San Francisco’s dining scene has gained French bistro Bon Délire.
Set in a 1919 Beaux-Arts structure originally built for freight and riverboat support, the restaurant features a expertly layered design by locally based Studio Terpeluk that balances refined Parisian aesthetics with preserved industrial features.
The varied layers of Bon Délire
Studio Terpeluk leveraged the building’s original character by exposing timber-and-steel beams and retaining dramatic high ceilings with weathered wooden joists. Expansive, mullioned windows usher in ample daylight as well.
At the heart of the space sits a large, custom horseshoe bar clad in scalloped oak panels. The bar’s zinc top nods to classic Parisian bistros, while steel shelving displays softly illuminated French spirits, wine, and stemware. Bespoke teardrop-shaped ceramic planters infuse organic form and softness.
Raised banquette seating upholstered in green leather offers a comfortable vantage point for guests, paired with veined Paonazzo marble tabletops.
Underfoot, green mosaic marble flooring laid with wide joints creates a sense of movement, while fluted glass elements add texture and depth.
Light sets the tone
Lighting plays a crucial role in setting the ambiance. Vintage Parisian school pendants, aligned with the building’s early 20th-century origin, cast a warm, intimate glow, as 1960s bubble pendants and sconces create playful, irregular shadows across Bon Délire.
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