The Commune Social

Name: The Commune Social
Location:Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Design: Shanghai, China

The Commune Social is a great example of a well balanced, rustic meets modern, space. With small, compartmentalized interior spaces, each area is minimal and well defined.

Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar

Name: Urban Coffee farm & Brew Bar
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Design: Hassell

Designed for Melbourne's Food and Wine festival, the Urban Coffee Farm & Brew Bar dissects the coffee beans travel. Utilizing the materials used for transportation, the pop up allows guests to interact and engage with the coffee making process. 

Umami Burger Arts

Name: Umami Burger Arts
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Design: Westin Mitchell

As a chain of restaurants, Umami Burger did a great job crafting an industrial and warm space utilizing exposed, raw brick and muted tones. 

Vinatería

Name: Vinatería
Location: Harlem, NYC
Design Jonsara Ruth

Vinatería is a great example of vintage made new again; but in a pulled together and thought through manner. 

Mikkeller Bar

Name: Mikkeller Bar
Location: San Francisco, CA
Design: Martin heid design/build

An American take on a Copenhagen brewery, Mikkeller is as much a standout for it's location as it is for the design. 

Elbow Room

Name: Elbow Room
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Graphic Design: mgmt. design
Interior: Greg Yang Design

I love it when the graphic design, identity, and interior all come together to form a cohesive space and presentation. The Elbow Room restaurants are a great example of this cohesive and thought through design. 

SLA

Name: SLA

Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Design: Nicemakers

With the world taking a deeper look at it's food, how we eat, and the care of our ingredients, it's always fun to see how these ideas translate into built environments. While the US is focusing on farm to table, warm woods, raw materials, and an overall emphasis on the rustic and farm-like feel, SLA has gone in an equal, but opposite direction, focusing on the greenhouse.  

At The Chapel

Name: At The Chapel
Location: Burton, UK
Design: Ahmed Sidki & Catherine Butler

A former 17th century congregation church found new life as a cafe, bakery, wine shop, and restaurant.  Keeping the original architectural details intact, the minimalist and warm interior showcases the goods and space perfectly.

Méjico

Name: Méjico Restaurant & Bar
Location: Sydney, Australia
Design: Juicy Design

While Beasleys may have forgotten the design, Méjico is a great example of a space with a fully thought through design.  Using the menu as their starting point, Méjico emphasizes tradition, ingredients, and differentiates itself from the influx of Mexican restaurants popping up throughout Australia. 

Beasley's Chicken + Honey

Name: Beasley's Chicken + Honey
Location: Raleigh, NC
Design: Unknown
Graphic Design: Joshua Gajownik

When looking for restaurants to feature on the blog, I am more often than not scouring through ten to twenty spaces before finding one that is inspiration worthy. Usually, I get so excited when I find something beautifully designed and worth sharing, that I often forget the others that sadly fell short. 

Beasley's is an example of a space I am finding all too common in the industry today. It is a space that forces me to ask myself, "Where is the design?"

Let me explain after the jump.

Code Black Coffee

Name: Code Black Coffee
Location: Brunkswick, VIC, Australia
Design: Zwei Interiors Architecture 

Utilizing an industrial warehouse shell, Code Black Coffee has created a raw, lab-like space that clearly demonstrates their passion for the bean.