WorkGraphic Design

Studio Beau and Rainville–Sangaré serve up funky identity for Montreal's new Asian restaurant, Maneki

The latest delicious addition to the streets of Montreal is Maneki comptoir asiat’ – a new Asian restaurant and cosy spot located in the heart of the city's Hochelaga-Maisoneuve neighbourhood. Serving up modern dishes ideal for a quick bite to eat, the young owners entrusted their identity and interior design to design agency Studio Beau and Rainville—Sangaré, who created a convivial and playful atmosphere where "stereotypes meet Asian classics".

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Two white paper cups with blue and light blue wavy patterns sit on a wooden shelf next to a blue branded card and small gold figurine

The two studios co-designed everything from the ground up, and tackled the process by playing around with Asian cultural stereotypes: bright neons, famous figures, pop songs and traditional dishes – all with a dash of humour.

The logotype is referential to the maneki-neko, the fortune cat figurine, popular in Japanese and Chinese cultures. A bright and colourful palette highlights the luminous interior, while the contrasting electric blue sets the restaurant apart, making a bold statement in a casual atmosphere.

In the same vein, the interior design is modern and playful. The furniture is sturdy and meant to be visually low, making space for social interactions. Custom lighting zig-zags across the room offering spatial rhythm. And metals grids hang around the place to allow the restaurant to pin graphical branded assets and specials menus. Nice work.

Details of Maneki's interior design featuring electric blue structural framing and white tiled walls
Branding materials for Maneki restaurant including business cards, fortune cookie, and printed collateral featuring blue logo, General Tao illustration and bold "Wok Wok Wok" design
A designer wearing a navy Studio Beau cap sits at a white table beneath a graphic artwork of stacked bowls in pink and blue, with a grid-patterned border
Interior of Maneki comptoir asiat' showing blue furniture, white tiled walls, mustard-yellow accent wall and custom zig-zagging lighting fixtures above dining tables
Studio Beau and Rainville-Sangaré's branding designs for Maneki restaurant, featuring a playful blue cat character and graphic patterns in turquoise and navy
Blue-framed chair with cream seat against white tiled wall, and wooden shelf with condiment bottle and wooden utensils against blue-trimmed cabinetry
Purple neon signage mounted on a gold wall at Maneki restaurant, with a close-up view of blue neon tubing forming abstract shapes on the right
Two ceramic bowls with red and gold decorative borders containing Asian dishes including noodles, vegetables and rice, styled on a neutral surface with chopsticks and branded napkins nearby
Five golden maneki-neko fortune cat figurines with raised paws, red markings and green bibs arranged in a row against a white tiled wall
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