Pendulum Magazine

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REBECCA CAFE || Elegant French-Inspired Bakery and Cafe in the Khamovniki District

The atmosphere of the new Rebecca cafe, recently opened in Moscow’s Khamovniki district in a modern residential complex, resembles the spirit of a Parisian cafe, as the French charm can be felt throughout the interiors.

Chef Grigory Chunikhin, known for the Lino Bistro and Cutfish projects, is responsible for the food. In the morning, the cozy brasserie invites guests for coffee and pastries, and in the evening—for a delicious dinner with a glass of wine in a warm interior.

Entering the brasserie, you expect to see a minimalistic interior with shiny surfaces, but instead, you find yourself in an unexpectedly cozy atmosphere embodied among high ceilings and concrete walls. Archpoint Bureau worked on architectural and design solutions and harmoniously combined the motifs of a French bakery and minimalism in the interior.

The harmonious material palette establishes a warm and inviting atmosphere.

The walls in the cafe are finished with decorative plaster. Their colour echoes the neutral floor and the ceiling. The natural material palette, from the furnishings to the decor elements, establishes a warm and inviting atmosphere. The facade of the long bar counter is made of veneer; the countertop is made of natural white marble. All tables are made of wood according to the architects' drawings, as are the mirror frames on the walls and the cupboard with glass doors at the entrance. Associations with life and freshness are also created by potted plants and a large tree branch in the corner, suspended from the ceiling.

The bakery and cafe exudes French-inspired elegance.

Vintage restored chairs and armchairs of different shapes and types, as if bought at a flea market in Europe, give the hall a unique charm of home comfort.

Two classic seating options are available for the guests – on the chairs at tables or on a long, soft, light gray sofa along the wall. These two zones are compositionally separated by a large wooden cabinet station for dishes. Wine glasses are placed on its shelves and countertop, reflecting light and giving the room exceptional elegance.

The special pride of the brasserie is its bakery. The aroma of fresh pastries and coffee lures locals and passing pedestrians to come inside. The bakery theme in the interior is reflected in the wooden details in the shade of a bread crust and the author's painting with a girl, a glass of wine and a crispy baguette. The architects decided to separate the kitchen from the hall with a glass partition so guests could track the path of a fresh croissant to their table.

A glass partition separates the dining hall with the bakery, allowing guests to view the making-of process of fresh pastries.

During the day, the light enters the brasserie through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. In the evening, a chamber atmosphere is created – the accent lighting lights up above the tables, under which food and wine in clinking glasses acquire a particularly rich taste.

Rebecca has the atmosphere of a European brasserie that combines a bakery with a bar and restaurant. A guest can experience the pleasant atmosphere of this trendy Parisian cafe with history, which offers an exquisite menu, delicious drinks and fragrant pastries.

PROJECT DETAILS

Moscow, Efremova st., 10

Authors: Bureau ARCHPOINT — Valery Lizunov, Sona Gamzyan

Photo: Olga Melekestseva

Area: 150 m2 

Completion: 2023