What are the ingredients of la dolce vita? Tasked with designing Allora, an Italian restaurant in Warsaw, the team members at Gdansk-based studio Akurat thought back to their own Mediterranean getaways. In the process, they came up with a playbook for recreating Italy’s signature way of life. “We felt like Italian design is much more emotional than others — buzzing and chaotic, but at the same time, cozy and warm,” the studio explains. With that in mind, dinner at Allora moves through a mix of rich contrasts. Old mingles with new, straight lines give way to curvy twists and pops of bright red interrupt calmer earth tones. For its part, Akurat summarizes the trattoria’s look and feel using another memorable juxtaposition: “tranquility mixed with a dash of chaos.”

Eager to start off by imbuing the space with an underlying sense of history and warmth, Akurat developed a foundation of wood floors and plaster walls. Other prominent materials like glass shingles and ceramic tiles both boast natural variations in their finishes that add to the project’s overall texture. This time-worn character helps capture the feel of a beloved seaside hideout that someone has been returning to year after year. “These choices create Allora’s very grounded and cozy ambiance, making it approachable and ensuring that everyone feels comfortable and welcome,” the firm says. The neutral colour palette established by these core materials is another nod to the coast, echoing sepia-toned memories of golden afternoons in the sun.

With this somewhat muted palette in place as Allora’s main backdrop, it was then time to amp up the energy. Pulling from 1970s Italian design, Akurat introduced modern accents defined by playful curves, glossy sheen and bold patterning. “We felt the need to counterbalance [the project’s] coziness to achieve the feeling of freedom, freshness, fun and youth that are quintessential to the Italian spirit, but also ground it in the busy city centre of Warsaw,” notes the firm. Banquettes upholstered in zebra-like fabric sit opposite tomato-red armchairs, while tiered conical pendant lights hang from whimsical, floral-shaped panels. A fun assortment of mismatched lamps scattered throughout the space add to the sense of discovery and surprise. Collectively, these elements introduce a carefree layer atop the otherwise well-ordered design, giving the space a distinctly Italian feeling of sprezzatura.

As for its layout, Allora’s symmetrical setup positions the bar as a prominent focal point, visible from every point in the dining room. This central location — not to mention the sunburst tiling that borders the setup — nod to the feature’s prominence in Italian life. “Our observations of Italian culture show that bars play their part in every moment of the day, serving a quick espresso in the morning, easy lunches in the day, and aperitifs in the late afternoon,” says Akurat.

A careful study in the art of escapism, the restaurant is ready to beam diners from one corner of the world to another. “Allora transports its guests to a buzzing neighbourhood Italian ristorante, and allows them to feel a splash of the warm Italian sun even on Warsaw’s moodiest days,” Akurat summarizes.