Located in Achrafieh, on a street that houses the charming and well-preserved old buildings of the Lebanese capital, The Beirut Cellar is a neighborhood restaurant where authenticity and a good atmosphere combine to make it a popular spot, without worrying about seeing and being seen. It was with this in mind that the renovation project was conceived. Above all, it was necessary to preserve the memory and soul of the place, while giving it a modern touch. A challenge taken up by interior designer Maia Aoun Sayad.

Le Corbusier said it so well: “Architecture is the skilful, correct and magnificent interplay of volumes under light”. And to naturally light The Beirut Cellar, dimly lit, it was necessary to widen the existing windows and raise the roof of the terrace, the new composition of which is designed to integrate accordion windows that can be opened in good weather. Then there were the technical requirements of air-conditioning the partitioned terrace and the restaurant interior, without lowering the ceiling, and consolidating the building so that the ten water tanks could be placed on its roof, without detracting from the visual impact… The work involved enlarging the original pillars. An inspiring constraint! The result is an architectural design based on wood as cladding, creating a structure reminiscent of the volume above the bar. Maia Aoun Sayad placed great importance on the choice of materials. Here, black metal, synonymous with solidity, is used to cover the wall of the interior façade. The checkerboard floor is replaced by a geometrically patterned black-and-white one, while the lighting is provided by pendant and wall lamps, with no indirect light in the ceiling, to maintain the 70s spirit. The mustard-colored bar lamps by Verner Panton (1968), coupled with the green bar, form the basis of the palette adopted by Maia, to which were added touches of petrol blue, rust and bronze. The furniture is made in Lebanon by Kann Design, while other pieces have been found on the market. According to the designer, this mix of things, sometimes incompatible, ensures that the interior remains both refined and relaxed.

Located on the second floor of the Allianz Tower, designed by the late Arata Isozaki and Andrea Maffei Architects, the recently opened DAV restaurant overlooks the Citylife complex, which has transformed Milan’s former fairground into a new city district with skyscrapers, residences and a large public park.

DAV is characterized by a single, fluid floor plan, which unfolds following the customer right up to the table. Andrea Maffei Architects used the same finishes, so as not to separate zones. Long wooden panels, composed of pyramids rotating in different ways and resembling fractals, form the key element of the project, extending coherently along one side of the building and serving as a backdrop to the main room. The first floor, which previously housed an office area with an outdoor terrace, is transformed to accommodate the first establishment in Milan of the three-Michelin-star Da Vittorio restaurant, in the new DAV concept, designed for a young, metropolitan clientele. The layout includes the kitchen on the north side, the guest reception area on the south side and the central area dedicated to the bistro, starting with an initial cocktail bar, then following the long glass façade to an outdoor terrace. The walls are covered in wood panels, while the rest of the partitions and floors are clad in Laminam Pietra Piasentina stoneware, in a light gray tone that defines a neutral, textured base. In addition to the bar counter, there’s another for hors d’oeuvres and a glass pizza box. Chefs are in full view as they concoct dishes. All counters are clad in light-gray pleated Thala stone, continuing the concept of a cool gray base against which contrasts the textural warmth of cherry-colored paneling. The atmosphere evokes a gentle character, while the focus is on the tables and what they present. The ceiling design follows the rhythm of the façade’s windows and doors, with long, dark-gray wood laths. Sloping planks determine the shape of the removable soundproofing panels and are coupled to points where adjustable spotlights are provided for concentrated lighting on the tables. The outdoor terrace features an additional cocktail and hors-d’œuvre bar in the center, also in Thala stone. Tables and seating around the bar follow the progression of the pools. Large rolling curtains cover the outdoor areas in summer.

Spring Feast Restaurant, located in Chaohu, a tourist site in eastern China, is designed by Ippolito Fleitz Group. It is part of the Bantang Hot Springs, also the source of its tranquil design. The designers wanted to channel an element of relaxation and reference the hot springs. Successful bet.

Bantang Hot Springs in Chaohu, China, is a popular destination for tourists and wellness enthusiasts. Set in breathtaking surroundings, Spring Feast, designed by multidisciplinary studio Ippolito Fleitz Group, is a restaurant that transforms the natural waterscape into a dynamic experiential space. Its unique selling point is the water from these famous springs, used in the preparation of dishes and served as drinking water. The design strategy was to harness the cultural context and translate it into a spatial experience. Fluid forms derived from the flow of this vital natural element characterize this spacious and bright space, creating the perfect setting for an unforgettable culinary adventure. The bistro serves Western-inspired cuisine with an emphasis on regional spring water. Its signature dish, for example, is spring water eggs served with truffles and porcini mushrooms. The interior design allows guests to revel in their own moments of pleasure. Entering the restaurant from the upper level, the direct path leads guests to a wide staircase and the gallery passage leads past a lounge that offers a magnificent view of the environment. A two-tone texture of earth tones meanders through the space, dividing it, elegantly and dynamically, into aisles and seating areas. Dominating the space, the vibrant, verdant green extends like a lush jungle canopy. With its patterns and materiality, this masterpiece is an address for organic experience, where the slowed-down wellness concept of hot spring baths flows into the pleasure of food.

Studio Link-Arc, in collaboration with Kane A|UD Architecture, is designing Banu Hotpot, a 2,100 m² restaurant in Zhengzhou, China. As the flagship bistro of an innovative and growing franchise, it was important to the client that the project create a recognizable landmark along the main thoroughfare and be welcoming to the community.

Studio Link-Arc and Kane A|UD Architecture design an open and flexible interior landscape with a variety of spaces in Zhengzhou, China. The architects break the existing building’s large-scale, orthogonal structural grid, reframing the space into a fluid organization, with a series of sculptural cones shaped for private dining and open kitchens. They insert two vertical conical voids in the lobby and main seating area to connect two levels of dining, and design an organic grid ceiling, which varies in height depending on the program. The ceiling geometry is executed with folded perforated metal panels, forming a complex but streamlined pattern. A crucial element of the design, the panelized roof and wall system creating a continuous corrugated enclosure gives the space a unique identity. The ceiling transforms its appearance and transparency through its density, height, and size to give depth to the roof plane. For the exterior facade, the character of the interior roof is extended by a sunscreen, which protects the south side and gives a changing transparency and visual texture to the building. Its panel, composed of four types, is clipped onto a support and supported by the glass curtain wall. The result, a unified design. Located along one of the city’s major thoroughfares, Banu Hotpot is itself the sign that attracts customers. The name Banu is derived from the stories of the river men who historically helped boats navigate the dangerous streams of China. They would eat hot food to regain their strength. The design honors this history by imagining a space formed by natural, yet turbulent flow and marked by the sinuous lines of rope lattices.

One of the goals in developing the concept for the second Virgin Izakaya Bar in Odessa, Ukraine, is to introduce as many people as possible to the extraordinarily vibrant and diverse nightlife culture of Japan. And in order for the public to get a better feel for the atmosphere, the YoDezeen office had to rethink the most interesting traditional elements and integrate them into the walls.

The project is inspired by the atmosphere of nocturnal Japan, where evening entertainment has always been an integral part of the culture. It is an example of neoclassicism, combining the characteristics of Art Nouveau with ancient Roman architectural traditions. The central facade preserves details unique to Odessa and the 560 m² restaurant is spread over three levels including a first floor with a terrace, a mezzanine with a banquet hall and a secret room serving as a bar. Inside, there is an abundance of traditional red, natural unlacquered wood, bare concrete, accent lighting and decorative elements typical of the country. A custom-made wire mesh mezzanine arch, painted red, establishes a link with Asian architecture, brings authenticity to the space and serves as an additional element to expand the mezzanine and add a banquet room. The ceiling is decorated with oak slats and the second floor windows with wooden shutters. From the latter, black marble steps lead to the secret cell, a unique lounge of Virgin Izakaya Bar Odesa, covered with fabric wallpaper with captivating Japanese patterns, which are also on the sofas. One of the walls here is a decorative panel with wooden cells and tassels. Fine bartenders prepare and pour drinks that are sure to reproduce the mysterious atmosphere of Japanese entertainment. From the dim lighting to the lanterns above the bar, to the comfy sofas, aging mirrors and dark steps, every element enhances the overall atmosphere. There are tables of various sizes, upholstered furniture, armchairs, the bar counter and all metal products, including the main arch structure and ornamental elements for lighting. YoDezeen uses natural materials in the design, such as natural wood table tops, copper lamps, real leather, and wooden seats and chairs.

As the name of the restaurant expresses, Living Bakkali, by the Spanish studio Masquespacio, is a place for sensory experiences, whether in terms of taste, touch or vision. With a strong Middle Eastern inspiration, its design, in the heart of Valencia, Spain, aims to maximize the customer’s experience, connecting them with a wonderful environment, for many unknown and full of mystery.

Designed by Masquespacio, the project is presented as an arrangement of various zones recreating small corners, as if the client were in the fantastic Orient with its lounge seating that invites the different groups of diners to relax and connect with each other, while enjoying the creative dishes. Dinner will be an opportunity to discover what is hidden in the other corners of the place, a mystery partially revealed by the windows in the style of Arabic architecture. A central hallway connects the entrance to the kitchen and guides the customer through the place, discovering each of the restaurant’s surroundings, from the more intimate seating area for two people and benches for larger groups to an upper level space that allows for a wider view of the bistro. While the first part of the room feels like walking down a street with old houses, the second part takes you through a hallway between curtains that incorporate a private dining room and bathrooms. At each moment, the organic forms contrast with each other, while an Adobe effect is created on the walls, floors and ceilings, using a single material for the entire design, executed completely by hand as for the houses of the past, intended to be represented in this project. Above, is applied a more neutral color palette, but slightly contrasting, clearly recalling the desert. Finally, the light effects generated highlight the mysterious and beautiful Orient to be discovered. Thus, the concept of Living Bakkali is a tribute to the unknown and wonderful world of this region of the world, with special attention to its architecture of the past.

The architectural firm Box: Arquitectos won the bet to renovate an old 350 m² restaurant, in operation since 2004, in Ponta Delgada, on the island of São MigueL, in Portugal. Inserted in the Azoris Royal Garden Hotel, Koi was already showing some wear and tear and needed revitalization.

The dominant relationship between the central courtyard of the Azoris Royal Garden Hotel with the oriental-inspired garden and its water mirror inhabited by carp is the idea behind the renovation project. An operation that brings greenery to the heart of the restaurant and insinuates a total permeability of the spaces, inside and outside, underlining the amplitude and the determining luminosity of the place. Restored by Box: Arquitectos, Koi is thus conceived as an interior garden, an integral part of the exterior, reflecting the same symbolism and balance, with abundant vegetation that crosses the ceilings, in accordance with the various moments of artificial lighting with scenic effect, and the acoustic panels, in the shape of carp – symbol of prosperity, longevity and fertility – are not limited to their primary function. Despite the overall view of the room, several dining areas are defined, characterized by traditional tables also provided in more welcoming lounge-type areas, to ensure different ways of reception. In this way, the space adapts to the different dining moments of the day. The choice of materials is based on their nobility and resistance, to ensure easy maintenance without compromising comfort.

The Tunguska restaurant, designed by architecture and interior design studio LEFTdesign, reflects the beauty and strength of the Siberian taiga, an ecoregion located in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Far from the old-fashioned traditional Russian decor, the interior adopts the spirit of the surrounding natural habitat. Local ecological materials combined with a zero waste concept complete the project.

The key element of the new restaurant is environmental awareness and responsible consumption, reflected in the installation of modern air purification technologies. One of the main challenges was to establish an open kitchen with a traditional Russian stove and a zero pollution ventilation system. LEFTdesign then creates a Siberian taiga atmosphere, while paying homage to local rivers, such as the Enisey and Tunguska, sources of food such as fish and meat, consumed daily in the northern parts of Siberia and featured on the Tunguska menu. Most of the materials used in the design come from the surrounding area. The floor, a kind of terrazzo, is made of Enisey pebbles, for example, while the countertops in the bar and kitchen are made from solid granite. The partitions and walls are natural tree trunks taken from nearby forests that have dried for several years. In addition, the metal pipes that line the kitchen hoods, stove and stairs reflect the rocks that can be seen on the shores of Tunguska. The handcrafted lamp posts are inspired by the fishing tools of the peoples of the Far North. The sofas with metal backs reflect the lights and look like an island in the river, while the metal mesh on the ceiling undulates like polar lights. The graphic design and logo are based on ancient petroglyphs found in caves and rocks. The toilets take shape on the lower level, adopting a mysterious character underlined by special music based on the guttural singing of shamans. All these elements are combined to create a unique, quiet and comfortable atmosphere, which gives a real sense of luxury.

Atelier Zébulon Perron, a Canadian firm known for its distinctive interiors and design services in the commercial sector, unveils the nostalgic ambiance of Gentile Pizza Parlour in Montreal, Canada. Inspired by family heritage, the original concept for this 280 m² restaurant pays homage to the classic pizzerias of the 70s and 80s in New York City, balancing retro and contemporary elements to create a chic and familiar space with a strong identity.

After a successful collaboration with owner Anthony Gentile in 2016 to design Café Gentile, Atelier Zebulon Perron was again commissioned to design the adjacent pizzeria. The firm embarked on a nostalgic concept in an iconic, contemporary space inspired by family history, recalling the first Café Gentile opened in 1959, as well as a private arcade, where the current purchaser spent much of his youth. The original space, a commercial corridor, had a unique character that guided the firm in the design. The existing ceiling of rhythmic metal slats in the image of 80’s architecture, a vintage artifact, was completely restored. The old signage fixtures are also retained to provide a subdued, pinkish, ambient light. References to the past are carefully revisited to create a modern place that looks to the future. To break the natural linearity of the building, the team developed a diagonal tile pattern to cover the floor, walls and bar continuously. This strong and deliberate gesture is one of the most striking aspects of the final design. The material palette includes both noble and old-fashioned materials to generate a timeless, even playful space: juxtapositions of vinyl and marble surfaces, pre-finished wood wall panels layered with backlit mirrors, amber glass dividers, vertical blinds, etc. For the furniture, authentic vintage objects are found in the personal collections of Zebulon Perron and the client as well as in local classified ads: light fixtures, chairs, stools, dining room sets and even a Pac Man arcade game. These pieces, arranged to make a powerful visual impact, help create a familiar and comforting environment, inimitable, a balance between originality and conviviality, where the primary goal is to spend a pleasant moment.

In Kiev, Ukraine, twin brothers Aleksandr and Vladimir Yudin, founders of Yudin Design Studio, create PRO Espresso, a sophisticated 70 m² coffee bar, showcasing the professionalism of the art of coffee and their client’s commitment to provide superior espresso to tasters.

One of the main characteristics of the bar is the use of compact Modbar machines instead of the classic ones. Modbar is visually a compact press with a single piston and considered the ‘Tesla of espresso machines’ for its professionalism and functionality. The owners of PRO Espresso, located in Kiev, Ukraine, asked the designers of Yudin Design Studio to emphasize the progressive appliances and the skills of the barista, who is not hidden behind the machine but produces tasty masterpieces in front of the visitor’s eyes. The interior has no partitions or massive structures. On the contrary, the entire space is organized in such a way that, upon entering, the customers’ attention is drawn to the bar. The U-shaped counter includes a glass display case containing 1,300 coffee grounds shelves. The original tables, with a recess for bags also in a U, reflect the shape and design of the place. Tasked with creating the store’s brand identity, the studio decided to use the word PRO to confirm that the destination is for true coffee connoisseurs and that everything revolves around the drink. A dynamic pattern printed on the walls symbolizes the fast but efficient pace of the PRO team, while a soft but sophisticated color palette, coupled with panoramic windows, evokes a sense of confidence, calm and stability. Sleek shapes are found in every corner with unique details, such as circles embedded in the tables where real coffee beans are poured. The selected materials, natural oak, glass, metal and concrete, emphasize the natural and ecological element. The architectural firm went a step further by designing lamps for the space made of wooden planks.