Southern U.S.-inspired restaurant brand Absurd Bird has launched its first outpost outside of London with a new location in Exeter. Designed by Hove, UK-based design studio DesignLSM, the two-floor eatery draws inspiration from various Southern artists, from Mark Twain to Tennessee Williams and Harper Lee.
Guests are welcomed on the first floor by a warm, rustic dining area outfitted with rocking chairs and intimate booths dressed in lush tropical flora that create a secluded mezzanine aptly channeling a Southern porch. The main restaurant area features reclaimed wooden plantation shutters and windows that echo New Orleans character. The space also includes a piano converted into a waiter station, a lit dovecote house, and birdcage lighting that helps infuse the brand’s characteristic sense of whimsy, while deep green glossed tiles in a herringbone pattern on the cocktail bar inject a bit of sophistication.
The bold palette comprises distressed, rustic finishes, and ornithological patterns and hidden literary quotes complete the space.
