Now open in Brooklyn’s Dumbo neighborhood, Ziggy’s Roman Cafe is a two-story Italian restaurant and bar designed to flex between family dinners, casual lunches, and late-afternoon drinks.
The concept—conceived by Igor Hadzismajlovic, cofounder of Employees Only, and hospitality PR veteran Helen Zhang—was born from a simple gap in the neighborhood: a place welcoming enough for kids, yet refined enough for adults.
The ground floor houses a lively bar and dining room beneath soaring 25-foot ceilings, while an airy mezzanine above functions as a semi-private dining space complete with its own bar, along with soft play elements that make family dining feel natural rather than an afterthought.
An easygoing vibe for the new Dumbo eatery
The interiors were designed by architect Jonus Ademovic, cofounder of miniMAX, whose background in prefabricated cabins and modular housing informed the project’s sense of whimsy and inclusivity.
At the heart of the design is a neutral architectural backdrop that serves as a canvas for a rotating art collection by local talents, which often includes pieces by neighbors’ children once their parents’ refrigerators fill up. The works are pinned casually to painted cork boards, bringing bursts of color and texture into the main dining room.
That same playful tone continues in CNC-drilled plywood panels scattered with puzzling, humorous text fabricated by Neva Kocic, who is part of the miniMAX design team and a professor at Parsons School of Design. Custom wood paneling wraps the booth seating, while a sculptural, moon-like light fixture anchors a wrapped dining nook tucked beside the stairs to the mezzanine.
Upstairs at Ziggy’s Roman Café
Leading up to the mezzanine, guests encounter “Sitting in this garden” by Brooklyn-born artist David “Mr. Star City” White, an expressive piece of artwork part of his LOVERBOY: Moonlit Roses And Heartache series.
Upstairs, seats for 26 guests are arranged against oversized windows that flood the room with natural light. Norwegian Rose pink marble tables—used famously in the restrooms of the original Windows of the World—nod to New York history and to managing partner Edo Ademovic’s own hospitality beginnings as a busboy at the iconic restaurant. A custom banquette and private bar complete the space.
The vibrant color palette, developed by Picnic, weaves throughout the interiors, creating what Ademovic describes as “an unmistakable presence, ensuring every interaction feels like part of something bigger, buzzier, and undeniably cool.”
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