Zou Zou's & Chez Zou

Restaurant & Bar/Lounge

New York

NY USA

Restaurant & Bar/Lounge

About

As its point of departure, the design of Zou Zou’s channels the confluence of style - a shared design language - that exists amongst the various cultures that the restaurant's cuisine celebrates.

Historically, the entire Barbary Coast (including Northern Africa as well as small parts of Southern Europe) took its architectural cues from what is known as The Levant - an area of the Eastern Mediterranean including the current countries of Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and Israel. For several millennium, these cultures have developed an architecture that is consistent with their neighbors irrespective of geo-political boundaries, owing as much to its position as the insular epicenter of the Mediterranean as it did to years of Western influence flooding into the Near East. The consistency of this language – in tones and materiality (dark woods, off-white plasters, blue and green tiles), intense decorative patterning, vast spaces punctuated by arches and domes – as seen in structures of these cultures, both civic and religious of all denominations, is remarkable.

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LOCATION

New York

NY USA

Size

11,900 ft² / 1,105 m²

Levantine Flair

Inspired by the rich color palettes and textures of the Eastern Mediterranean basin, the main dining room at Zou Zou's is framed out by a large, lattice pattern coffered ceiling, hovering above a rich red dining room, all set within an architecture of large plaster arches.

An arched teal bar and an open fire kitchen act as bookends to the room, celebrating the production of Middle Eastern cuisine. Different layers of handcast teal tiles pave the main space, while large custom chandeliers create an intimate datum, all in reference to traditional levantine architecture.

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Lights and Lanterns

An array of different custom lighting brings character and individuality to the different spaces within the restaurant. Along the facade, a marching row of arched lamps hover over diners, whilst the rich amber glow of sconces and linear lantern-like fixtures bring accents of warmth and color throughout.

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"Worth the price of admission."

Eater

Chez Zou

A singular lounge space is anchored by a bar carved into the room's walnut wall panels, expressing a contemporary and chic take on the traditional tea rooms of the Middle East. Rusty reds, cool blues and a bold patterned floor again reference the architectures of the region. The bar is dramatically framed out by panels of oxidized copper, and carved out of thick pieces of light marble stone. A soft glow highlights the aging of the copper and gives the bar an ethereal quality.

Curved sofas upholstered in deep rust colored fabrics flank the columns. Sculpted brass tables with an aubergine enameled top, and textured patina upholstery on the lounge chairs add a layer of subtle detailing.