Beautiful Restaurant Designs that Meet Building Code Requirements and Keep Customers Happy

People dine out more regularly today than ever, and this level of demand is making the restaurant industry more competitive. Today, customers are not only looking for delicious food, but for restaurants that offer a unique dining experience while providing a safe environment they can relax in.

Building codes provide guidelines for these restaurants to implement safety regulations and fire hazard prevention instructions to ensure that customers can have the best and safest experience possible; a task that can sometimes prove to be a challenge.

The following restaurants have gone above and beyond to achieve beautiful designs and keep their customers safe and happy.

1. Meat West in Amsterdam, the Netherlands 

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This contemporary restaurant is located within the De Hallen building, a tram depot-turned-cultural hub in Amsterdam’s booming Old West area.

The extended warehouse style of the restaurant and its tall clear ceiling allow the natural light to flow throughout the restaurant, creating a very clean and open feel and allowing for proper ventilation in case of fire emergencies. The visible metallic beams and concrete floors give the structure strength and work as a fire-retardant.

These elements and the tram rails produce an industrial atmosphere fitting to the building. The designers were challenged to create personal, intimate spaces for customers in the vast open space. They successfully achieved this by designing rows of crescent-shaped table areas and graphic screens, guaranteeing a certain level of privacy in each unit.

2. Komodo in Miami, Florida 

From the moment you walk through the door, the restaurant exudes an Asian vibe visible through the display of a line of hanging ducks being cooked by a special wood-fired oven. This three-story restaurant and lounge has indoor and outdoor seating areas, as well as three bars—each level created with a distinct, representative design.

This layout required the inclusion of visible fire exits in the multi-level design, as well as fire detectors and sprinklers in the kitchen area. The open setting allows the air into the restaurant for better ventilation and fire prevention. 

3. Eloise Nichols Grill & Liquors in Houston, Texas 

In short, the concept of this restaurant will remind you of a grandmother’s living room and Southern hospitality.

The setting of the main area is open, and the large windows and French doors—which double as emergency exits—let enough light in to create an outdoors feel. Plants and nature-inspired murals made of fire-resistant fabrics are found around the restaurant giving it a fresh, cozy look.

Half wall divisions separate the different dining areas for privacy and comfort, as well as compartmentalization, which prevents the spreading of possible fires.

4. Bellopuerto Reforma Restaurant in Mexico City, Mexico

The central element of this beautiful restaurant, located in the heart of Mexico City, is its turquoise bar.with The bar’s wooden counters help incorporate the indoor and outdoor terrace areas that overlook the street.

This a space that allows ventilation and provides a safe exit in case of fires. Equipped with fire alarms, sprinklers, and other fire-prevention regulations, the design was created to resemble its sister house in the beach town of Acapulco. The white hardwood floors, wooden tables and chairs, and metal beams give it a beachy, modern look.

5. Nau Restaurant in Brasilia, Brasil

This awe-inspiring restaurant does an exceptional job merging the concrete jungle that is Brasilia and the ocean (where its specialty dishes come from).

The ocean-themed building has large glass windows that overlook the lake. The boat-shaped tables, jellyfish-inspired lamps, and outer walls designed to resemble fish scales contribute to the theme all throughout its three stories. And the design still complies with strict building code regulations and requirements through the use of fire-retardant materials and required alarm systems and evacuations routines.

More than just out-of-the-ordinary designs, these restaurants have taken on the challenge of providing their diners with an experience that is memorable and safe. They prove that not only is meeting building code requirements possible, but a chance to experiment with concepts and elements to create an exceptional space for their customers.