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Located in a historic corner building in the center of Kosice, the restaurant is conceived as a flexible all-day destination where cuisine, urban life and architecture meet. The design balances the building’s historic texture with contemporary materials, creating an open environment that changes with the rhythm of the day – from quick lunches and afternoon gatherings to an intimate cocktail bar in the evening. The interior combines the authenticity of the place with a high degree of flexibility, supporting diverse uses and evolving atmospheres.
Located in a historic corner building in the heart of Košice, the restaurant is conceived as a flexible, all-day destination where fusion cuisine, urban life, and architecture come together. The design balances the building’s historic layers with contemporary materials, creating an open environment that responds to the rhythm of the day—from quick lunches and informal afternoon gatherings to an intimate cocktail bar in the evening. The interiors combine the authenticity of the place with a high degree of flexibility, supporting a variety of uses and constantly evolving atmospheres.
▼The restaurant seen from the street © Matej Hakár
The corner building where the restaurant is located is located in the heart of the historic city. The space was formerly a clothing store and furniture store, and is now run by a father and son. The father brings personal experience, deep family traditions, and an open attitude to integrating diverse food cultures into the business philosophy; the son brings contemporary catering ideas, an understanding of young customers, and the vitality of creating an urban place that not only serves dining, but also hosts all-day social life.
The restaurant occupies a corner building in the historic city centre, in a space that previously housed a clothing or furniture store. The business is run by a father and son. The father brings personal experience, a strong sense of family tradition, and an openness to blending diverse culinary influences into the concept. The son contributes a contemporary gastronomic approach, an understanding of a younger audience, and the energy of an urban venue designed not only for dining but for all-day social life.
▼Full-height windows open to the street,
Full-height windows opening toward the street © Matej Hakár
The interior is conceived as a flexible all-weather environment that changes time of day – from an informal bistro and lunch spot, to an afternoon hangout, to a cocktail bar in the evening. The concept naturally echoes the principles of fusion cuisine, combining different influences into new levels of experience. The same fusion logic – the overlapping of functions, materials and atmosphere – is also reflected in the architectural design of the interiors.
The interior was conceived as a flexible, all-day environment that transforms throughout the day—from an informal bistro and destination to an afternoon meeting place and an evening cocktail bar. This concept naturally reflects the principles of fusion cuisine, combining different lunch influences into new layers of experience. The same logic of merging functions, materials, and atmospheres is expressed in the architectural design of the interior.
▼The long main counter running parallel to the facade © Matej Hakár
▼The counter with red bar stools © Matej Hakár
▼The deep view that penetrates the interior,
A view down the length of the interior © Matej Hakár
The design relies on the existing historical layers of the building. The original historic stone mosaic floor was retained at the front and was complemented by a new natural stone floor and poured resin surface. The sound-absorbing insulation layer sprayed on the ceiling and the partially exposed original wall strengthen the rough temperament of the space, contrasting with the new wall treatment and exquisitely customized woodwork.
The design builds upon the existing layers of the building. In the front section, the original historic stone mosaic floor has been preserved and complemented with new natural stone flooring and poured resin screed. The raw character of the space is enhanced by sprayed acoustic insulation on the ceiling and selectively exposed original walls, creating a contrast with the new wall finishes and precisely crafted bespoke joinery.
▼Bar counter and retained mosaic floor,
The counter and the preserved mosaic floor © Matej Hakár
▼The bistro area at the front © Matej Hakár
The front of the restaurant is open to the street and is defined by a long bar running parallel to the facade. When the weather is nice, the full-height sash windows can be fully opened, dissolving the boundary between the interior and the public realm. The street becomes a natural extension of the restaurant, letting the vitality of the place diffuse into the city.
The front part of the restaurant opens towards the street and is defined by a long main counter running parallel to the façade. During favorable weather, the full-height windows can be completely opened, dissolving the boundary between the interior and the public realm. The street becomes a natural extension of the restaurant, allowing the life of the venue to spill into the city.
▼Bench seating along the windows © Matej Hakár
▼Retain the seating area next to the stone pillars,
Seating alongside the preserved columns © Matej Hakár
Going deeper into the interior, the spatial organization gradually changes. Beyond the lively bistro area are two divisible seating spaces with comfortable upholstered seating, ending at a private dining room for celebrations, private events and more intimate gatherings. Each zone has its own atmosphere and distinct character, which together provide a rich experience between day and night.
Moving deeper into the interior, the spatial organization gradually changes. The lively bistro area is followed by two separable lounge spaces with comfortable upholstered seating, and finally by a private dining room designed for celebrations, private events, and more intimate gatherings. Each zone has its own atmosphere and distinct character, together offering a wide variety of experiences throughout the day and evening.
▼The lounge with orange poufs © Matej Hakár
▼Lounge spaces separated by textile curtains © Matej Hakár
▼The private dining room behind the curtain © Matej Hakár
Lighting plays a key role in shaping the atmosphere of an interior. Custom lighting fixtures are combined with conventional lamps to create different moods throughout the day. During the day, the lighting enhances the relaxed atmosphere of the bistro; at night, it transforms the space into a more intimate cocktail bar atmosphere.
Lighting plays a key role in shaping the interior. A combination of custom-designed light installations and conventional luminaires creates different moods over the course of the day. During daylight hours, the lighting reinforces the relaxed character of the bistro, while in the evening it transforms the space into a more intimate setting with the atmosphere of a cocktail bar.
▼Steps and greenery, Steps and greenery © Matej Hakár
▼The ring light in the lounge © Matej Hakár
The interior also incorporates cascading green plants, fabric curtains that can re-divide the space, and exclusive decks for DJ performances and special events. The result is a multi-level, all-weather venue that naturally adapts to changes in the pace of operations – from lunch service, afternoon gatherings to evening events – allowing visitors to have distinct experiences at different times of the day.
The interior is further enriched with layers of greenery, textile curtains that allow the space to be reconfigured, and dedicated counters for DJ performances and special events. The result is a multi-layered all-day venue that naturally adapts to the changing rhythm of its operation—from lunch service and afternoon gatherings to evening events—offering visitors a distinctly different experience at different times of the day.
▼Wall graphic logo/green plant details,
Graphic identity on the wall /Greenery detail © Matej Hakár
▼The metal double doors, The metal double doors © Matej Hakár
▼Metal door and bathroom entrance,
Metal doors and the restroom entrance © Matej Hakár
▼Floor plan © SOA architekti
Project name: KOI
Project location: Mlynská 186/10, Kosice, Slovakia
Design: SOA architekti
Design team: Štefan Šulek, Lucia Kráľ
Building area: 407 m²
Project year: 2025; Completion year: 2026
Client: www.koi-bar-bistro.sk
Cooperation and suppliers: Cortec (kitchen equipment), Tomáš Eisner (graphic design), CTRL_space (customized lighting), WSD (woodwork), U1 Lighting (lighting), Ingrid Szabóová (fabric curtains), Noise Control (sound-absorbing spray)
Materials and brands: CE.SI wall tiles, Casalgrande Padana floor tiles, KB-BLOK concrete blocks, RMC floor tiles and table tops, MN Metall wellTEC metal wall coverings, Paged seating, Flos pendant lights, HAY bar stools, Pedrali outdoor furniture, Master & Master hooks, ISAN radiators
Photography: Matej Hakár
Project Name: KOI
Location: Mlynská 186/10, Košice, Slovakia
Design: SOA architekti
Authors: Štefan Šulek, Lucia Kráľ
Usable Floor Area: 407 m²
Project Year: 2025; Completion Year: 2026
Client: www.koi-bar-bistro.sk
Collaborators and Suppliers: Cortec (gastronomy production), Tomáš Eisner (graphic design), CTRL_space (custom lighting), WSD (carpentry), U1 Lighting (lighting), Ingrid Szabóová (fabrics/curtains), Noise Control (acoustic spraying)
Products and Brands: CE.SI wall tiles, Casalgrande Padana floor tiles, KB-BLOK concrete blocks, RMC floor tiles and table tops, MN Metall wellTEC metal wall cladding, Paged chairs, Flos pendant light, HAY bar stool, Pedrali outdoor furniture, Master & Master hooks, ISAN radiator
Photographer: Matej Hakár
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