French Touch

Bistro Mendeleev - Bucharest, Romania

The city center of Bucharest is an area where people of all types are coming together.

The design concept is inspired by the French bistros with colorful facades and very comfortable outdoor chairs. As you enter the space you have a small prefunction room/entrance area with high tables. This space is thought as a passing moment, its purpose is to prepare the guest for the central area where the restaurant and the open kitchen is.

The main space has the restaurant and the open kitchen. Architecturally, we wanted the ceiling to come and fold in the vertical plan as well, so we could play with earth and warm tones on the base level and darker/colder tones as we go on the upper level. Materials used are a mix of complementary colours with textures. The main focus instantly goes on the copper exhaust hood that combines with unique blue green ceramic for the bar, wrapped together by a dark wooden counter. The walls are relatively simple, but divided in three levels, with distinct finishing and colours. The “French touch” is brought in by the mouldings.

Bistro Mendeleev will serve early breakfast but also will host evening dinners, so the space had to be adaptable yet comfortable.