Tickling the taste buds
MAMA KELLY, THE NETHERLANDS
First and foremost, this is a very pink restaurant. And when we say very, we mean pretty much exclusively. The brainchild of Rein Rambaldo, founder of Dutch restaurant design firm De Horeca Fabriek, his wife Willemien and a duo of local restaurateurs, MaMa Kelly Amsterdam is a single-hued statement space. It follows in the footsteps of the first, and decidedly more blue-tinged, MaMa Kelly in The Hague. Instagram fiends can’t get enough of the rose-hued interiors, and foodies love the menu, which is as simple as the colour on the walls – you can order chicken or lobster. And that’s it.
THE JANE, BELGIUM
Antwerp’s The Jane sits within the church of a former military hospital in the city’s southern belt. Michelinstarred Sergio Herman and fellow chef Nick Bril opened the critically acclaimed restaurant in 2014. The cavernous space is a monument to light and air, and a masterful accompaniment to the dishes that stream from the kitchen each evening. Piet Boon is the design studio behind the enchanting space, which seeks to maintain and celebrate as much of the original chapel as possible. Hence, the altar now houses an open kitchen – enshrined in glass – while the original ceiling remains.
THE PINK ZEBRA, INDIA
Venture to the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India – most notably known as the home of the Taj Mahal – and hidden within the streets of Kanpur you will find The Pink Zebra of The Feast India Company. We say hidden, but there’s nothing quiet about this repurposed two-storey building. Pink and black stripes zigzag the interior, making stepping through the doors a high-speed ride into the world of Wes Anderson et al. While you can always go for the food, there’s something to be said for settling in at the ostentatious bar, Martini in hand, just to marvel.
NIKUNOTORIKO, JAPAN
Book a spot at this premium yakiniku eatery and find yourself transported to another dimension, where hunters roam for food and families sit fireside to cook and eat. Tokyo-based architect Ryoji Iedokoro designed the space in his native city, aiming to bring patrons an interiors experience that captures the very essence of the food served therein. The lower level is cave-like in its appeal, while upstairs, guests are invited to sit on the floor amid a forest of leaves and jutting pipework. Even better, the food more than matches the impressive environment.
Style trends may come and go, but these fashion-forward restaurants have been designed to last longer than a single season