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Wander into the recently overhauled restaurant space attached to the hip Hotel Indigo in the North Union Station neighborhood, and you’re in for a sensory thrill: Three Saints Revival, which opened last fall, is unlike any place you’ve ever enjoyed a meal. Guaranteed.
The brainchild of restaurateur Robert Thompson (of Punch Bowl Social fame)—who says he “wanted to create something to bring us out of the dark days of the pandemic”—features a menu of craft cocktails and shareable plates that draws on flavors from all corners of the Mediterranean.
And here’s where the familiar evaporates into the surreal—in the loveliest way. Inspired by the idea of discovering food from different parts of the world, design team Megan Freckelton and Frank Mataipule of FAM Design began riffing on travel, which led them to thinking about a bohemian lifestyle and voyages through the subconscious. “We coined the term ‘bohemian dream sequence’ to inform the whole concept,” Freckelton says.
Their research unveiled that the most common themes in our dreams are teeth, being naked, flying, falling, and home. So they integrated these elements into the plum-colored space (the hue was chosen because “it signifies mystery and magic,” Freckelton says). A mix of feathery and globe-like light fixtures represent flying. The server station in the center of the space is shaped like a house. When you look closely at the wallpaper in the restroom corridor, you’ll find a toothy motif. And in the dining room, a bold wallcovering and chartreuse wave-like lines on the floor both reference “the nonlinear nature of the imagination and of brainwaves,” Freckelton says.
Layered into the design are found objects—candles, vintage rugs, textiles, and lanterns—that travelers might collect while exploring a new city. Add to these charming details the fascinating interplay between color and bold patterns, and Three Saints Revival is a sensory feast that reveals itself slowly. “We want people to experience a sense of drama when they first walk in the door,” Thompson says, “and then we want them to think, subconsciously, ‘OK, I’ve come to the right place. This is right where I’m meant to be’”—a wildly new, but maybe oddly familiar, spot to gather. threesaintsrevival.com
