**Image:** https://www.sushisamba.com/locations/uk/edinburgh

When it comes to restaurants, people are not just searching for great food, they’re seeking out exceptional experiences that they can tell their friends and family all about. Interior design reflects a restaurant’s quality and character. A well-designed space, featuring ambient music and good lighting levels can help a restaurant amplify the food further, standing out from its competitors and catering to a diverse audience.

What makes a dining space truly memorable?

First impressions are everything. When diners enter your restaurant, the interior design and character of your dining space instantly set the tone for their entire experience. Dining spaces should be uniquely put together as this space represents how you want your restaurant to be viewed in the eyes of your customers. If you get this right, this can subconsciously influence your customers turning them into repeat diners and adding to your bottom line.

A well-designed dining space can engage every sense, from the visually aesthetic décor and lighting to the comfort of the furniture and overall layout and flow of your space. An interior that speaks to your restaurant’s identity helps to set you apart from the competition, ensuring a memorable experience that keeps people coming back time and time again.

While design plays a huge factor in this, it’s important to bear in mind factors such as lighting, noise and views.

SP3 London specialises in restaurant interior design, expertly transforming spaces to enhance the guest experience, taking the experience to the next level.

How can unique interiors influence customer behaviour?

Restaurant interiors aren’t just about telling your brand’s story; they can also be used psychologically to help encourage certain types of behaviour.

Take the original McDonalds as an example. The original concept featured booths in its signature red and yellow colour scheme. Red was chosen to help increase appetite, while yellow appeals to younger diners. The utilitarian nature of this concept reminds customers that their table was clean when they came in, so it should be on the way out, completely embodying everything about the fast-food chain.

Contrast this with a high-end restaurant like Sketch in Mayfair. It features gorgeous golden yellow sofas and chairs that encourage diners to stay for longer meaning they can spend more at the restaurant.

While creating an alluring atmosphere with restaurant interiors is one of the main goals, there’s more to it than meets the eye. This depends on what you want to do with your restaurant and how you want your customers to behave and interact.

What role does interior design play in enhancing brand identity?

Interior design is important in standing out in the crowded hospitality industry and fostering a loyal set of customers. Your restaurant’s interior says a lot about your brand and can be a powerful tool for enhancing your brand’s identity. Everything from the colour scheme to furniture style and lighting should reflect your restaurant’s values and story.

For example, if your restaurant prides itself on offering the most sought-after and luxurious ingredients, incorporating grand furniture and artwork into the restaurant’s design can reinforce your message.

A consistent brand identity doesn’t just help your restaurant stand out, but also builds trust and loyalty with your customers.

Here are three exceptional examples of restaurants that have signature spaces

Sexy Fish

The worlds of architecture, art and fashion have come together at Sexy Fish. Designed by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, this sought-after seafood restaurant in London is a treat for all senses. Featuring aquatic-themed artworks by artists such as Damien Hirst, the interior of this restaurant really oozes style and sophistication of a mid-century brasserie.

With an Esmeralda onyx floor, raspberry leather benches, an internal water-wall and a fabric-panelled ceiling mural, this Asian Fusion restaurant is a destination for celebrities and fashion-forward individuals alike. With its Instagrammable contemporary interior guests can be submerged into a restaurant interior like nothing London has ever seen before.

The Wolseley

The Wolseley, built in 1921, this Grade II listed building was built by Wolseley Motors as their regional offices with a ground floor showroom that was later occupied by Barclays Bank. The building has been completely transformed and in 2003 was re-opened as an upscale European restaurant after a renovation by British restauranteurs Chris Corbin and Jeremy King.

The interior architecture is incredibly detailed from the high gloss lacquered Chinese inspired gold joinery to the refined detailed metal work. Geometric tile work and gorgeous bathroom accessories add opulence to this beautiful building and interior. The whole space is opulent yet restrained.

Since its opening, the Wolseley has operated as an all-day café in the Grand European style and has received numerous awards.

Sushi Samba

Situated on the 38th and 39th floors of the Heron Tower in London, Sushi Samba celebrates the culture and cuisine of Japan, Brazil and Peru. Featuring the highest outdoor dining terraces in Europe and offering 360-degree views over London, Sushi Samba is a dining experience like no other.

Before you enter the restaurant, two panoramic glass lifts bring customers from the ground to the 39th floor, showing tourists and city dwellers alike the whole of London as lifts climb to the top. If that’s not enough, their main dining room has stunning views over London, with floor-to-ceiling windows.

A line of lights hung through an open bamboo ceiling creates a wonderful atmosphere during daytime, while creating cozy vibes at night. Throughout the restaurant the outside is brought in, through elements such as the orange tree that’s featured on the west terrace.

Conclusion

Interior design is more than just aesthetics, it helps to create an immersive dining experience and foster brand loyalty. From creating a striking first impression to fostering emotional connections and reflecting your brand’s personality, interior design has the power to elevate a meal into an unforgettable experience.

In a world where every detail matters, where each colour, texture and arrangement carry a message, interior design remains the unsung hero, ensuring that every dining experience is not just a meal, but a memory that lasts.

Discover how SP3 London can support your high-end design project with expert design management services and more—contact us today to learn more.

Creating signature spaces and attracting diners with unique interiors