Rockwell Group designs interiors for José Andrés’ Zaytinya NYC

Zaytinya NYC restaurant opens with interiors by Rockwell Group complementing chef José Andrés’ tribute to Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisine

Interior of Zaytinya Interior of Zaytinya NYC by David Rockwell photographed by day
Zaytinya restaurant within the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad hotel.
(Image credit: Jase Varney)

It’s not easy to keep up with the flurry of New York City hotel openings in recent months, but the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad should not be overlooked. Set back from a well-trafficked corner of 28th Street and Broadway, the glamorous hotel pairs a newly constructed 50-floor building with top-to-toe culinary offerings overseen by chef and humanitarian José Andrés. Andrés’ hand can be felt everywhere from the hotel’s in-room dining to its swanky lobby bar and lounge, as well as a sprawling rooftop bar serving light Spanish fare alongside its panoramic views. But it's his gleaming tribute to Turkish, Greek and Lebanese cuisine, Zaytinya, that is proving to be the most unexpected.

Zaytinya NYC restaurant by Rockwell Group

Banquette at Zaytinya NYC restaurant designed by David Rockwell

(Image credit: Jase Varney)

Designed by Rockwell Group, Zaytinya is a buzzing, 140-seat restaurant named after the Turkish word for olive oil. Inspired by Andrés’ deep knowledge of Mediterranean cuisine, the menu combines fresh takes on traditional mezze dishes alongside more inventive fare that whisks visitors away to the region. Andrés first opened the concept in Washington DC in 2002; New York is the restaurant’s second location, 20 years later. 

‘I have a deep love for the city of New York, and it has long been a dream of mine to bring Zaytinya here,’ says Andrés. ’For the last two decades, Zaytinya has been a place for shared meals between friends and families, celebrations, and countless momentous events, and we cannot wait to continue that story here in New York.’

The bar at Zaytinya NYC restaurant

(Image credit: Jase Varney)

In New York, Rockwell Group has created sophisticated, yet familiar interiors that blend warm bronze finishes with white oak wood. Accents of blue punctuate the light and neutral setting – a nod to the Mediterranean’s azure waters, while softly curved furniture, gauzy blue ombre drapery, linen acoustic panels and bands of blue tiles inset into the chevron-patterned wood floor create an enticing atmosphere that complements the space’s wedge shape. 

Despite being located on the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad’s ground floor and boasting glass frontage on two sides, Zaytinya’s vibrant interior retains an intimacy, thanks to a bevy of thoughtful and inviting touches, whether it's the exposed wood ceiling beams, familial groupings of woven textile pendant lamps, each handpainted by The Alpha Workshops with illustrations custom-designed by Rockwell Group’s graphics studio, or textured walls that allude to the fluting in columns. The bar, however, delivers a high-octane moment, with a blue lava-stone top and a custom-made backbar screen comprised of dual-tone blue glass discs that curves up towards the ceiling – a nod to the evil eye. 

Detail of the bar

(Image credit: Jase Varney)

Corner seating

(Image credit: Jase Varney)

INFORMATION

rockwellgroup.com
zaytinya.com

ADDRESS

Zaytina NYC
Ritz Carlton New York, Nomad
25 West 28th Street
New York, New York

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Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.

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