Michelin-Starred Aquavit Gets an Upgrade
Spacesmith enlivens interiors while honoring the New York restaurant’s Nordic roots March
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New York culinary institution Aquavit has unveiled its newly redesigned space in Midtown Manhattan. Drawing upon Nordic sensibilities of light, space, texture, and materiality, the update by Spacesmith reflects the brand’s evolution over the last 30 years with greater sense of warmth and a more activated dining experience.
“We wanted the space to envelop guests with warm glowing rooms that would be in contrast to the cool granite plaza just outside,” says Spacesmith principal and design director Katy Flammia. “The design palette for Aquavit is earthy with a combination of natural materials and textures that are both raw and rened. This blend of elements creates a dynamic and sensual appeal that is particularly Scandinavian.”
The kitchen was opened up with a glass wall framed in brass, injecting drama into the dining room. Wideplanked Danish raw oak floors with butterfly joinery line the interior in harmony with polished wood panels offset by glints of brass. Scandinavian blue hues wrap the banquettes for handsome contrast as well.
The double-height bar area is further invigorated beneath a 20-foot undulating wood ceiling—a holdover from a previous renovation. New backlit wood panels and antique mirror glass punctuate the space, which is illuminated by twinkling new bar pendants.
“Aquavit is still a recognizable and a familiar dining experience, but feels a bit more of the moment,” Flammia adds. “Aquavit is not a nostalgic, theatrical venue pretending to be an old warehouse or bistro. Aquavit’s new design, much like the food they serve, is about authentic ingredients, real materials, and simple elegant compositions, which allow the diners and the exquisite dishes to be the focus of the experience."
