Radio Royaal, Eindhoven.

And here I thought I was ready to move on from industrial warehouses being turned into restaurants, and that I couldn’t possibly get excited about yet another crusty interior with chipped tiles, peeling paint and eclectic collection of furniture that looks like it came straight out of a communist boardroom. Well… as it turns out – I was wrong! Lucky, cause I don’t think this is a trend we are going to see the back of any time soon.

Radio Royaal is a so-hip-it-hurts restaurant located in Eindhoven’s Strijp-S – an enormous factory and warehouse previously owned by Philips. The restaurant was created by Niels Wouter, Bart Gardenier and Stella Birsak as a pop-up during last year’s Dutch Design Week. This concept was such a huge success that the owners decided to set up shop permanently.

The existing warehouse space was largely left untouched, including the industrial machinery which still occupies the space. Only minor built elements were inserted such as the open kitchen and the servery, and the rest of the interior was simply furnished with chairs from school canteens, vintage leather sofas, and portraits of food by Dutch photographer Rene Mesman.

This certainly appears to be one gutsy, dramatic and really interesting space. Having said this, I would love to experience it in person as parts of it appear like being trapped inside a Soviet prison – not the usual atmosphere I would chose to dine in most days.

[Images via Radio Royaal, We Heart, Frame, wood & wool stool.]