The transformation of Mythos Restaurant in Craiova was a drastic one. Primarily targeted for a 35+ year old audience, the aim was to transform the restaurant’s previously outdated design into one that is chic and sophisticated as well as modern and up-to-date, thus appealing to loyal customers while also attracting a new clientele.

Firstly, changing the colour palette to deep, rich blues contrasted by white and nude wooden tones, from previously existing oranges and dark browns, is a change that not only references the restaurant’s Mediterranean heritage but also gives the space a more refined and calm feel.

Secondly, the restaurant’s layout was altered to create as much open space as possible by eliminating any non-structural walls, in order to create a more fluid customer experience. The delimitation of space within the restaurant was thereafter achieved mainly through the use of wooden panels with a wireframe-like structure which, while separating two areas visually, still allow optical and sensory interaction with the rest of the restaurant.

Material wise, the ceramic tiles utilised for the circulation spaces towards the seating areas are complemented by the soft wooden flooring upon which the tables are placed, as well as the rich, soft velvet of the seating itself. The redesign of the Mythos restaurant also included a team of local artists by creating a broken down mural painted onto separate white ceramic plates and arranged as a flowing centerpiece on one of the space’s walls.

Designed by arch. Vladimir Mindru, arch. Irina Balanean, arch. Bogdan Brandiburg /

Yellow Office Architecture

Photography by Vladimir Mindru