Olga Ri Restaurant by Nitsche Arquitetos

From Digital Brand to Built Experience

Originally established as a digital-only food delivery service specializing in salads and healthy meals, Olga Ri has now evolved into a full-scale, physical restaurant. Located near Avenida Paulista, one of São Paulo’s most dynamic urban zones, the project marks a pivotal transformation—turning a virtual identity into a tangible spatial experience. The challenge was clear: create a space that embodies the brand’s values of healthy living, vibrancy, and sustainability.

Adaptive Reuse and Sustainable Vision

Designed by Nitsche Arquitetos, the renovation embraces the principles of sustainable architecture by preserving and reusing the building’s original structure. Elements like exposed brick walls, wooden ceilings, and the existing lattice facade were retained to reduce material waste and celebrate the character of the site. This approach aligns seamlessly with Olga Ri’s ethos of conscious consumption and environmental awareness.

A Vibrant and Playful Interior Identity

To reflect the brand’s bold visual language, the interior design incorporates a dynamic mix of geometric forms, vivid colors, and custom typography inspired by Olga Ri’s graphic materials. These are embedded into the architectural features—such as mosaic flooring, signage, and color-coded furniture—creating a cohesive brand experience within the spatial design. The goal was to not just attract attention but to make architecture speak the brand’s story.

Welcoming Layout with Layered Experiences

Visitors enter the restaurant through a double-height hall along Haddock Lobo Street, where a stainless steel counter acts as the focal point. Here, orders are placed and salads are prepared in full view—enhancing transparency and adding a splash of visual freshness through the colorful ingredients.

An eye-catching orange staircase leads patrons to the second-floor dining space and kitchen. Meanwhile, the preserved materials—brick and wood—anchor the space in warmth and authenticity, contrasting beautifully with the contemporary inserts.

Outdoor Patio as Urban Refuge

At the rear, a lush garden patio introduces greenery and open-air dining into the urban setting. A bright yellow bleacher wraps around the perimeter, offering informal, flexible seating ideal for both small gatherings and communal events. Paired with wooden tables and movable furnishings, this outdoor zone reinforces the restaurant’s mission to create shared experiences and social connectivity.

 A Living Extension of the Brand

The Olga Ri Restaurant stands as a model for brand-driven, sustainable architecture. Through thoughtful reuse of materials, vibrant spatial storytelling, and community-centered design, the project transforms a virtual food concept into a real, meaningful architectural presence in the heart of São Paulo. It is a space where wellness, design, and urban life intersect—inviting visitors not only to eat, but to connect.

All Photographs are works of Arthur Duarte