Designed by Wroclaw, Poland- based Buck Studio, Opasly Tom, which translates to Fat Volume, is a sumptuous restaurant in Warsaw that marries a throwback design with a modern twist.

“We wanted to create a space that’s contemporary but rich in texture and nostalgia-inspired details,” says the firm’s head designer and architect Dominika Buck, “which makes a perfect background for the restaurant’s contemporary Polish cuisine.”

Located in the former bookshop of the State Publishing Institute, the nearly 3,000-square-foot, split-level space begins its journey at the upper level, home to the expansive dining room, where a foyer clad in refined poplar burl and corrugated steel walls upholstered in teal-blue velvet are joined by geometric terrazzo floors, tall mirrors reflecting street views from floor-to-ceiling windows, and handmade stalactite lights. Furnishings, in comparison, were kept simple with timber chairs dressed in a pale, hushed orange tone.

“We knew that all contemporary solutions like corrugated sheet velvet walls would resound stronger if we combined them with some traditional, or historical finishes,” explains Buck. “That’s why we went with a nostalgic materials, like the poplar burl.”

A sweeping white tile stairway leads downstairs to the wine cellar, semi-open kitchen, and a series of intimate dining rooms distinguished by moody tones and ridged walls wrapped in tan-hued velvet. Beyond the ink blue-tinged wine tasting area, the Oasis private dining room awaits, a striking departure from the minimalist restaurant with walls covered in an ornate floral pattern that add a whimsical touch.

“As Polish designers, we are very often inspired and influenced by the nostalgia of objects and textures from our youth in communist Poland,” says Buck, noting that many of the design details were inspired by familiar shapes from their grandparents’ homes. “This is exactly what Opasly Tom is about,” she says, “a contemporary nostalgia.”