Elegantly Informal: Le Bon Funk Restaurant in Singapore by Nice Projects.

Le Bon Funk has a distinct feel — it is warm, welcoming and unpretentious. Designed by Sacha Leong and Simone McEwan, the team behind Nice Projects, this hospitality venue in Singapore’s Holland Village is their take on a contemporary European wine bar.

The look is simple and pared back with a warm, natural colour palette and an emphasis on the informal so that diners can focus on the good food and wine.

The focal point of the restaurant is the timber counter with a full view of the open kitchen so that diners can see chef Keirin Buck and his team at work. Seating in the adjacent banquettes provides a good vantage point to watch the chefs more closely.

To one side is a well-stocked wine room with a curated selection of the best natural wines. The restaurant design reflects Keirin’s unfussy approach to food and his attention to detail and quality. It is simple, understated, familiar and welcoming — with a few special moments of delight.

An Authentic Singaporean Experience: The Coconut Club by Nice Projects.

London-based design studio's latest project reimagines the humble Nasi Lemak stall, a place where diners can immerse themselves in an authentic Singaporean experience.

Concrete floors are inlaid with a grid of checkered marble mosaics. Rendered walls and classic timber bentwood chairs are paired with tables in a mix of marble tops to create a fresh and modern ambience. Furniture placement encourages intimate gatherings and a feeling of conviviality. Opal glass pendants over the tables are designed to create a more intimate atmosphere. Pairs of wall lights punctuate the space, setting up a discreet rhythm. Overhead, a minimal LED light installation crisscrosses the ceiling. Playful cut-out illustrations are located around the restaurant to provide a few amusing moments.

At the front of the restaurant, an open window allows diners to sit at the counter and watch as people pass by. On the side, the raised terrace offers a lush, tropical retreat with views overlooking a landscaped border by This Humid House and connecting to the trees in the adjacent park.

One of the main challenges was the site’s long, narrow footprint. The design successfully breaks up the seating zones so that the space feels more domestic with a variety of table and chair configurations rather than a long repetitive row of tables and chairs.

“Le Bon Funk offers Singaporeans a new kind of dining experience — a place that feels warm, familiar, unpretentious and genuinely welcoming,” says lead designer Sacha Leong. “We hope it will become a local favourite for the neighbourhood.”

Culinary Worlds Collide: Juno Restaurant in Doha by Rawan Muqaddas and Selma Akkari.

Drawing inspiration from the timeless Italian establishment and the iconic American diner, Juno’s interior evokes a warm and welcoming atmosphere that combines materials and elements reminiscent of both culinary worlds.

[Images courtesy of Nice Projects. Photography by Lisa Cohen.]