Iconic Washington, DC eatery Occidental Grill & Seafood completed its contemporary redesign from Sudbury, Massachusetts-based interior design firm Parker Torres and Derwood, Maryland-based firm Jonathan Nehmer & Associates. The renovation includes a new entrance, reimagined bar, and a refreshed color and textile palette.
While historic features remain including the Scali table, named for a 1962 meeting between ABC correspondent John Scali and Soviet spy Alexander Fomin, easing tensions around the Cuban Missile Crisis, contemporary design upgrades bring new energy to the space. The new design features solid, earthy leather and striking patterns as well as contemporary exposed lightbulb fixtures that descend from the ceiling. A new curved booth is perched above the main dining room.
The revamp expands the restaurant’s capacity to 140 seats. The historic bar was relocated to merge with the backbar to create a 48-seat lounge. Beyond the main dining room, in place of the original bar, is a new 30-seat dining space, which features etched glass partitions.Portraits of former U.S. presidents overlook the tables to reflect the legacy of the 111-year-old venue. A unique variation of the Norman Rockwell painting “Freedom of Speech” will also be installed.
