Perched on a pier extending into Canada’s Halifax Harbour, Mystic is a new fine dining restaurant designed by DesignAgency.
The 75-seat space is housed in the signature building of Queen’s Marque district, a mixed-use complex developed by locally based Armour Group and designed by renowned Nova Scotian firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects.
Upon entering Mystic’s steel-panelled vestibule, diners catch glimpses into the lively kitchen prep areas, energizing the arrival experience.
The intimate yet elevated atmosphere is enhanced in the bar area, which doubles as the restaurant’s pantry, and culminates with a large open kitchen at the center of the formal dining room.
As guests move deeper into the restaurant’s dining room, they are surrounded on three sides by the building’s angular glass walls, offering a sense of unity with the ever-changing harbor scenery.
“Queen’s Marque epitomizes a new confidence emerging in Eastern Canada, and Mystic is the jewel in its crown,” says DesignAgency founding partner Matt Davis. “We found endless inspiration in the layered textures and humble gestures of the maritime terroir, and enjoyed interpreting them with a luxurious touch.”
The color palette and textures of the region—harbor blue, pine grove green, ancient driftwood, and weathered stone—are reflected in the upholstery, flooring, and surfaces, creating a connection with the surrounding environment.
Overhead, the sculptural plaster ceiling is molded into a curved shape reminiscent of a ship’s hull, while long, slim sconces and hidden cove lighting highlight the ceiling treatment. Rounded furniture shapes further soften the space, fostering a sense of free-flowing movement, much like the water lapping at the pier below.
The district’s kinetic sculpture, Tidal Beacon by artist Ned Kahn, extends through the dining room to soar above the building, symbolically honoring the past while looking optimistically into the future.
“It was important to us that the design feel of the place and embody the vision of a bright future on the world stage,” Davis adds, “while staying firmly grounded in the landscape.”
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