AfroditiKrassa designed Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay Restaurants in London

AfroditiKrassa design studio is behind the project for Lucky Cat by Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, one of the most hotly anticipated additions to London’s dining scene this summer. Their project covered everything, including the general concept, the brand and the storytelling.


If you’re visiting London this summer - Mayfair to be precise - and you’re interested in interior design and fine dining, then this new venue is just the place for you. Afroditi Krassa, founder and creative director of AfroditiKrassa that she set up in 2002, was brought in to craft the concept, brand and interior design for the largest London restaurant opening by multi-award-winning chef Gordon Ramsay in more than a decade. Lucky Cat is an Asian-inspired restaurant, bar, and private dining space that will replace Maze, Ramsay’s 14-year-old fine-dining hotspot in London at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in Mayfair. The designer, Afroditi Krassa worked with Gordon Ramsay and his team for more than 18 months to create a concept that defies convention, delivering a design that is as exquisitely artisan as the food you can enjoy here.
The project for Lucky Cat by AfroditiKrassa draws inspiration from urban Tokyo in the 1930s, particularly the Kissa concepts found throughout Japan at the time. These Kissas were underground clubs that offered food, jazz music and great drinks, vaguely reminiscent of the popular speakeasies that were thriving in the USA during what was then the prohibition era.  Lucky Cat reflects back to this vibrant era with playful references and nods to these urban-cool design details throughout.
With an underlying art-deco influence, the layout has been conceived in a way that ensures every table in the house will offer an exciting perspective. The Chef's Tables, situated in the heart of the venue, allow guests to watch the team of expert Chefs at work. Then there is the Raw Bar, offering a luxurious setting to enjoy exquisite sushi and sashimi.  Customers are also given the chance to hire out a private dining room, which has three spaces for events and memorable celebrations, with interiors that echo the main restaurant space, featuring shades of dark indigo, distressed leather chairs and warm, mood lighting throughout.
A clever choice of design details set off the Asian flair of the venue, whilst rare Japanese knife displays pique the interest of guests. Intricately curved brass screens, antique mirrors, black bamboo panelling and layered linen screens are just a few of the elements which build a luxurious undertone throughout, whilst the geometric patterns, Japanese indigo dyed fabrics and distressed leather reinforce the elegant yet playful ambience.
Afroditi Krassa says of the design process: “The scale and ambition of this project is what has excited us from the very start. Working very closely with Gordon and his team, we have successfully curated something that is relevant but not formal, vibrant but not overbearing, and predominantly, allows the food and drinks to take centre stage.”
Living up to the Lucky Cat name, playful cat references run throughout the venue, with the likes of subtle cat relief tiles, stone cat statues and cat tail hooks complimenting more dominant features, like the Maneki Neko cat wall in the bar area, made up of 300 bespoke, handmade ceramic cats. Gordon Ramsay says of the partnership: “We’ve got a great team on the project and, together, we’re ready to bring something really special to London this summer.”

Christiane Bürklein

Project: Afroditi Krassa - https://www.afroditi.com/
Year: 2019
Location: London Mayfair, UK
Images: courtesy of Gordon Ramsay and AfroditiKrassa
Find out more: https://www.gordonramsayrestaurants.com/lucky-cat/