The convergence of exceptional food and stunning interior design has redefined what it means to dine at the world’s top restaurants. These high-end spots combine meticulously crafted dishes with thoughtfully designed spaces, creating an experience that goes beyond just eating. Each detail, from the flavors on the plate to the atmosphere in the room, works together to create a cohesive and memorable dining experience. In these restaurants, food and design come together to elevate the entire experience. Interior Matter and Upon Return team up to discuss five restaurants that have exquisite interior design and delicious, inventive cuisine.

ALCHEMIST, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

A 2-Michelin restaurant like you’ve never seen before. It looks like a planetarium, and the experience is dramatic and theatrical. It is a multi-sensory experience where the food happens to be out of this world (no pun intended). The design and culinary experience are integrated over 4-6 hours for 42 people. Fifty impressions (bites) are experienced throughout the multi-room adventure. Be sure to look up at the projections.

REINE & LA RUE, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

Reine and La Rue are located in Melbourne’s historic Olderfleet Building, a stunning example of 19th-century Victorian Gothic architecture. Reine offers a fine dining experience with a sophisticated French-inspired menu, while La Rue is an 8-seat bar, perfect for a relaxed meal or drinks. Both share the same elegant setting but provide a distinct vibe to suit your dining mood within this beautifully restored landmark.

STEIRERECK, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

It is one of the top 2-Michelin restaurants in the world and is located in a modern, crisp environment. The tasting menu with wine pairings is superb, as is the service. It is located in the middle of Vienna’s main public park. The modern steel and glass exterior clad the warmly lighted and designed interior.

ATOMIX, NEW YORK, NY

The modern Korean tasting menu is in a Murray Hill brownstone hidden from the city. It’s one of the most difficult reservations to land. It has 2 well-deserved Michelin stars. A husband-and-wife chef/owner team is behind it, and their passion comes through in every elegantly presented dish. The simplicity and warmth of the interiors foster a friendly atmosphere and allow the food to be the color and art. (The main image in this newsletter is a dish from Atomix.)

MAAEMO, OSLO, NORWAY

The name means Mother Earth. This is a dramatic, expensive, and worthy 3-Michelin restaurant featuring transformational dishes, precision, craft, and service. A gorgeous modern dining room, with a visit to the friendly kitchen, leads to a memorable evening.

ON THE BOARDS

To continue with the featured topic of the month – food and design excellence – we are pleased to share a roundup of a few of our favorite dining and entertaining spaces that we’ve had the pleasure to design recently.

Our roundup includes a generous dining room anchored by a beautiful wood and brass table that we paired with a truly one-of-a-kind wormy chestnut floating credenza. Next, we have an art-focused dining room that needed an injection of warmth with all new furnishings and creative storage solutions for all of the entertaining necessities. Lastly, we have a colorful and classic wet bar design to make a lasting impression for clients that love to entertain and needed solutions for serving guests on multiple levels of their new Georgetown row home. 

Stay tuned for installation updates and final photography of these gorgeous rooms in the coming months!

Upon Return is your gateway to a world where each destination is a narrative waiting to unfold.

Wonder less. Wander more.