The new restaurant and bar, located on the ground floor of the iconic shopping and entertainment complex in Champs-Élysées, is the latest face on a space that was originally founded in 1958 by Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet, the head honcho of world-renowned advertising agency Publicis Group. Then known as the Publicis Drugstore, the store was designed to bring American consumer convenience and bar culture to the Parisian public, with a luxury aesthetic.

Open all night until the early hours of the morning, the complex offered a diverse array of goods under one roof, something still true today. Books, pastries, and jewellery share space alongside cigars and top shelf champagne.

Following a complete strip out of the interior, Design Research Studio has simplified and enhanced the interior design of the space to highlight the luxury and mid century class of the area. A broad palette of extraordinary finishes and honest materials have been employed to improve with age – from the timber walls and marble, to the deep oxblood upholstery and brass fixtures.

“The unique Parisian identity of Publicis Drugstore has always inspired me,” says Tom Dixon on his inspiration for the fit out, “I remember having bought here, late at night, aspirin. I remember of the Publicis’ logo representing a lion, in stainless steel. It relates to a certain image of France. Modern, looking to the future. For this legendary restaurant, what interested me was to slow people down, to put them at ease.

“I also wanted to bring together a team around a project where everything would be orchestrated in a synchronised fashion, from 8am to 2am. I used the tradition of a classical brasserie décor and took it elsewhere, far from convention.”

The library lounge has been inspired by classic look of a gentleman’s study, offering an intimate and relaxed, yet welcoming, dining experience. Framing the room is a bespoke brass and glass bookcase, providing a sense of privacy while blurring the line between retail, dining, and living spaces. The lounge area features a collection of the new Tom Dixon Micro Wingback chairs, upholstered in charcoal grey and deep yellow wool

The 350m2 interior is warmly lit with the main feature being an illuminated coffered ceiling featuring Tom Dixon’s copper Melt Surface light which launched at Milan’s Salone del Mobile in April 2017.