Description:

Euro Restaurant and Bar has been a longstanding Auckland treasure. Great service and amazing food in a glamorous setting overlooking the harbour and waterfront are drawcards that have enhanced Euro’s stellar reputation. Recognising that the interior was tired, the client asked for a refit that matched its reputation and also attracted younger customers. With big ideas to launch a refreshing rebrand with seasonal menus and art collaborations, the client wanted a background style to support it. The brief was to deliver a ‘modern club-by-the-sea’ concept.

We were excited by the brief and wanted to create a relaxed space that was timelessly cool, would appeal to the younger market, and would retain and enthuse its existing customer base. Coastal Californian beach club precedents became a key influence and driver for the overall look, feel and materiality. A luxury material suite was selected to identify Euro as a premium destination. Pink travertine stone, white marble and lush leather throughout create a slick but relaxed tone.

In the patio, we introduced soft outdoor drapes that would dance in the breeze, grand modern candelabra-style chandeliers, and tropical plants to create that dreamy coastal Californian experience by the water. Feature exterior walls were built with iconic mid-century Palm Springs breeze blocks help to portray the Californian look while connecting with the outdoor banquette block base slab. We also concealed the ugly, existing exterior architecture with a suspended, white-washed cedar-panelled ceiling, giving the outdoor area a sleek finish.

To achieve a seamless indoor/outdoor flow, we extended the drapes, chandeliers and plants into the restaurant interior. We lined one of the key walls by the bar with a bronzed mirror, partially covered with stretched linen fabric panels to soften and add acoustic qualities, layering and materiality whilst creating the illusion of a larger, extended space.

Overall the client and site has seen the uplift in young customers they were after and was recently voted ‘Best for long lunching’ in the 2021 Denizen Hospo Heros Awards.