MR PORTER – a subterranean dining design by Baranowitz + Kronenberg • Hotel Designs

MR PORTER London is not merely a dining destination – with its design by Baranowitz + Kronenberg, it is a descent into an entirely new world that evokes a cinematic experience unlike your typical restaurant. There is no spectacle at street level – only a single copper door. A quiet threshold leads to a monochrome foyer. Then, a spiral staircase draws guests downward, shedding the logic of the city above.

Inspired by the Tyburn River – that invisible artery still flowing beneath Mayfair – and the district’s legacy of indulgence, Baranowitz + Kronenberg approached the underground site as a poetic opportunity: a chance to craft a world from absence, from depth, from reflection.

Inspired by the Mayfair district’s 18th-century legacy as a centre of commerce and indulgence, the design pays homage to the past while looking to the future. The result is an innovatively crafted space that ushers in a new era of what a London steakhouse can be. The narrative is one of dualities: surface and subterranean, public and private, sensual and cerebral.

Image credit: Stevie Campbell

At the heart of the space is a ceiling composed of mirror-polished copper panels, creating a mesmerising illusion of endlessness – two restaurants folded into one. Below, a palette of brushed metals, velvet upholstery, natural stone, and grazing light offers warmth and tactility. The main dining room is wrapped in a sumptuous palette of brass, copper, and gold, each surface working in harmony to create a warm, luminous glow.

These tones are more than decorative – they offer a calming visual rhythm that eases the eye and softens the boundaries of the space. The mirror-finished copper ceiling expands the room vertically, generating a dreamlike illusion of infinite space and blurring the line between architecture and atmosphere.

At the heart of the room is a 360-degree bar, where guests can have an intimate experience whilst creating moments for socialising or connecting with those dining adjacent. Seating is arranged to accommodate every mood – plush velvet cushions with stone accents that cradle guests in a space that feels both infinite and intimate. It’s not designed to impress. It’s designed to draw you in. Throughout, the palette and materials work together to manifest Baranowitz + Kronenberg’s belief that architecture should stir emotion before admiration.

Sound is as carefully designed as the space itself, with a high-fidelity audio system and live DJ programming underscoring the restaurant’s rhythm. MR PORTER London plays with the archetype of the traditional steakhouse, offering something lighter in feel, leaner in form, and unapologetically elegant. The
design mirrors this reinterpretation – materials are crisply innovative, classically smart, and socially enhancing, embodying a refined yet playful spirit.

Image credit: Stevie Campbell

“Designing MR PORTER London allowed us to express what we love most about our work – crafting cinematic spaces that heighten the senses and stir emotion,” commented Alon Baranowitz and Irene Kronenberg, Co-Founders of Baranowitz + Kronenberg. “Our approach creates a dialogue between design and the culinary experience – where architecture doesn’t just house the meal, but elevates it. We wanted every detail – from the palette of copper and velvet to the rhythm of reflection – to enhance the way people gather, taste, and feel. At its best, a restaurant becomes more than a place to eat – it becomes a story
that unfolds in real time.”

Image credit: Stevie Campbell

‘’As a creative concept developer, I envision and feel the places I design before they actually exist. I always create places that suit the locals, but try to offer them something new at the same time. It’s extremely important to get to know the market; you can’t ignore a city and its people’s heritage. I love to develop something from the roots and pay attention to every tiny detail. Every aspect has to be captured by the same language. I’m not creating restaurants, I’m creating experiences,”  added Yossi Eliyahoo, Founder & Co-Owner of THE ENTOURAGE GROUP.

Who is Baranowitz + Kronenberg ?

Baranowitz + Kronenberg is an internationally acclaimed architecture and interior design studio founded by Alon Baranowitz and Irene Kronenberg. With a portfolio spanning the globe, the studio has built a reputation for crafting evocative, story-rich environments that resonate across cultures and industries. Their work includes standout hospitality projects such as the Sir Joan Hotel in Ibiza, The W Amsterdam and the original MR PORTER Amsterdam—each demonstrating a distinct narrative voice and fearless spatial innovation. B+K’s designs have garnered international acclaim, earning accolades from leading publications and institutions. The firm’s ability to translate context into experience has made them sought-after collaborators for some of the world’s most forward-thinking hospitality and lifestyle brands.

Main image credit: Stevie Campbell