Semiramis Hotel new restaurant is one of the most well known boutique hotels in Athens, part of YES Hotels group owned by international art collector Dakis Joannou. It is located at Kifisia area, one of the most high end areas in northern Athens.
The hotel is also part of the Design Hotel international branding group. The original classic hotel was purchased by Art Collector Dakis Joannou and renovated 12 years ago by international designer Karim Rashid.
Nolita is the new restaurant located at the lower level overlooking the back garden and pool, a space that has been operating as the hotel restaurant only for the past years. The hotel owner and management wanted to re-conceptualize it as a project within a project, a “setting” within the setting of the original and audacious hotel design.
The new restaurant would be completely closed off from the hotel and operate independently with an italian cuisine concept created by italian Chef Elio Sironi. A new entrance from the street level creates a transition from the colorful design to the warm and delicate interiors of the new restaurant.
A large window placed at the outdoor waiting area looks straight into the interior open kitchen, and preparation area. The new space measures 3500 sq. ft. in one single floor. A high ceiling space is surrounded by an intricate louver design separates the hotel lobby with the new restaurant space below which maintains visual privacy while offers glimpses from one space to the other.
NOLITA consist of an entry lobby, an open “show” kitchen, a dining hall of 80 people capacity, a private dining area of 20 people capacity and a new bar-lounge space overlooking the outdoor garden and pool.
The aesthetics of the new concept is that of a warm, elegant and casual space with atmospheric lighting, intricate materiality and intense presence of greenery. Elements including dining tables, booth seating, lounge stools and many lighting fixtures were custom designed for the project purposes, as well as unique concrete tile design for the open kitchen area.
Artworks from the personal collection of Dakis Joannou can be found in the space, a large mural by american artist Barry Mcgee, a wall neon by Karim Rashid are among pieces of his vast collection curated around the restaurant and the rest of hotel spaces.
