Paper Moon brings the authentic and timeless flavours of Italy to one of London's most iconic settings. Welcoming guests throughout the day, and serving eclectic, seasonal dishes that celebrate the restaurant's Milanese roots. Located in Whitehall and overlooking Royal Horse Guards, The OWO is located moments away from iconic London landmarks including Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, and St James’s Park. As one of London’s most storied addresses - Britain’s former Old War Office, the building has been inhabited by Britain’s leading statesmen, including Sir Winston Churchill, and served as inspiration for Ian Fleming’s James Bond series.

The restaurant design seeks to invoke the ambience of an Italian home within the setting of a heritage, Grade II* listed Edwardian Baroque building. Featuring a warm tonal colour palette, accented with golden textures and lush greenery, the 109-seat restaurant is divided into three sections: a foyer, bar and library, and main dining area.. The design concept sensitively unites the building’s original architecture, completed in 1906, with the finest of Italian fabrics, furniture, and natural materials for a sophisticated, atmospheric dining experience.

One of the main challenges for this project was the nature of the building - a Grade II* listed Edwardian Baroque building. AB Concept sensitively used materials and furniture with a tonal colour palette, the finest of Italian fabrics, furniture, and techniques to create a textured and ambient dining environment. Guests enter through an intimate foyer, reminiscent of a family-home hallway, lined with Venetian paint and a travertine dado that serves as a backdrop for Paper Moon’s signature framed movie scenes. The existing white mosaic flooring was preserved and is now warmly lit by antique brass sconces, which focuses the eye on a floor-to-ceiling tree at the end of the hall. The seating further echoes these golden hues, with swivel bar stools upholstered in deep orange leather, while Ceccotti Collezioni’s Janine chair is carved from warm grey walnut with yellow leather cushions. In the dining area, original preserved façade windows offer guests spectacular views of London’s iconic Horse Guards Parade. To maintain the window’s original bomb-proof design, an inner pane of glass has been fitted inside each frame.

Mindful restoration and preservation practices were key to this consideration, repurposing and restoring as much of the original architecture as possible. Despite initial concerns surrounding regulation restraints, AB Concept were able to rework the original mosaic flooring to become a true highlight of the design, even using the grid pattern to inspire the metal mesh and golden tiling behind the bar. AB Concept also managed to sensitively restore the statement mesh bar alcoves using mirrored mosaic tiles by Milanese supplier Materea, which seamlessly paired with the original materials.