the scene is set: circa 1940, somewhere along the mid-west, a group of circus performers are on their way to the next gig on their national grand tour and boy, do they have an appetite. an appetite for magic, milkshakes and more, that is. cue burger circus.
burger circus is a whimsical take on the classic mid-century americana diner. the space, inspired by edward hopper’s painting « compartment c, car 293 », encompasses train carriage accents like the curved stainless steel wall panels and warm tones casted by vintage lamps. the circus narrative in the branding content was derived from francis lawrence’s water for elephants and is pushed throughout the menus and circus posters, which vividly display the different characters’ quirks and talents. situated at the foot of soho, customers take a ride ( almost literally, as they dine in carriage booths ) to a nostalgic time filled with retro vibes and feel good food.

An elegant building stands on Hollywood Road amongst antique shops and art galleries. Discreetly opulent touches suggest this may be a smart regional office for a prosperous business. Yet inside the building, people gather to enjoy fine French cuisine in a setting filled with important and exciting works of modern and street art.

Substance were challenged to create a restaurant where modern street art, classic French gastronomy, and the space which contained the two could work together in harmony. The inspiration came in the form of 1930’s Art Deco – a design aesthetic modern enough to serve as a backdrop to constantly changing and extremely eclectic artistic expression, but also elegant and comfortable enough as a spatial environment in which to serve classic French gastronomy. The connection between the decade, art works, and cuisine was made through a craftily invented story of an abandoned office building of a formerly prosperous French tram company, now occupied by street artists who express themselves by layering their art on surfaces with a history, tagging their ideas on the physical space that has since become ‘Bibo’.

the ocean, protean and primeval, has enchanted many who have come before. along the coast of repulse bay beach, an oceanic sanctum has been imagined as a place of marvels, where one can experience beyond the surface of the sea and into the alluring depths of the unknown.

the restaurant’s interior invites you through a pool of dark blues and cyan, balanced with sandy brown finishes throughout. ceiling-to-floor windows offer a clear panoramic view of the sea-side on the horizon, diving into the deep through the portal frames flourished with silver leafs.

there is an emphasis on intimacy, as the ocean houses three private dining rooms for an added lap of luxury. magic is added with a backdrop of the ocean itself, while the walls of a jellyfish aquarium surrounding each private dining room, submerging each visitor into a pool of conversation as they observe the mystique of nature around them.

but the devil truly is in the details, with tableware and furnishings taking design cues from coral leafs, anemone spirals and fibonacci suites in shells – each designed to reflect the undersea organic geometry lives.