La Sirena, New York, USA

Celebrity chef Mario Batali and restaurateur Joe Bastianich - behind local hospitality group B&B - have unveiled another buzzy Italian eatery, this time in New York’s Maritime Hotel, as part of the propery’s spruce-up which also includes a fancy new lobby.

Called La Sirena, the indoor-outdoor restaurant’s design was overseen by the group’s creative director Lisa Eaton, who imbued the space with retro flourishes and subtle references to the Maritime Hotel’s nautical theme. Taking centre stage is a 38-foot monolithic Caesarstone bar that connects the north and south dining rooms. Elsewhere are two-toned leather chairs exclusively created in Italy by Luca Pascolini of San Giorgio Export, brass chandeliers, sculpted leather bar stools, and acoustic panels wrapped in patterned linen from Kravet designed by Jonathan Adler. This all sits atop the room’s real scene-stealer, the custom-made tiles crafted to look like the iconic patterned pavers found all over Portugal. 

It may not have anything to do with Italy, but the bold flooring anchors the seaside theme perfectly. As so do the spicy octopus pasta, house-marinated anchovies, and grilled calamari.