Header: Edmon Leong
Studio WYZE, an interior design firm with offices in London and Zurich, has recently revealed the interiors of Permanently Unique Group’s restaurant FENIX Mayfair. The opening marks the London debut of the acclaimed Greek restaurant, where cuisine, light and design come together to create an exceptional dining experience.
FENIX arrives in the capital as a destination that embodies the spirit of the Cyclades, with Executive Chef Zisis Giannourous at the helm and support by Head Chef Angelos Togias (previously Krokodilos), both of whom combine traditional Aegean ingredients with contemporary techniques.
A design ethos that celebrates Greece
For FENIX Mayfair, Studio WYZE based the design on the food and cultural heritage of the Greek Islands. The restaurant takes its name from the mythical phoenix, and the concept draws on cycles such as the shift from day to night and the rhythms around them. At the London location, these ideas are arranged across a single 4,500 sq ft floor with 166 covers.
The influence of architecture on the interior
The building has a 1920s Portland stone façade and a prominent street presence, which shaped the interior design. Studio WYZE used the existing windows to bring in as much natural light as possible while working within planning restrictions. The building’s architecture also inspired a series of sculptural plaster arches, which lead through different parts of the interior, from the darker bar to the lighter dining room.
The interior is dressed in neutral colours and natural materials, combining references to Mayfair with Mediterranean ones. Light and dark appear throughout the interior, expressed in its tones, textures and details. The result is a restaurant that transports guests to a place by the sea, but it is never theatrical, going, instead, for quiet immersion.
“The design explores rhythm and restraint. Set within a heritage building, we allowed the existing architecture to inform the spatial approach, introducing curved plaster arches and a consistent material palette to create a series of interconnected spaces rather than separate rooms.”
Christina Arbenz, Co-founder and Principal, Studio WYZE
The heart of the restaurant
The open kitchen and open-fire grill are, perhaps, what better define the restaurant. Studio WYZE worked with the FENIX team to keep the kitchen visible, having also worked with INTO Lighting on a feature wall made from Greek decorative bricks and backlit with colour-shifting light because daylight does not reach the full depth of the restaurant. The lighting changes through the day, from brighter tones in daylight to warmer ones in the evening.
“By using tactile, natural materials, warm lighting and handcrafted details, the space feels laid-back and inviting, yet sophisticated. It’s a restaurant meant to be savoured over time, from daylight to evening, without ever seeming rigid or formal.”
Chris Sayce, Co-founder and Principal, Studio WYZE
An ode to craftsmanship
A strong focus on authenticity and craftsmanship is immediately apparent upon arrival and especially prominent as dinner goes on. The studio collaborated with European artisans to source materials and create unique features, ensuring each element feels considered and enduring. Decorative breeze blocks from Damask in Greece form striking feature walls, while dual plaster finishes crafted by Calfe Crimmings in the UK capture the raw, undulating textures of Mykonos.
The bar area is defined by custom terrazzo floors designed and poured by Aurora Terrazzo, alongside finishes by Bristol-based Cod Steaks, including fluted rammed earth panels, a lava-stone back bar and a detailed bronze feather bar front. Italian parquet floors by Foglie d’Oro, custom furniture from OZO Living in Portugal and joinery by Timbermark in Ireland further push this sense of timeless quality and Mediterranean hospitality that Fenix Mayfair wants to go for.
“Our design aim was to evoke the feeling of a Greek island gathering in London – a place where guests immediately feel relaxed, can slow down and fully immerse themselves in the food, atmosphere and each other.”
Chris Sayce
With FENIX Mayfair, Studio WYZE presents a layered interpretation of modern Greek hospitality, where light, materiality and spatial flow shape the restaurant from one area to the next.
