NYC’s Most Beautiful Restaurant Dining Rooms (and How to Steal the Look)

NYC is full of restaurants where the design hits just right! velvet banquettes, moody lighting, luxe textures, and soulful details. Let’s pull a few standouts and see what design tricks they use, plus how you can borrow them for your own dining room.

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1. Sirrah (Meatpacking District)

What’s special:

This modern French restaurant by Fettle is theatrical in all the right ways. Think rich fabrics, blown-glass chandeliers, burl oak paneling, plush velvet seating. The vibe is dramatic but still warm.

How to get the look at home:

• Use luxurious fabrics (velvet or silk blends) for your chairs or banquettes.

• Statement lighting: a chandelier or pendant with blown glass or crystal details will elevate the room.

• Dark wood paneling or warm wood tones add depth—maybe as wainscoting or on accent walls.

• Balance the richness with neutral floors or lighter tabletop surfaces so it doesn’t feel heavy.

2. Le Chêne (West Village)

What’s special:

Curved horseshoe bar, dark wood accents, plush red velvet banquettes, and an art-filled environment (Basquiat, Warhol, etc.). The feel is Parisian elegance meets moody intimacy.

How to get the look at home:

• Incorporate a curved or rounded seating element — maybe a bench or built-in banquette.

• Use rich jewel tones (deep red, burgundy) for upholstery.

• Mix in art you love, preferably in frames that feel classic (gold leaf, ornate, etc.).

• Use lighting that’s warm and dimmable, such as sconces or wall lamps, to replicate that intimate ambiance.

3. Le Pavillon (One Vanderbilt)

What’s special:

Big glass walls, massive greenery (tall plants, trees indoors), airy, neutral furnishings. It feels almost like dining in an elegant glass pavilion overlooking nature. There’s a poetry in using architectural scale + natural elements.

How to get the look at home:

• If you can’t replicate large glass walls, bring in big windows or large mirrors to mimic openness.

• Use tall potted plants or trees indoors. Even fake ones if you lack green thumbs.

• Choose furniture with clean lines, light upholstery, and keep floors and walls neutral.

• Let daylight in—use sheer fabrics and avoid heavy drapery to preserve the light, airy feel.

How to Recreate NYC-Restaurant Level Chic at Home

After seeing what these top spots do well, here are practical takeaways you can apply (without breaking the bank):

• Pick one showstopper (a light fixture, an art piece, a sumptuous banquette) to anchor the room.

• Mix rich textures—velvet, polished woods, metal, marble—with lighter fabrics and neutrals so the contrast feels intentional.

• Let lighting do some heavy lifting: combine ambient lights (soft overhead or pendant) with accent lighting (wall lamps or candles).

• Scale matters: don’t cram in giant furniture in a small room. Proportions mimic restaurant design (big spaces get bigger features; small rooms keep them scaled).

• Use plants and natural elements to soften richness and bring freshness.

Why These Designs Work (and What We Can Learn)

• They balance drama + comfort: you feel swept up in style but also coziness.

• They layer materials thoughtfully (wood + metal + plush fabric + greenery).

• Lighting is never afterthought—it’s part of architecture.

• Artwork is personal but curated: not just “gallery”, but pieces that tell a story or anchor a vibe.

Want to Try It?

If you’re feeling inspired, here’s a couple fun ways to move forward:

Explore Spacejoy’s dining room designs to spark endless inspo and discover fresh ways to style your space.