A slice of 1930s France can be felt in New York’s Upper East Side. A townhouse, located on 74th Street between Park and Lexington Avenue, has been converted into the new chic Parisian restaurant, Chez Fifi. Tapping into the rich creativity and opulence that reigned in France in the 1930s following the famed Art Nouveau period, Swedish firm Joyn Studio created an intimate atmosphere by applying rich materiality and warm hues to the interiors. The approach makes French flair feel right at home in New York.
The bi-story bistro exudes grandeur, right from the wooden front door. When entering, guests are met with the main dining room, where warm mahogany paneling wraps around maroon and navy blue upholstered banquettes. Curving above the top of the large central banquette is a series of small rectangular bevel-edged mirrors, offering a material contrast from the rest of the space. Directly across from the mirrors, booths surrounded by textured wallpaper and curtains exhibit blue and green speckled flowers like an Impressionist painting. Opposing the heavy materials are dainty pendants made with a soft white fabric.
On the second floor, a marbled wallpaper with a brown, rippling grain exudes the touch of a well-loved, rare book. From here, the wooden chevron floors steer patrons to the intimate sitting area. The design is reminiscent of a Parisian living room, dripping with intricate details and bold colors. The eye-catching coffered ceiling is coated in a soft eggshell with an overlapping gossamer rope molding, offering a unique 3D texture. The space holds many bold furniture pieces, such as the large ochre booth that tucks itself into a figured mahogany wall. Similar figured wooden pieces are placed across the way, some with quirky black and white striped textiles and others with velvety green. The green textiles in the chairs mirror the dark emerald green walls, allowing the yellow notes found in the furniture and the impressive art pieces from Pablo Picasso to Alexander Calder to stand out.
Around the corner, an entryway frames the compact bar, showcasing rippling patterns and lots of light. Stone slabs were used at the base of the counter and along the upper backsplash, both exhibit natural notes of light blues, grays, beige, and yellow. Surrounding the marble patterned stone slabs are mahogany paneling. The warm wood continues to the ceiling. It frames the coffered ceiling, bringing attention to the singular lights in each square. Along the top of the walls, mirrors give the illusion the geometric coffers continue past the bar.
Chez Fifi was founded by brothers David and Joshua Foulquier, both of whom grew up in the neighborhood and applied their French heritage to the creation of the bistro. Joshua commented, “[Joyn Studio] didn’t just design a space; they created an experience. Chez Fifi captures the warmth of a Parisian bistro, enriched by Joyn’s attention to detail and Scandinavian aesthetics.” This is the studio’s first project into the U.S. The design team brought a certain je ne sais quoi to Chez Fifi through an eclectic material selection, allowing the restaurant to be comfortable and elevated at the same time.