Ammare Restaurant Design Paris – Seafood Osteria in Étienne Marcel
When Sicilian soul meets Parisian intimacy
Parisian restaurant spaces demand different thinking than Italian ones. Smaller footprints. Tighter quarters. Yet Parisians expect the same warmth, authenticity, and culinary experience they’d find in Italy.
For Ammare, a seafood osteria in Paris’s Étienne Marcel district, we created complete restaurant concept translating Mediterranean maritime atmosphere into compact Parisian reality. From naming to interior architecture to brand identity, every element evokes the feeling of dining aboard an elegant boat while remaining firmly rooted in Parisian neighborhood charm.
This Paris restaurant design proves that limited space becomes design opportunity rather than constraint when concept is clear and execution precise.
Four restaurants, one vision
Mariaclaudia and Aurelio built a small culinary empire on Rue du Tiquetonne. Trattoria Ruggiera brings Italian osteria tradition. Pizzeria O’ Scià offers Neapolitan pizza. Malibù explores African flavors. Each restaurant serves its neighborhood with distinct concept and loyal following.
When they decided to open their fourth location focused on seafood, they approached VANDA to develop everything from scratch: name, brand identity, interior design, and complete visual language.
The brief was clear. Create a seafood restaurant feeling authentically Mediterranean while fitting into 100 square meters of Parisian real estate. Make it feel spacious despite tight dimensions. Communicate quality and warmth without pretense.
Naming: Ammare
The name emerged during an August afternoon on Lampedusa, the Sicilian island where sea and sky merge into endless blue.
Ammare carries multiple meanings in one word. It contains “amare” (to love). It holds “mare” (sea). It weaves in Aurelio and Mariaclaudia’s initials. It echoes the Sicilian expression “al mare” (to the sea). The name itself is a love letter to Mediterranean seafood culture.
This linguistic richness gave us foundation for the entire design concept. If the name evokes the sea, the space should too.
Boat interior as design strategy
Parisian restaurants typically occupy narrow street-level spaces in Haussmann buildings. Ammare’s 100 square meters required maximizing every centimeter while creating comfortable dining atmosphere.
We looked to boat interiors for spatial solutions. Boats solve similar challenges: limited space, need for intimacy, requirement for elegance within constraints. The design strategy became clear: create the feeling of dining in a beautifully appointed yacht cabin.
Wall banquettes run along both sides, upholstered in rich coral-orange capitonné velvet. This maritime color recalls sunset over Mediterranean waters while the tufted pattern adds texture and luxury. Banquette seating maximizes capacity while feeling more intimate than freestanding tables.
Navy blue ceiling creates the effect of being below deck. The dark overhead plane makes the space feel taller by drawing the eye up, while the deep blue references both boat interiors and evening sky over water.
Reclaimed stone wall provides textural contrast and authentic materiality. The rough stone suggests coastal architecture, harbor walls, ancient Mediterranean ports. It grounds the space in place and history rather than floating in generic luxury.
Maritime materials translated into furnishings
Every custom element reinforces the boat-cabin concept.
Custom brass-edged tables feature solid wood tops with polished brass borders. The brass recalls ship fittings, portholes, navigation instruments. The wood provides warmth and durability. Table edges catch light, creating subtle sparkle throughout the space.
Blue velvet dining chairs with brass legs provide jewel-tone accent against the coral banquettes. The navy blue echoes the ceiling while brass legs tie to table details. Velvet brings softness and luxury appropriate to seafood dining.
Hexagonal terracotta tiles (cementine) cover the floor in warm coral-orange tones. These traditional Mediterranean tiles add pattern, color, and authentic craftsmanship. The hexagonal geometry creates visual interest without overwhelming the small space.
Curved brass counter at the back mimics a wave’s movement. This sculptural element serves functionally while becoming the space’s signature feature. The brass catches and reflects light, adding shimmer suggesting water’s surface.
Stone wall with porthole details includes brass-framed circular windows referencing ship portholes. These functional/decorative elements strengthen the maritime narrative while providing visual interest on the textured stone surface.
Complete brand identity
Beyond interior architecture, we developed Ammare’s complete visual identity.
Logo and signage uses warm coral-orange script with wave motifs above and below the name. The hand-drawn quality feels artisanal and welcoming. The exterior fascia in powder blue with coral lettering creates immediate street presence in the Parisian neighborhood.
Menu design extends the maritime aesthetic through typography, color palette, and graphic details. Custom illustrations of seafood, subtle wave patterns, and the warm color scheme create cohesive brand experience from street to table.
Exterior tables feature the same brass-edged wood tables with navy velvet chairs, extending the interior aesthetic onto the sidewalk. This continuity makes the entire restaurant—inside and out—feel like one integrated experience.
Paris restaurant design expertise
If you’re developing Paris restaurant design requiring complete concept development from naming through interior architecture to brand identity, VANDA brings expertise creating cohesive experiences where every element reinforces the central narrative.
We understand that small Parisian spaces demand strategic thinking about scale, materiality, and atmosphere. From maritime-inspired seafood restaurants to other culinary concepts, we create environments that feel generous despite limited square meters.
Ammare Restaurant, Paris
Clients: Mariaclaudia & Aurelio
Paris Restaurant Design: VANDA Designers
Location: Rue du Tiquetonne, Étienne Marcel, Paris
Year: 2022
Area: 100 sqm
Scope: Complete concept development, naming, brand identity, interior design, custom furniture, menu design
Typology: Seafood osteria, maritime-inspired restaurant design
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