You have a ceiling that's only about 7.5 feet high and in some places even lower. Personally I would stay with the recessed lights. I wouldn't want the visual interference that the pendents would bring. I am far from an expert, but I suspect it would make that low ceiling feel even lower.

I'd stay with the recessed lights. I think the pendants would make it feel too cave-like.

I would also paint the walls around the bar and the ceiling over it with matte paint in a deep gray or navy, to make it recede.

I'll vote for pendants. We have 4 across our 9 foot bar. Bar is 42" high and ceiling 89". Bottom of the lights is 28" above the bar. Have them on a dimmer. Canisters are also on both sides of the bar, on dimmers, so we can create the atmosphere. You can add another pendant for the "winged" section.

I am not sure how to post multiple pictures at a time. Anyway this is a picture of the 4 small rustic pendants from pottery barn hanging over the basement bar. Excuse the mess and boxes...and the bar counter we are laminating a new color....and that tv really does not go there...and..never mind there are just too many things wrong.:) Just know we are renovating upstairs and down.:)

Thank-you for the above advice. I know recessed lighting probably makes the most sense, but I feel like it looks incomplete. I wish I had taken a picture without the lights, so I could post it.

What do you think of the 4 lights in the old eyeball recessed lighting holes? The one closest to the window seems maybe a little too snug to the wall. I will post another picture of only 3 lights hanging.

Here's the 3 pendants.

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The 4-light photo posted upside down. I can see that one light is further away but don't know how close it is to the wall. That's something one has to see personally to rationalize.

As previously mentioned, I prefer pendants. Converting cans to pendants should work. Do the escutcheons disguise the can? How is the lighting with only 3?