Many London restaurants have the word nightingale in their name, but the latest addition to the offering in Mayfair, called simply Nightingale, should not be confused with either, although one could argue that the name lacks creativity.
The new Nightingale is already being hailed as the most stylish addition to the exclusive Mayfair district. It is also being touted as a radical departure from the posh, somewhat stuffy gentlemen’s eateries that dominate the area.
German Felizia Berchtold and her partner, Oskar Kohnen, founders of the London-based design studio All goodThey are the creatives behind the design of the all-day dining Nightingale, which has 30 seats inside and another 30 on the tree-lined terrace for al fresco dining.
The designers wanted to give the restaurant a timeless feel, but also something different from its neighbors, something more functional and comfortable, something that would invite you to linger and relax.
They were inspired by the elegant, casual, unhurried atmosphere found in Viennese coffee houses, Berlin coffee houses, and European theatre and museum cafés.
The design of Nightingale is a harmonious combination of white folds, moss green hues and striking stainless steel curves. The design language is difficult to define or categorise, but the resulting ambience is balanced and light, rather than edgy, and cool, rather than dark and dated.
At Nightingale, the key design piece turned out to be the Satellite pendant light that they custom-designed for the space. It’s a cluster of five pleated pendant lights that rotate overhead. They’re made of fabric and steel and are more of an art installation than a light fixture.
The satellite pendants were created with the Viennese lighting house. Kalmarfounded in 1881. Several other pleated features emerged from these pendants setting a theme that plays nicely with the more industrial vibe of the green tiles and steel.
Nightingale is Tutto Bene’s first full project, but the partners confidently designed most of the furniture and accessories, contributing to the balanced overall feel.
Berchtold and Kohnen are new partners, as is their firm, but they are not without experience. They met during Milan Design Week 2023, fell in love and quickly realized they wanted to combine their passions. Kohnen has run his own architecture and design firm for over a decade and Berchtold has designed both products and spaces for an equally long period. – Tuija Seipell
Images by Ludovic Balay
