An escapist eatery

By Rhiannon McGregor 30 : 11 : 2016 Design Direction : The Golden Age : Italian

Vancouver – Kissa Tanto is a new Italian-Japanese fusion restaurant inspired by a 1960s jazz café aesthetic.

The name is derived from the Japanese jazu kissa (jazz café) and the Italian word tanto (so much)
The exterior of the restaurant has been made to appear distressed in order to conjure a feeling of departure and discovery

Located in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the décor of Kissa Tanto combines elements of Italian and Japanese culture, with a floor layout inspired by author Haruki Murakami’s book covers and furniture that hints at modernist architect and designer Giò Ponti’s work.

The inspiration for the aesthetic, designed by Ste.Marie, comes from the vanishing 1960s jazz café in a bid to evoke a sense of nostalgia and escapism, transporting guests to a different place and time. The space is in direct contrast to the plethora of fast-casual, light and airy restaurants that now dominate the region.

As the press release says: ‘The patron hangs up his or her rain-soaked coat and sinks into the soft pink seating with a Singapore Sling, and for a moment they are in a 1960s Japanese jazz bar or jazu kissa.’

The Big Picture

Designers are conjuring up spaces inspired by old-school glamour in order to tap into a consumer longing for the elegance of times past. For more, see our Golden Age design direction.