As evening settles over Copenhagen, Kinyōbi reveals itself slowly. There is no grand entrance, no single room designed to make an immediate statement. Instead, the new Japanese restaurant in the Antonigade area unfolds as a sequence of intimate spaces, each offering a slightly different mood. Across 262 square meters, Danish design studio Space Copenhagen has created an interior inspired by the layered atmosphere of contemporary Tokyo dining—quietly sophisticated, tactile, and designed to draw guests deeper into the night.
The first encounter is the bar and lounge, where walnut paneling absorbs both light and sound, giving the room a hushed, almost cinematic quality. Built-in sofas upholstered in heavy linen and leather bring a sense of softness, while walnut Ren chairs, designed by Space Copenhagen for Stellar Works, add a precise yet understated note. Vintage Asian console pieces and sculptural objects punctuate the contemporary setting, their aged surfaces creating a dialogue with the restaurant’s existing stone columns.
The bar itself stretches through the space like a piece of cabinetry. Its walnut lamella doors slide open to reveal a softly illuminated collection of bottles, turning the simple act of storage into an architectural detail. Nearby, a DJ booth and shelves of vinyl establish music as part of the interior rather than an afterthought. Delicate wooden screens filter both light and sightlines, creating a gradual transition from lounge to dining room. Overhead, hand-stitched bamboo pendants by Paavo Tynell for GUBI cast a warm, diffused glow.
At the center of Kinyōbi, the open kitchen becomes the heart of the restaurant. Guests gather around a counter inspired by Japanese dining traditions but adapted to a more familiar height, allowing intimacy without sacrificing comfort. Suspended above it, a sculptural structure of paper and walnut resembles an oversized lantern, bathing the kitchen in soft light and turning the movements of the chefs into part of the evening’s choreography.
Along the façade, bespoke sofas sit behind bamboo curtains, gently filtering daylight and creating a subtle separation from the street. The palette throughout is intentionally restrained—wood, stone, paper, bamboo, leather and textiles—chosen for their tactility and ability to develop character over time.
A contemporary Copenhagen interpretation of Tokyo’s intimate dining culture.
Architecture + Interior
Space Copenhagen
Design
custom made, Stellar Works, GUBI
