Closer

Closer is a unique restaurant where a wood-fired oven will be the heart of the kitchen. Featuring an open flame, an extensive wine list with over 500 bottles, a private room for events, and 5-meter-wide windows overlooking the Tauride Garden ponds.

The architecture and interior design of the space are by APAA Studio, created by Alexey Penyuk and Anastasia Artemyeva (Duoband, Lucky Group, Alexander Oganezov). Kitchen The heart of Closer's kitchen will be two ovens: a wood-fired oven from Italy and a closed charcoal oven from Spain. The brand chef and co-founder, Maria Dementyeva, focuses not on geography, but on building the future menu around fire. "The kitchen at Closer was born around the wood-fired oven – it became the heart and center of the entire restaurant. While we were inspired by Italian traditions at Saro, here we decided to create an author's cuisine without being tied to countries or styles. Everything is determined by the fire: it influences the technique, the taste, and even the presentation. The idea of an open flame came spontaneously, but it was this that brought the entire concept of Closer together," says Maria Dementyeva, brand chef and co-founder of Closer and Saro. Wine Closer's wine list is a statement in itself. Head sommelier Angelina Gaivoronskaya (Saro) will create a library of over 500 bottles. The principle of working with wine is to seek, store, and collect. Cocktails The cocktail menu, developed by head bartender Elena Latypova (Giallo, "Best Bartender" nominee according to Sobaka.ru magazine), balances Japanese and European influences. For example, gin is served with yuzu sorbet, and traditional sake is mixed with absinthe perfume. Interior The architecture and design of Closer are by APAA Studio. Alexey Penyuk and Anastasia Artemyeva share a passion for perfection with the team. The concept of "timeless design" is embodied in the eclecticism of the two spaces: the dining room and the private room for events (54 and 12 seats). In the summer, a patio with views of the Tauride Garden will open, but for now, the space showcases a carefully curated selection of items. The collection includes design pieces from the Dutch gallery-workshop Morentz, Belgian porcelain from Serax in collaborations with Ann Demeulemeester and Vincent Van Duysen, and steel frying pans from the French brand De Buyer, with a century of history. "This project is about synergy and complete understanding with the Saro team. When the discussion of the project starts with the cover of the Joy Division album Closer, it means that it is designed to resonate with those who are tired of superficiality. At Closer, we wanted to combine what we love most: lighting that is free from restaurant clichés and timeless design icons in a clean and honest space. Perhaps, for us, this is the perfect embodiment of a place where you want to return every day – without pretense or imitation, in a very beautiful space and in the most charming location in St. Petersburg," say Anastasia Artemyeva and Alexey Penyuk, APAA Studio. Private Room by Closer The Private Room by Closer is a separate space, perfect for intimate events, with a capacity of up to 12 people. The centerpiece of the private room is a set consisting of the Doge table by Carlo Scarpa and the Cab 412 chairs by Mario Bellini. The Doge is not just a table, but a sculptural object: the dialogue between metal and glass in the architecture and details makes it a focal point in the interior. The Cab 412 chair (often simply Cab) is one of the most famous works of the Italian designer Mario Bellini. It is a cinematic and masterfully crafted art object. For extra comfort, the space features a vintage Brigadier leather sofa by Cini Boeri. The Brigadier is a monumental yet minimalist piece with voluminous armrests in the form of cubes made of lacquered wood and soft leather seats and back. The private room is equipped with its own hi-fi audio system, built around the Technics SA-C600 CD player, complemented by sound from Dali (Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industries). Vintage interior lighting by Joe Colombo and Bruno Gatta is located throughout the intimate space. Uniform The uniform, as well as the table linens for Closer, were created by the studio Not For Sale. "We aimed to create not just a uniform for the restaurant, but clothing that everyone would want to wear even outside the dining room. Especially for Closer, we created a voluminous shirt made of dense nettle with a patch pocket and a pearl button placket in a gray-graphite shade, as well as wide cotton trousers with a relaxed fit, creating a sense of both sophistication and ease. We wanted the uniform for Closer to blend in, to be part of the idea that the team created," says Natalia Moskina, Not For Sale. Graphic Design The graphic design for Closer was developed by the studio The sense. The visual concept is based on a typographic solution that refers to the punk of the 1970s. "The identity of Closer lives on the edge of focus – when observation turns into participation, and reducing the distance creates a sense of presence and invites you to focus on the details," say Alexandra Akhramenko and Evgeny Yelgin, The sense.