Stripping away the clichés of clean-eating culture, Smartass Kitchen & Bar brings a refreshing energy to healthy dining in the heart of Kyiv. Opened in 2019 as part of the lifestyle-driven Smartass Gym & Soul brand, this restaurant redefines the health food experience with a concept that favours balance over restriction, along with design that is anything but dull.
The brainchild of Kate Kuzmenko of Smartass Design, the space is a masterclass in adaptive functionality and mood-setting aesthetics. A considered approach to lighting plays a starring role: natural daylight morphs as the sun moves through the sky, while colour-shifting scenes can take over come evening, setting the tone for high-energy parties or intimate late-night events. With foldable tables and directional lighting beams, the interiors were designed with multi-purpose use in mind, making it just as suitable for a mid-morning coffee as it is for a dinner party.
Plant life is used liberally across horizontal levels, adding a layered depth to the room. This greenery is paired with textured upholstery, decorative pillows and tactile materials, crafting an inviting ambience. Milky MDF panels wrap around the walls and partitions, occasionally giving way to patinated mirrors and glass inserts to create visual volume. These design rhythms continue with structured metal partitions and column mounts, bringing cohesion to the space’s open layout.
Art, too, is front and centre with all areas featuring photography by Denis Manokha, styled by Natalia Osadcha and Anastasia Bilous. These images, in a twist of tactile artistry, have been hand-embroidered by Khrystyna Kovalenko.
Proving that wellness and indulgence don’t have to be conflicting, Smartass Kitchen & Bar shows that they can sit together at the same table and break bread with one another.
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Smartass Kitchen & Bar Kyiv Photography, courtesy Smartass Design.
