Aurora

A farm-to-table restaurant in the remote wilderness of Kamchatka, on the banks of the Myakizha River, 500 kilometers from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The restaurant deserves special attention because it is located in a difficult-to-reach area and uses exclusively local, often wild, Kamchatka products. The Aurora Hotel restaurant is a farm-to-table establishment with its own garden, freshly caught fish, game, and products from local farms. The restaurant bakes its own bread, makes cheese, and ages meat. In the summer, the restaurant prepares a lot of preserves, and there is a specially equipped cellar for this purpose. The food is exquisite, yet relatively simple, which perfectly reflects the overall atmosphere, taste, and philosophy of the Russian North. The architectural design and interior design for the hotel and restaurant were developed by the architectural firm FANTALIS. This was a real challenge for the company – to create an unusual architectural object that would be in harmony with the diverse nature of Kamchatka, where all four elements – earth and fire, water and air – are revealed in all their power. The guest houses and the restaurant are located on a large, elevated platform made of larch, which is 3 meters high and has an area of 2,500 square meters. The structural engineering solution protects the soil ecosystem, helps to protect the buildings from seasonal floods, and at the same time solves aesthetic problems: the platform raises guests above the surrounding forest, offering a breathtaking view of the taiga landscape. The restaurant's interior combines a rugged, expedition-style elegance with textured materials and refined aesthetics. Nothing should remind guests of the urban atmosphere; it was important not to fall into a country style or the atmosphere of hunting and fishing – for the project's authors, issues of ecology and environmental protection are more relevant. A dry-aging cabinet for meat and fish, which allows for a unique delicate flavor and characteristic aroma of the meat product, plays an important role in the interior. It displays legs of venison and large salmon. There is also a bar counter, which is multifunctional and serves as a reception desk, information center, and bar – essentially the heart of the hotel. Above it hangs a large chandelier made of branches collected in the local forests and on the hills by forest rangers – a result of the meticulous handwork of designers who processed the natural materials and decorated them with crystal pendants. Two panels with a floral pattern adorn the restaurant ceilings, creating the effect of additional space. These panels were hand-painted in Moscow, transported to Kamchatka, and installed in the restaurant in their finished form. Another "place of power" in the restaurant is the 24-hour welcome buffet with Kamchatka delicacies – it is very important that guests can always have a tasty snack during the change of time zones (the difference between Central Russia and Kamchatka is almost 9 hours) and during their adaptation period.