Local studio SODA has used warm colours and natural materials to create the first store for tea brand Chai Guys on Portobello Road in London's Notting Hill neighbourhood.
The studio drew on the "informal nature" of drinking masala chai tea when designing the interior for the cafe ? the first one for the Chai Guys brand, which has previously operated from market stalls.
The Chai Guys cafe is located on Portobello Road in London
"We wanted to keep true to the informal nature of drinking chai by creating a grounded space with low-level seating where there is always room for one more by pulling up a stool," SODA interior designer Matilde Menezes told Dezeen.
"The counter was kept quite low, too, to showcase the act of serving chai, which is quite theatrical." The interior has plaster walls and boucle seats
The Chai Guys Portobello cafe comprises a seating area and a front-of-house desk where the tea is prepared, as well as a bakery at the back that sells pastries.
As many of the visitors will be getting takeaway drinks, Menezes says she wanted to provide "an impactful impression that was simple and subtle at the same time".
Timber panelling clads part of the walls
The studio also aimed for the 55-square-metre space to be a peaceful refuge from hectic Portobello Road and to reference the Chai Guys branding.
"The brand is a modern take on chai with its black dynamic typography layered over clean and minimal design," Menezes explai...