Kanela Breakfast Club has been a beloved morning destination in Chicago since 2010. Earlier this year, the café introduced its fourth location in the city’s Gold Coast neighborhood.
Embodying the brand’s mantra—healthy, happy, hungry—and drawing inspiration from the Greek word “kanela” (which translates to cinnamon), Kanela Breakfast Club partnered with Slick+Designusa to conceive a design that captures the essence of their philosophy.
“I wanted to redesign the space to be modern, minimal, and timeless,” says Rocco Laudizio, principal at Slick+Designusa. “The idea was to keep it fresh so we can take the concept to the next level.”
Upon entering, guests are greeted by a pastry display case, coffee bar, and classic diner-style seating. A wood-clad counter serves as a focal point, while the back bar area features floating wood shelves and a series of continuous LED screens showcasing Kanela’s menu.
The dining area boasts an interplay of design elements, like vertical wood panels applied to the walls that are juxtaposed by horizontally stacked tiles. White walls serve as a backdrop against the warm cinnamon tones found throughout the interiors.
The dome pendants suspended across the ceiling reminded Laudizio of eggs and “tie into this breakfast concept—it’s a subtle motif that doesn’t hit you over the head.” Vintage-inspired floor tiles grace the entirety of the space, and framed photographs of breakfast foods and two neon signs adorn the walls.
“The biggest challenge was trying to design an efficient and operational restaurant that is only 16 feet wide,” Laudizio adds. “But now the space feels much bigger than it actually is.”
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