MUSE, a new restaurant in Santa Monica, California, inspires guests with culinary delights and artwork in a jewel-box setting. Marc Ange, of his eponymous firm, was tapped to envision the space by chef-owner Fardad Khayami as a showcase for his fresh take on French cuisine in the beach city.
The epicure and the designer share similar influences, so for both, the collaboration was an ideal one. The chef melds the tastes of Italy, where Ange was born, with the traditional fare of France, where he was raised. With offices in Paris and Los Angeles, Ange innately understands this cross-cultural aesthetic, and he was eager to capture it for the eatery’s interiors.
His influences were many for this hospitality project, from classic European style to coastal chic, which blend together in the intimate space. “There are elements of Italian 1970s sexiness and French elegance, with a touch of LA, which creates something completely contemporary,” says Ange.
The main dining room, which seats 35, exudes a relaxed glamour. This central area is enveloped in white oak (the corridors are clad in walnut) and paired with a color palette of warm gold, sienna, and beige tones that enhance the intimacy of the space. This rich backdrop serves to highlight the impressive, rotating collection of art that is exclusive to the restaurant. For its debut, MUSE features original works by celebrated Catalan-Spanish artist Joan Miró.
The cozy nooks double as a gallery for the pieces, instantly recognizable for their combination of abstract with Surrealist fantasy that the painter-sculptor favored. Miró’s signature splashes of primary red, blue, and yellow bring in just enough vibrant color, yet never overwhelm. It’s a true feast for the senses, as artistic presentation is found not only on the plates but on the walls too.
Layers of texture make the compact restaurant seem larger. Subtle curves grace furnishings upholstered in plush velvet. Millwork boasts a series of flutes and folds that recur elsewhere, which eliminates any hard edges. This offers a natural, surrounding fluidity as visitors mingle or sit and chat at the four-seat bar.
With a series of cozy nooks, the cocoon-like environment invites conversation and comfort. The mood is elevated by the sculptural fixtures and bespoke furniture. Objects, also designed by Ange, mirror the other segments in the restaurant, tied by the common threads of shape and proportion.
Fantino chandeliers cast a warm glow from above, and the fixtures echo the shape of the chair of the same name, which has a distinctive bifurcated back. A private room is set to open later this fall, which Ange conceived as an extension of the restaurant, but with its own unique facets. “Everything at MUSE is linked by the art and the design, yet bringing their own surprises,” Ange adds.
For more on Marc Ange, visit marc-ange.com.
Photography by Pablo Enriquez.
