Maximilian Gradl and his partners originally intended to open a champagne bar, but after a survey of the light-filled L-shaped space in a postmodernist pile built in the late 1950s by Sepp Ruf and Theo Pabst, the Zurich-based architects Build_Inc had more ambitious ideas.
The result is a sexy bar, lounge and restaurant that combines contemporary lines with an unabashed vintage vibe that’s completely in keeping with the building’s architectural heritage. The terrazzo floor is inlaid with strips of brass that demarcate the separate spaces. Dark grey drapes and furnishings, and deep black walls and pillars provide a dramatic contrast, while thin veins of brass strips break away to create geometric edges along the window panes, sofa arm rests, and table corners.
The bar menu is equally beguiling. The Paper Wave – a heady cocktail of spiced rum, Irish whiskey, sherry, burnt orange slices, and caramelized pineapple – sets the scene for a dinner of artichoke ravioli and red chard, and pancetta-inflected potato bread.
ADDRESS
Maxburgstraße 4
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Brunello Cucinelli’s festive takeover of Harrods turns the department store into a cashmere wonderlandUnveiled this morning, the Umbrian fashion house has taken over the store’s iconic Brompton Road windows, celebrating the spirit of its home town of Solomeo in fantastical fashion
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Each mundane object tells a story at Pace’s tribute to the everydayIn a group exhibition, ‘Monument to the Unimportant’, artists give the seemingly insignificant – from discarded clothes to weeds in cracks – a longer look
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Discover The Legacy, Hong Kong’s eye-catching new condoThe Legacy, by ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, is a striking new condo tower that aims to ‘create a sense of community and solidarity among people’
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Let’s go Deutsch – a date with Berlin’s new-wave dinersIn the German capital, the diner is being reinvented as a contemporary hub for cosmopolitan flavours, conviviality and near-Nora Ephron levels of delight
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A luxurious new floating hotel redefines the European riverboat experienceQuietly cruising the Rhine, Main and Danube, new Hecker Guthrie-designed vessel Solara is the latest addition to the APT fleet
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In the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat elevates cabin-style charmArchitect Matteo Thun gives a masterclass in clean lines and traditional craftsmanship with this stylish German retreat in harmony with its surroundings
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Hamburg’s new food court Le Big TamTam offers traditional flavours in an irreverent settingLe Big TamTam, designed by Studio Aisslinger, marks a new era in Hamburg’s hospitality-rich Hanse District
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Inside MM:NT Berlin Lab, the new futuristic aparthotel captivating the tech-savvyWallpaper* spends two nights at the currently-on-trial MM:NT Berlin Lab, a digitally hosted escape for guests who value independence
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Fire and salt fuel the new Beef Club eatery at Volkswagen’s AutostadtBeef Club, revamped by Ester Bruzkus Architekten, turns to fire and salt in its cooking as well as its interior inspiration
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Hamburg’s Central Congress Bar is all about 1960s smoky boardroom glamourCentral Congress Bar in Hamburg offers an unconventional and retro respite from the working week
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Rosewood Munich’s opulent elegance embraces its historic featuresRosewood Munich balances historic detailing with modern luxury to create a quiet German escape
