Pampered life up on the roof

By Ana Morales, Globe Correspondent, 08/07/2003

The idea was simple: create a space for lovers of the Latin lifestyle who aren't necessarily in the mood for hip-shaking, sweat-inducing Latin dancing.

Cielo, the newly renovated roof deck at Sophia's, opened just more than a week ago to fill that need. The 75-person capacity space sets a divine lounge mood with high-back benches in coral red, wooden patio chairs with hand-painted vine motifs, art-deco chairs, and recycled church pews. Bright turquoise, yellow, and green have replaced monotonous eggshell white. Potted pink Mandevilla flowers, wild bamboo, and grass add an earthy ambience. Seductive lighting comes from color-coordinated vintage glass oil lamps and table lanterns.

A picket fence painted turquoise with Moorish-inspired stenciling surrounds the deck on all but the Boylston Street side, which is bracketed by a Spanish-style wrought-iron fence.

Cielo is the creation of manager Javier Parra and painter Annie Wood. "It's Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, Marbella in Europe, and Santa Marta off the coast of Colombia. It's a little bit of everything," Parra says. But more than a specific place, the inspiration is drawn from sentiments.

"The room is built around all things that Latin culture is: strong friendships, family, and an overall celebration of life," says Parra. "The way we dance is a lot more intimate than other types of dancing. Everything is about togetherness."

The pleasing vibe is felt the minute you walk in. Parra welcomes the 20-something chic clientele as if entertaining them on his own penthouse patio. Three waitresses bring ashtrays, trendy drinks, such as toasted pineapple coconut martini, summer's sweetest sunset (a banana split in a glass), and blueberry and raspberry mojitos.

Cielo reflects the gregarious aspects of Latin culture, but it's no stereotype. Parra says: "You will never find chips and salsa here."

On a recent night, downtempo ambient music on a clear sound system was unobtrusive in this elegant hideaway conducive to lightening up, chatting, and, in Parra's words, "pampering."

"Whereas there are places where you come in, have a beer and stand still, [at Cielo] it's like being in your mother's living room; the table is catered to you."

Waitress Carla Hoppe says, "We give [clients] whatever they want, whatever they need, we take good care of them." Foot massage, maybe? "I wouldn't take it that far!" Hoppe replies, giggling.

A set of five glass bottles filled with brightly colored liquers made of apple, passion fruit, Japanese cherries, sugar cane juice, and blueberry, is the bar's focal point. "These bottles represent a little bit of what life is, almost to the point of being aphrodisiacs, but we don't want to scare anyone," Parra says.

And so red is the one you want to drink before you leave because it calls for intimacy. Drink green if you want to say "Go!" Clear is for friendship and turquoise for lasting memories. Cielo, the roof deck's signature drink, is made with it. The fifth is milky white and intended for "taking a friendship to a more intimate level," Parra says.

"At Sophia's, when you get out of your car, you take one step up onto the sidewalk," he notes. "The doorman opens the door and you take three steps up to the dining room. One flight up, and you are in the discotheque. Lighting is indirect; it comes from the ground. You always have this ascending feeling."

Who can rival that? After all, cielo is Spanish for sky.

Firepower Descarga. Congueros Candido Camero, Carlos "Patato" Valdes and Milton Cardona bring an Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble featuring bongos, bass, tres, flute, vocals, and about 11 congas. Camero and Valdes helped create the multiple-conga playing style that has enhanced the recordings of El Rey del Timbal and Tito Puente.