22RE "channels Italian dining culture" at Bar di Bello in Los Angeles

Walnut millwork, modernist furnishings and a red travertine bar give this Los Angeles restaurant by local design studio 22RE a "distinctly Milanese sensibility".

Bar di Bello in Silver Lake offers a Northern Italian menu within a 2,000-square-foot (186-square-metre) space designed to reflect the influence of the cuisine.

Restaurant interior with walnut-panelled walls and ceiling grid — Bar di Bello in LA's Silver Lake is designed to reflect its Northern Italian menu

"The design embraces a familiar warmth and casual comfort, while nodding to Art Deco elements and a distinctly Milanese sensibility," said 22RE.

"Conceived as an open dining hall, the space channels Italian dining culture and the urban energy of European cafes."

A clear circulation path around a restaurant's central seating bank — A clear circulation path is formed around the central seating bank

The layout is planned to aid circulation for both customers and staff, with a clear pathway defined by beige floor tiles that leads from the kitchen pass around the central bank of seating.

Custom banquettes are enclosed by curved walnut backs that match the wall panelling and lined with russet velvet cushions.

A restaurant interior featuring icons of midcentury modern design — The interiors include ceiling lights by Olivier Mourgue, sconces by Afra and Tobia Scarpa, and chairs by Vico Magistretti

The centrally aligned bar is made from red travertine and visually anchors the symmetrical dining room, which seats 40 covers.

"Custom tables and seating further unify the interior, instilling a feeling of permanence and crafted precision," said 22RE.

Custom banquettes featuring curved walnut backs and russet-hued velvet cushions — Custom banquettes feature curved walnut backs and russet-hued velvet cushions

Across the ceiling, a grid of circular cutouts is inset with floral Disderot lights by French designer Olivier Mourgue, which cast a soft, even glow across the dining room.

Pendants and table lamps by Swedish mid-century designer Hans-Agne Jakobsson highlight the bar, while sconces by Italian modernists Afra and Tobia Scarpa adorn the walls.

Together with chairs by Vico Magistretti, these iconic furnishings "infuse the interior with a subtle historical resonance", according to 22RE.

Details, including circular and lozenge-shaped frosted glass inserts within the kitchen door, also add to the vintage Milanese aesthetic.

A restaurant corner with a scalloped-top table and frosted-glass inserts in the kitchen door — Details include scalloped tabletops and frosted-glass inserts in the kitchen door

Bar di Bello is intended to be a neighbourhood staple for Silver Lake residents, with an atmosphere that's "urban, intimate, and quietly confident".

An outdoor space designed by 22RE in collaboration with landscape designer Sarita Jaccard will open later this summer.

A Hans-Agne Jakobsson table lamp sits atop a red travertine bar — A Hans-Agne Jakobsson table lamp sits atop the red travertine bar

22RE has completed a string of projects over the past two years, such as a 1970s-influenced studio for a music agency and a workplace for an LA-based creative agency.

Founded by Dean Levin in 2021, the studio has also designed multiple boutiques for golf-wear brand Malbon, including a Miami store lined with pale-green stucco, a Carmel address featuring scalloped walls and tiled floors, and a Los Angeles location wrapped in cherry wood.

The photography is by Sean Davidson.

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