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Author:Abigail StoneSan Francisco’s Kaiyo Restaurant is the elegant counterpart to its lively rooftop bar above and its casual Cow Hollow hand roll spot
Vivid patterns, varied textures and moody hues glow against the contrast dark walls, highlighting the restaurant’s intimacy and elegance
Given the resounding success of San Francisco’s Kaiyo Rooftop, atop the Hyatt Place Hotel, which successfully unites innovative Nikkei cuisine, panoramic views of the city and minimalist, Peruvian influenced decor to showcase a lively cocktail bar, it was, perhaps inevitable that the trio behind it—William Duff Architects, Brick X Brick Hospitality’s John Park and chef Alex Reccio—would move forward on a second collaboration. The result is Kaiyo Restaurant & Bar, a full service eatery on the ground floor of the same building. “Like we did upstairs, our main goal was to connect the two cultures, channeling the Japanese diaspora in Peru,” says WDA’s Jonathan Tsurui, the firm’s associate principal, hospitality. Given the limited square footage—just over 1900 square feet—the team, headed by WDA’s Parvathy Nair, had to find creative ways to maximize the space. It was also important to connect the new restaurant to the rooftop cocktail lounge and Kaiyo’s hand roll bar in Cow Hollow.
A detail of the metal screens, fabricated by Modern Metal Design, whose Japanese-inspired pattern was created from the Kaiyo logo, that divide the various dining areas
Bright colors immediately conjure up the vibrancy of Peruvian culture. “Metal screens, fabricated by Modern Metal Design, with a Japanese-inspired pattern constructed from the Kaiyo logo, divide the various dining areas,” says Tsurui. “Their transparency enables clear sight lines, opening up the small space.” So, too, do the room’s vivid patterns, varied textures and plethora of moody hues.
As diners move towards the rear of the restaurant the influence of Japan becomes increasingly apparent
“Intricately woven natural fiber lamps and copious amounts of lush, hanging greenery surround you, evoking the feeling of dining in the Amazon jungle,” Tsurui notes. Dark walls underline the restaurant’s intimacy, its elegance and its drama. Moving towards the rear of the restaurant, the influence of Japan becomes increasingly apparent. That’s confirmed by Shou Sugi Ban treated walls and a preponderance of laser-cut wooden fans.
The murals in the rear dining room were commissioned from renowned British urban artist Fin DAC, a self-taught, non-conformist artist who has defined and perfected an atypical spray paint style he has dubbed ‘Urban Aesthetics’.
Two large floor-to-ceiling murals, commissioned from renowned British urban artist Fin DAC, dominate the rear dining room. A self-taught, non-conformist artist who has defined and perfected an atypical spray paint style he has dubbed Urban Aesthetics, he gained worldwide notoriety for his depictions of Eurasian women in traditional and ceremonial dressing. “He is renowned for his exploration of themes related to female emancipation and empowerment, readjusting the male gaze and disrupting colonialist attitudes particularly surrounding the Eastern experience,” Park explains.
The murals in the rear dining room were commissioned from renowned British urban artist Fin DAC who gained worldwide notoriety for his depictions of Eurasian women in traditional and ceremonial dressing
“The final result is a space that reflects the colorful exuberance of Kaiyo’s Peruvian-Japanese Nikkei cuisine, with every layered texture and hue echoing our bold, inventive flavors,” Park continues, adding, “WDA’s design of the space sets the stage for diners to enjoy a truly immersive dining experience”.
The bright colors of the upholstery conjure up the vibrant culture of Peru