH Projects founder Arsalun Tafazoli in their corner as a creative partner and muse, which pushed them to think far beyond the project’s constraints and create a space that would make a younger version of themselves proud. After over a year and half of renovations, the new Starlite shines as bright as the original.