Cult Bruges restaurant channels the drama of 15th century Belgian artworks

Photography: Courtesy of WeWantMore

Launched by renowned sommeliers Luk De Rooze and Kees Dobbelaar, Cult Bruges combines curated wine selections with traditional meat maturation in this new fine dining spot for the Belgian capital. With interiors by Antwerp-based studio WeWantMore, the eatery occupies the ground floor level of Hotel Portinari, its design simultaneously catering to modern appetites and paying homage to the historical context of the locale.

Well-known for its artists, Bruges particularly lauds work by Hans Memling, who painted the portraits of the hotel’s namesake patrons, Tomasso and Maria Portinari, in the late 15^th century. Originally forming a triptych with the Madonna and child, the oil on oak artworks were the main inspiration behind WeWantMore’s design, which plays intensely with chiaroscuro: strong natural light against a dark-toned backdrop.

Dominated by a burgundy red volume that hovers above, the bar itself is a luxurious touchpoint for hotel guest and visitors alike. Contrasting the charcoal drinks cabinetry, the space is characterised by a red-veined marble countertop, which references the steak dishes being served in the adjoining dining room. In the main restaurant, unusual textures, enriched by dark veneer, velvet upholstery and leather detailing, inform each space. Subtly illuminated by integrated light strips, wall panels are upholstered in brown cow hide throughout, revealing textures that offset the merlot-hued fabric of nearby soft seating.

Through arched doorways clad in reflective metal sheets, a veranda offers alternative dining areas where the play of light continues. Generous glazing floods a whitewashed conservatory with sunlight, which interacts with the steel-clad waiters’ station that divides the space in two. Exuding a bright and intimate atmosphere, the gauzy drapery in organic hues calls to mind the organza veil in Memling’s portrait of Maria Portinari.

As well as designing the new space, WeWantMore was responsible for Cult’s visual identity, which utilises the same shades and shapes as the restaurant’s interiors. Burgundy tones and sharp geometry span all branded merchandise from the menu design to marketing materials, making for a  strong and well-rounded design language.

Nancy Cool, Interior Design Director at WeWantMore comments, “When Luk and Kees approached us to design Cult, we wanted to create something people would remember and want to come back to again and again. The design teams – both on the interior design side and the branding side – wanted to create a space with high drama that was also restrained in a very Belgian way.”