ABOUT

In their second restaurant, Shi, de Boer, and Shadbolt undertook a massive project: a space many times larger than their restaurant King, located directly across from Rockefeller Center’s iconic skating rink.

The client wanted a strong design, inspired by where they met and trained in London, the Richard Rogers-designed River Cafe. The restaurant’s Italian cuisine and desire for bold confident use of color made Luca Guadagnino’s personal style, films, and interiors a natural additional reference point for the project. 

Within a warm white limewashed space, a honed red travertine bar and open kitchen defines the perimeter with 1970’s chrome Jerry Johnson bar stools. Art Deco references of Rockefeller Center inspired elements such as the rounded stepped ceiling that encircles the bar. A glossy yellow-tiled column defines one dining space, while deep blue pillars punctuate the other. Flanking the bar end are three cozy arched niches with rich orange mohair banquettes and eclipse-inspired lighting. Oversized conical lights hug the low ceiling and march throughout the dining rooms. Additional color blocking occurs in the restrooms; each lavatory fully immersed in its respective red and yellow, with a hand painted line-drawing of celestial graphics, alluding to the restaurant’s name “Jupiter”, and Rockefeller Center’s own Prometheus sculpture.