Photography by Eric Laignel

It’s not every day that a designer gets to re-design an iconic restaurant—especially one that’s lasted 47 years in New York City. But that recently was the case for Adam D. Tihany. "Alexander Girard’s design for the original La Fonda Del Sol was abstract and iconic, and we obviously wanted to honor the restaurant’s historical roots while revitalizing it for the 21st century," explains Tihany of the space that incorporated cultural references and folk art all the way through to graphics, signs, menus, and tableware. "We did this by using a stylized contemporary sunburst motif found at the café entrance, on the illuminated glass wall behind the bar, and covering the dining room carpet."

The ground floor café is decked out in a large-scale black and white checkerboard terrazzo floor (another nod to the original space) and a complementing geometric square ceiling pattern, oak paneled walls, cherry red chairs and bar stools, and banquettes done in a bright Paul Smith striped fabric. "We sought to create a modern and lively atmosphere in the café by using a palette of vibrant and neutral shades," Tihany says.

In comparison, "the [upstairs] dining room has an intimate atmosphere," he says, thanks to uplit dark brown limed oak panels dotted with abstract images of matadors and a more masculine color palette. Here banquettes are done in a brown, burgundy, and mulberry striped fabric, and the brown carpet’s sunburst pattern is colored in hues of purple and cream.