Nickel And Diner

Nickel and Diner anchors the corner of Howard and Centre Streets, at the border of SoHo and Chinatown, NYC. The diner occupies the iconic pagoda building of Chinatown. The design focuses on three core concepts; a celebration of the classic 1920’s New York diner; a use of bold contemporary graphic patterns; and a subtle infusion Chinatown. The diner is divided into three primary spaces and a PDR allowing for continual operation from breakfast until dinner. These include the coffee bar, main dining, and corner facing dining area. They are divided through the use of textured metal/glass screens, 1920’s deco inspired ceiling transitions, and graphic floor-pattern changes.

The palette mixes warm tones - the wood half-round dowel coffee bar, walnut stained millwork, and custom banquettes - with the black and white graphic finishes throughout. Custom lighting and mirrors are found throughout the diner and provide a warm glow from morning to night. The diner’s new facade is composed of black and white tile with a custom glazed storefront made up of bands of textured glass. The eastern morning light to spills into the interior during the day, and glows brightly at night welcoming guests in.

The bathrooms are treated with an asymmetrical graphic tile pattern highlighting the corners. The PDR and it’s corridor have a modern Chinoiserie wallpaper which lines the detailed walnut-wood niches. The design complements the diner’s Chinatown roots, and the building in which it lives.