FUNKE
Beverly Hills, CA
Chef Evan Funke has long been known as one of L.A.’s most lauded masters of all things Italian, most specifically pasta. He’s been meticulously hand rolling it at larger and larger spaces for more than a decade, overseeing the kitchen at favorites including Mother Wolf and Felix Trattoria with his broad frame and broader beard, having no room for anything less than perfection. His latest opening, Funke (pronounced “fun-kee”), continues this trend in his most opulent location: a gorgeous, massive dining room designed by Dan Brunn Architecture, with a separate outdoor rooftop bar featuring caviar service.
Indoor dining options include beautiful pizza, such as the Tropea (buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, tropea onions bruciata, scamorza, origano selvatico); large-format mains, like whole Mediterranean sea bass; and of course pastas, like a tonnarelli cacio e pepe. A collaboration with real estate magnate Kurt Rappaport, Funke boasts a see-and-be-seen vibe, a 20-foot-tall pasta lab and 273 Murano glass modular lighting pendants. If you’ve got visitors coming in, it’s a must-hit destination. — Jeff Miller
“It’s probably one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever seen in my entire life” - Evan Funke
“If you’ve got visitors coming in, it’s a must-hit destination” - Jeff Miller
“A self-proclaimed "design jewel" in the heart of Beverly Hills, Funke is a go-to destination for those who enjoy an art and design-centric ambiance just as much as a gourmet meal.” - Shelby Black
Funke is a go-to destination for those who enjoy an art and design-centric ambiance just as much as a gourmet meal. Conceptualized by architect Dan Brunn and Clint Nichols Design, the 1930s Art Deco-style building has been transformed into a contemporary eatery brimming with an impressive collection, including works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Ed Ruscha, and Jean “Johnny” Pigozzi (sourced from co-owner Kurt Rappaport’s own collection), as well as dazzling Damien Hirst-inspired light installations. Meals at Funke are just as considered—visitors can select from a wide range of fresh pastas, all made in the restaurant’s very own pasta lab.
“You can only put your name on a restaurant one time,” said Mother Wolfand Felix chef Evan Funke of his newest ode to Italy, opening at 9388 S. Santa Monica in Beverly Hills next Friday, May 5. Years in the making, his eponymous Funke is a collaboration with real estate magnate Kurt Rappaport, who bought the 1930s Art Deco building and even contributed his own artwork—from Warhol, Basquiat and more. “It’s probably one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever seen in my entire life,” said Funke, who thanked Rappaport for enabling him to “dream this.”
The three-story space designed by Dan Brunn with classic nods to Italy includes a main dining room (with 273 hand-blown Murano glass Fizi Ball glass lights simulating Champagne bubbles), a second-floor mezzanine with a livestream of the pasta-making, and a stunning rooftop with a verdant walkway and Cristallo Rosa quartz bar. The entire rooftop level, dubbed Bar Funke, will be open for walk-ins only and serve a separate menu featuring crudos, caviar service and desserts.
COFFEE FOR SASQUATCH
Los Angeles, CA
DBA transformed an existing bare space into the first Coffee For Sasquatch location by implementing a playful, modern design. The Melrose Avenue coffee shop creates a mystical environment evoking the forest where Sasquatch lives. The front of the store features an outline of the hairy folkloric creature with surrounding real living greenery to add depth and texture to the space.
DBA worked closely with business owner, Claire Ackad, to create a concept that would cater to the functionality of a coffeeshop but also ensure that customers would find an oasis to relax in alongside Sasquatch.
2017 Interior Design Magazine: Best of Year Honoree
“Dan Brunn’s Pared-Down Yet Playful Sensibilities Shine at L.A. Coffee Shop.” - Edie Cohen, Editor
“Varied materials and surfaces elevate the interior from a minimal design to a space with texture and movement.” - VMSD
2018 VMSD: Retail Renovation of the Year Award
2018 AIA|LA Design Awards: Finalist
“If you were walking down the street and saw this, you would have to go in. That clever simplicity is a complement to the mysteries of its singular inspiration carried throughout the interior via diverse materials, i.e., an abstract art installation and a plethora of natural light – not to mention the floor-to-ceiling Sasquatch, made from a combination of greenery and negative wall space.” - Brian Shafley, VMSD Editor
The design aimed to transform a long, narrow space into an airy, welcoming café that could support a wide range of activities and establish a strong brand identity for the client’s first location. To achieve this, the space was anchored by custom-designed, built-in seating that curves fluidly along the walls and around the coffee bar, creating intimate areas for eating, drinking, working, and socializing. These signature elements are immediately visible through the newly designed storefront, offering a striking and memorable presence from the street.
The playful interior draws inspiration from the forest, a subtle nod to the café’s brand mascot—a stylized Sasquatch—who emerges from a lush living wall of greenery. A terrazzo-lined interior, layered materials, and a site-specific mural further evoke a sense of wilderness, adding both whimsy and depth to the space. The resulting design is not only functional but immersive, reflecting the brand’s narrative and values.
Since opening, the café has become a beloved neighborhood destination and a visual landmark. It has received accolades from AIA/LA and been featured in Interior Design, Visual Merchandising and Store Design, and Hospitality Design, among others. “Coffee For Sasquatch was able to avoid the sameness you see in coffee shop design,” noted owner Claire Ackad. “Dan’s innovative design merges beauty with service—perfect for our brand.”
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