Althaus: A Brave New Bavarian Restaurant in Poland - Remodelista
Photography by Tomirri via PB/Studio. Althaus, a recently opened restaurant off a bustling walking street in the centrer of Gdynia, Poland, offers traditional Bavarian cuisine served in an unexpected setting–an inviting mix of rustic Southern German and modern chic with a lot of wood paneling. The space, designed by Hanna Bialic and Jakub Piórkowski of PB/Studio in nearby Gdansk, in collaboration with Filip Kozarski, extends over two stories, and shifts atmospherically: some rooms feature cowhide-covered seating and outsized gingham tablecloths, others. Althaus has a modern facade with long windows that provide diners with an elevated view of street life. The designers embraced Bavarian woodcrafting traditions and tweaked them, creating a warm, entirely wood-paneled, two-toned entry. The combination of old and new continues in the ground floor dining room where, under a wood-paneled ceiling, built-in-banquettes are paired with chairs upholstered in cowhide.The simple farm tables were custom-made for the space. Lit by industrial pendant lights, the settings, with their outsized checks and clean white enamelware, present a fresh take on Bavarian folk style. Against contemporary bleached-wood paneling, a grandmotherly sideboard displays Bavarian beer steins and dishes. The ambiance shifts as you make your way to the top level, from farm-styled dining area to fancy bar. Custom-made brass lighting hangs over the stair prompting the tone shift between the first and second floors. On the upper floor, the bar and buffet areas are painted a bottle green, referencing traditional Bavarian style. Oak flooring, paneling, and tabletops tie together the white brick space. Open wooden shelving displays German wine and books. Above L: A custom wall-mounted brass lamp. Above L: The dining room’s white brick tiles by Polish company Art De Vivre and wood accents carry over to the women’s bathroom, which has Even the waiters are dressed in neo-Bavarian folk style.