Nightingale Cafe
A Cathedral for the everyday
Living in a bustling and modern city where opportunities surface at every moment of the day can be very absorbing. We become trapped in this way of existence where one activity comes right after the other. The agendas are full and the phone is constantly vibrating, reminding us of our next destination or our next task. However, located in the buzzing London Mayfair, the studio Tutto Bene has created a space where people are invited to breathe.
Having met a little over a year ago, Felizia Berchtold and Oskar Kohnen immediately knew they were meant to work together, and they gave birth to Tutto Bene. The studio, named after the Italian expression that translates to “everything is good”, symbolizes a pursuit of simplicity, an optimistic approach, and a commitment to excellence. Everything is good, and it is better when one is able to enjoy moments of respite amidst the bustle of city life.
Both born in Germany, the practice of sitting in a café and reading the newspaper for hours is a normal occurrence. “It’s something you never see in London, here people rush and don’t relax in public”, they state. Accustomed to the all-day Kaffeehaus culture through their origins, and to the importance of café as a lifestyle through their time in Italy, Tutto Bene had no doubt that the English epicenter needed exactly that: “we wanted to emphasize the quality of sitting down and staying for a while”, they continue, “The Café is a place of culture and conversation”.
With the Nightingale Cafe London, their debut project, they have accomplished this mission. Located in a sheltered courtyard in London Mayfair, guests emerge into a space that is elegant but restrained, with classic European aesthetic influences re-imagined in contemporary materials. “We have a deep appreciation of history and its influences on art, design and society, and we like to blend the functional with the theatrical for our designs to remain relevant throughout time”, they explain.
The result is a space that avoids current trends and excessive materials, where historical references and new exploration have led to a meaningful atmosphere of charm and luxury. Characterized by an angled ceiling, the space opens up to the exterior with large windows, creating a stage-like room where the fluted white walls and the layers of curtains capture the abundance of daylight. The ever-changing play of light and shadow that is created through the features of the interior emanates an antithetical aura of grandeur and intimacy.
Adding to the theatrical ambience, a spectacular installation of five dancing chandeliers spins the space in playful motion, producing a graceful and unique performance. Designed in collaboration with the Austrian brand “Kalmar”, it is known for their 100-year-long tradition of working on Viennese Kaffeehaus lighting. “Every piece of furniture is completely custom and was designed for the space, the tables and chairs, the wall lights, as well as the large, pleated ‘Satellite’ chandelier”, they point out.
The furniture, the geometry and the colors of the space are an ode to European Cafe house culture. With its grand Chandeliers but simple spaces, it was a key influence on their inspiration: “We liked the clash of simplicity, super functional furniture, and highly decorative elements”, they comment, “It creates a tension that is typical for these places”. Places that, metaphorically, represent the Cathedrals for the everyday.
Nightingale is centered around a monolithic, minimal stainless steel bar. As the main character of the lightness and darkness play, the steel bar intuitively transforms the space from Café to Aperitivo Bar and event space as the day goes on. The white walls and the large chandelier also partake in the space’s nighttime shift. Inspired by its location, Dover Yard now nestles the ideal oasis where guests can relax from the bustle of Central London during the day or take the dance floor outside at night.
“The space has a very indoor-outdoor feel, which is quite un-typical for many London spaces, so we wanted to embrace this feeling”, highlights Tutto Bene. Deep shades of green emphasize the connection with the lush yard, and the different routes originated by every piece of furniture bring an avant-garde space to opulent Mayfair. A concept space that gives room to breathe, with a classic but future-forward interior. A true gem where luxury is redefined as open and approachable; light and contemporary. Where luxury becomes enjoyable, deep and never outdated.
