Public - New York City

Sunday, 7/8/12, 11 am - Nolita

I know it's been a while, but I haven't given up on convincing restaurants to include their restrooms as a part of the dining experience. One place that certainly has taken that into consideration is Public. I can't fully capture the charm of this restroom in the pictures - whimsy mixed with sophistication.  The two identical single-stalls (I was in both) each had a door that looked like it was recycled from a midcentury school building (which I'm guessing is the idea) - frosted half glass with a wood frame and a mail slot.

Inside the room was coated floor to ceiling with iridescent glass titles. The high ceiling allowed for a shelve above the toilet with white vases. At the sink area, the mirror was flush with the wall with paper towels stacked on the side. On the other side of the sink was a case holding columns of mini bars of soap wrapped in Public's logo. Yes there was a full liquid soap dispenser on the sink but being able to slip a small bar of soap in your pocket somehow seems like you're getting away with something. Also feeding into the public school setting, you can grab a No.2 pencil on your way out of the restaurant.


Here's more on Public.

Arbutus - London

Friday, 5/4/12, 6 pm 

I was a big fan of this modern British restaurant in Soho and I was so hoping to enjoy the restroom as well. I wasn't let down:

Sure the huge London mural is a bit on the nose, but as a visitor, I loved the graphic touch. The sinks and counters were minimal like many of the restrooms I visited in the city, but the black counter top definitely made the sinks stand out.

Though it seems the designer got a little tired by the time it came to the side-by-side stalls but they do have full doors, which I am always a fan of.

Here's more on Arbutus.

Maze - London

Maze - London

Thursday, 5/3/12, 7:30 pm

For one of the swankiest restaurants in London, Gordon Ramsay's Maze's bathroom wasn't much to look at.  Maybe going a little too streamlined and modern, this single stall had all the basics but nothing super exciting. Guess we'll have to leave the gimmicks to the gastronomy-driven plate.  

Here's more on Maze.