A-nrd has completed the refurbishment of Anise, the cocktail bar and lounge at Cinnamon Kitchen London City. Located within a former East India Trading Company warehouse at Devonshire Square, the 60-seat space now reads as a composed extension of the restaurant.
INTERIOR DESIGN
Drawing from the chromatic language of Indian cuisine, the palette references warmth and spice without literal translation. Deep greens, softened saffron, sumac tones, and muted oranges establish a sense of depth that remains controlled.
Dark oak, velvet, leather, terrazzo, and marquetry appear throughout the bar and lounge, building texture through contrast and repetition. These materials shape a space designed for lingering, offering visual weight without heaviness.
Upon entry, a monolithic bar anchors the room. A-nrd retained the original marble-clad structure, choosing adaptation over replacement. The bar now features embellished terrazzo tiles in orange and green tones, paired with a new dark oak countertop. This intervention preserves the bar’s mass while softening its presence and aligning it with the wider interior language. Seating at the bar accommodates 24 guests on black swivel stools upholstered in tarragon-toned leather by Crest Leather.
Above, a deep green velvet curtain by Harrison Cropper wraps the bar perimeter. The curtain conceals the existing shelving framework while introducing enclosure and softness. Its vertical folds filter light and views, subtly reshaping perception of the space. Within this canopy, bespoke marquetry artwork by Chelsea Vivash uses off-cut veneers.
Beyond the bar, A-nrd arranged low perimeter seating across the lounge, which seats an additional 30 guests. Dark oak banquettes with curved bases and extended armrests line the walls, creating relaxed zones that support different group sizes. Upholstery continues the spice-informed palette. Sofa backs feature a cumin-toned geometric check by Casamance, paired with seat pads in Crest Leather. Cylindrical end cushions in green velvet echo the curves of the timber bases.
Tall green glazed ceramic table lamps from Lights & Lamps sit atop generous booth arms. Marble-topped tables punctuate both booth and formal seating, their soft grey surfaces catching low light from rattan pendants by Abigail Ahern. Walls carry a dual Bauwerk limewash combining muted saffron with soft sumac, while dark oak framework and a long wall mirror introduce rhythm and structure. Terrazzo detailing reappears as a visual thread.
The studio retained existing encaustic floor tiles to reduce intervention and preserve continuity. Rugs by Modulyss soften and zone seating areas on either side of the bar. Along the windows, poseur tables received new marble tops and upholstered detailing that mirrors the banquettes. Softly pleated linen ceiling lamps by Watt & Veke complete these edge zones.
Indian ceramic figurines collected by Chef Vivek Singh integrate quietly into the scheme, adding personal narrative without display. As A-nrd founder Alessio Nardi notes, the project focused on working with what already existed, rebalancing through color, texture, and detail.
