bringing japan to milan: kanpai restaurant by vudafieri saverino partners

encompassing both design and gastronomic innovation, a new restaurant has opened its doors in the heart of milan. designed by vudafieri-saverino partners, ‘kanpai’ recreates the atmosphere of an informal japanese pub setting known as izakaya. serving popular dishes from traditional cuisine, the venue offers a mix of food, sakè, and culture, where an extensive cocktail list ensures that diners can drink late into the night.

all images by santi caleca – aromi

open from 7pm until late, kanpai recreates the buzz of post-work tokyo evenings and could easily inhabit one of the japanese capital’s many lively side streets. meanwhile, digital screens transmit pop images typical of today’s technological, urban japan. the restaurant’s founders describe the venue as: ‘not a stereotype of the traditional japanese rice paper, but of what can be seen in tokyo today, reconciling the local street soul tradition with an approach attentive to detail and to some gourmet proposals.’

the restaurant’s 150 square meters are spread across three rooms

in developing the interior design, vudafieri-saverino partners treasured many of the building’s pre-existing elements. markings found in the walls’ irregularities were preserved, while colors were left rough and enriched by partial decorative inserts. meanwhile, essential furnishings, subdued lighting, and warm and inviting colors constitute the aesthetic score.

the third room introduces blues shades with 50 japanese lanterns

the restaurant’s 150 square meters are spread across three rooms. the bar area welcomes customers with a large counter. here, the metal elements fuse with bamboo in a natural, geometric way, with a wide selection of sakè and spirits on show. a lampshade installation made from an antique french bottle rack hovers over the space, where magnums of sakè act as diffusers of light filtered by the bottles and their labels.

murals describe a sense of contemporary japan

in the second room, a large mural by street artist alessandro di vicino reinterprets tokyo’s neon light street atmosphere. the kanpai murals describe the sense of contemporary japan through advertising clips, ghosts, programs and sports events divided into three categories: eat, drink, and fun. lastly, the third room introduces blues shades on which 50 japanese lanterns have been left to float in tones of yellow and orange.

a mural by street artist alessandro di vicino reinterprets tokyo’s neon light street atmosphere

the venue recreates the atmosphere of an informal japanese pub

the restaurant offers a mix of food, sakè, and culture

three categories — eat, drink, and fun — are explored

a lampshade installation is made from an antique french bottle rack

project info:

team: tiziano vudafieri, claudio saverino, alice brunello
surface area: 150 sqm
furniture design: roshaque, milano
bar and table design: pollodesign
kitchen and bar equipment: vittorio arpini srl
photography: santi caleca – aromi