Café Les Americans
Stefan conducted multiple branding studies and created numerous sketches to be utilized for menu graphics, logos, and the café's overall branding.
Café Les Américains, nestled in the heart of the 16th arrondissement, stands opposite the Sofitel Paris Baltimore Tour Eiffel. It embodies Stefan's interpretation of a traditional (whimsical) French bistro.
A watercolor dreamscape of the reimagined space, where the rich wood tones dance with the charm of the original French paneling, vibrant red whispers the story of Stefan’s first cocktail at the old restaurant, and sleek zinc accents add a playful touch of modern warmth.
Inspired by the timeless charm of Parisian cafés, our design pays homage to tradition with the usual suspects: zinc bars, warm walnut finishes, encaustic tiles, and layered lighting. Harmonizing tradition with modernity, we've seamlessly merged classic elements with contemporary flair. By transforming small dark rooms into a unified space and carefully integrating larger new window walls into the existing 18th-century architecture, we've blurred the distinction between past and present, creating a space that feels both familiar and refreshingly new.
A sketch capturing the essence of that illustrious first cocktail, inspiring a vibrant red color scheme.
Stefan drew inspiration from 19th-century posters, fabrics, and color palettes, allowing the café's palate and iconography to organically emerge.
By consolidating multiple dimly lit rooms into one expansive area, we've efficiently created a larger bar and established a new corner entry point.
The café's vibrant red exterior awnings pay homage to the iconic Plaza Athénée in Paris, a nod to the original architect of the building. Inside, a curated collection of paintings and found objects evokes the rich tradition of cafes as hubs of social and cultural exchange.
