Silver Fern Café + Wine Bar
Minneapolis, MN | Commercial, Hospitality
EVOKING VERDANT LANDSCAPES
Nestled between two masonry walls of what was historically the center of Nye’s Polonaise, Silver Fern Café and Wine Bar breathes new life into a historic block in NE Minneapolis. Taking its name from the national plant of New Zealand, home to the wine bars that inspired this ambitious client, the new space features rich textures and patterns throughout, evoking the verdant landscapes of the Pacific island nation.
The warm wood tones and rich greens call through the tall storefront windows to the bustling neighborhood foot traffic outside, a welcoming and cozy invitation.
The main service counter snakes through the space, with the palette shifting from lighter to darker to reflect the dual function as both café and wine bar. This works in tandem with the large bench, dividing the otherwise open space into a variety of seating areas and allowing patrons to select that which fits their desired experience.
A DYNAMIC YET UNIFIED ENVIRONMENT
Where the serpentine bench and bar push and pull the space into and between its many facets of serving, dining, visiting, or quiet contemplation, the canopy of wood louvres floats above it all, resulting in a dynamic yet unified environment. This reflects the owner’s vision: a restaurant provides a menu of experiences and still maintains a single, clear identity.
Dreaming big?
PROJECT PHOTOS BY VONDELINDE