KIMYONA Restaurant by AZAZ Architects: A Hidden Speakeasy Experience in Riyadh

Nestled within the striking skyline of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, KIMYONA Restaurant by AZAZ Architects transforms a historic Kenzo Tange residential building into a captivating speakeasy experience. The building, colloquially known as the Airline Building due to its previous use by travel agencies, provides a unique urban canvas for this contemporary dining concept. Opened in 2024, KIMYONA: meaning "strange" or "quaint" in Japanese: seeks to offer a mysterious, immersive, and carefully curated atmosphere for its guests.

A Journey of Discovery Through Architecture and Design

The design of KIMYONA is deeply inspired by analog black-and-white photography. The architects envisioned the restaurant as a spatial manifestation of the photo development process, guiding guests through a series of thoughtfully crafted experiences. Upon entering, visitors are greeted by a photographer's gallery, the only area visible from the street. Here, bright lighting, neutral tones, and minimal materiality create a serene, almost zen-like atmosphere, allowing the displayed artworks to command attention.

Hidden within one of the gallery’s artworks is a secret passageway, offering a dramatic transition into the main dining hall. The dining area evokes the ambiance of a photographer’s darkroom, with dimmed lighting, dark interiors, and glass brick partitions that subtly obscure the view from outside. This design choice focuses the diners’ attention inward, enhancing the sense of discovery and intimacy, while the translucent glass bricks interact with natural light to create shifting patterns of shadow and curiosity for passersby.

Materiality and Design: Balancing Texture, Contrast, and Atmosphere

A standout feature of the dining room is the suspended steel ceiling structure, inspired by hanging photographs in a darkroom. This central architectural element draws the eye toward the bar, forming a focal point within the space. Walls clad with reclaimed ceramic Chinese roof tiles celebrate the restaurant’s Asian culinary offerings while introducing rich texture and cultural context.

The design strategy relies on a restrained palette of black, white, and red, enhanced by the interplay of natural materials such as stone, ceramic, and steel. This combination creates a dynamic balance of warmth, coolness, and neutrality, reinforcing the immersive and mysterious atmosphere that defines KIMYONA.

Lighting and Ambiance

In collaboration with Light Bureau, the lighting design plays a crucial role in reinforcing the speakeasy concept. Bright, gallery-style illumination at the entry gradually transitions to softer, focused lighting in the dining area, echoing the photo development journey. Every light source contributes to guiding guests through the restaurant while maintaining the secrecy and intrigue intrinsic to a speakeasy.

Collaborators and Project Details

• Architects: AZAZ Architects
• Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Year: 2024
• Photography: Abdullah Alazzaz
• Lighting Consultants: Light Bureau
• Contractors: Laycon Solutions, Pietra, Gleamicks

KIMYONA Restaurant is more than just a dining venue; it is an immersive architectural and sensory experience. By combining the subtle drama of analog photography, secretive spatial transitions, and a refined material palette, AZAZ Architects have created a destination that intrigues, delights, and transports guests into a world of mystery and elegance within the heart of Riyadh.

All photographs are works of  Abdullah Alazzaz