Interiors Inspiration

Tell us a little about the inspiration for the restaurant’s design?

Manzi’s takes its name from the original Leicester Square institution that served diners for well over half a century. Its interiors blended Mediterranean spirit with a dose of kitsch – think plastic loaves of plaited bread, mermaids etched into mirrors and fishermen’s nets. We wanted to riff on that original atmosphere, which felt slightly fantastical. Our aim was to use familiar motifs in unexpected ways to deliver something equally playful but fresh and adventurous.

How does the restaurant pay homage to the spirit of the original?

The original feels ethereal because almost no interior images of it survive, making it seem tantalisingly out of reach. It’s kept alive only in people’s imaginations. There’s a book, called Memories of Manzi’s, comprising anecdotes about the original, comparing its atmosphere to Rick’s Café in the film Casablanca. We were fascinated by that idea of a place where normal rules did not seem to apply; anything could happen within its walls. So, the starting point was to design our Manzi’s with that sense of playful irreverence.

How did you strike a balance between glamour, playfulness and irreverence?

Manzi’s’ interiors aren’t trend-led; instead it’s about telling a playful story on a grand scale. The glamour comes from the service – the way a drink is served or a meal is presented. The irreverence comes from evoking the hedonistic spirit of the original.

In what way do these interiors break the mould?

There’s always a balance to be had in restaurant design between practicality and playfulness. We didn’t want to create a ‘theme’; instead we wanted to inject a natural narrative that gives the decadent atmosphere of our forefather a new twist. I also love the fact that the new Manzi’s, being sequestered between two narrow streets, has the potential to become a bit of a Soho secret.

Any secrets you can share?

There are some design features that regulars of the original Manzi’s, which closed in 2006, will recognise. Above the ground floor bar, we’ve paid homage to the lettering of its whitewashed façade, recreating the original ‘Langouste’, ‘Huitres’ and ‘Moules’ in the same script, in white enamel. The bar is fronted with embossed leather, inspired by the currents of the sea, while upstairs, mosaics around the bar recall the shape and colour of seaweed. Nothing takes itself too seriously here, but there’s always something to intrigue the eye.