A new lounge called A.B. has opened underneath Lebanese restaurant Al Bustan in New York City. Executive chef/owner Elias Ghafary hired Swedish interior designer Marie-Louise Olsson Dawwas to create a timeless look for the space, shying away from materials and accents that reinforced preconceptions of traditional ethnic restaurants. The designer used elements such as plush banquettes, oak for the full-service bar, exposed brick and stone, and large screens that show natural landscapes from Lebanon.
