The acclaimed Sri Lankan restaurant receives a soft, ambient makeover from the designer of natty London eateries Brat, Kiln and Mountain.
2 min read
Affectionately referred to as Paradise 2.0, Paradise Soho reopened its doors for the summer following a refurbishment by East London designer Dan Preston. Designed in collaboration with the restaurant’s creative director Dom Fernando, this new iteration softens the tropical Brutalism of the first through the introduction of a warm, natural palette. Despite retaining an uncomplicated aesthetic and Brutalist touches such as the micro-cement walls, warm wooden furnishings in English oak help to evoke Sri Lanka’s walauwa (traditional manor houses) and invite guests to share an intimate, authentic meal by candlelight.
Carefully considered details help to further elevate the second iteration of Paradise Soho, including the hot rolled black steel tables, each of which was individually hand painted prior to the reopening. Guests will also find bespoke cutlery drawers concealed within their table, a detail that ensures both comfort and convenience as well as an efficient use of space within a relatively small site footprint. Preston also pushed for sustainable consumption and construction where possible, ensuring that the timber used throughout came from either windfall sources or certified, estate-managed woodlands. Leather for the banquette seating was also UK-made using olive-oil byproducts, while stainless steel cutlery for the restaurant is set to be sourced from Sri Lanka with the aim of supporting local artisan makers.
The 28-cover dining space revolves around a central bar, made with soft Italian limestone, which can seat up to eight guests for an aperitif or a post-dinner tipple. Diners can choose between plum leather banquettes that line the walls, or the array of bespoke wooden chairs hand crafted by Dan Preston’s team of makers. Reinforcing the cosy, intimate ambience, the entrance is revealed by a green lambswool curtain, repeated in the back corner of the restaurant to conceal a cosy, semi-private dining area for up to six guests.
Inspiration for your next read
From agile, customisable furniture to entire concept layouts, we handpick a selection of spaces offering a lesson in modular design.
Adaptive reuse but make it luxury: an iconic former government building is transformed.
Inspired by Mexican Cantinas and Latin American design, Bolívar transports guests from the maximalist rooms of Annabel’s to a different time and place.
