Project: Bombo Italian Kitchen & Bar
Architecture: Graham Baba Architects
Team: Jim Graham, Elizabeth Kee, Francesco Borghesi
General Contractor: Dovetail Construction
Structural: Roich Structural
Location: Seattle, Washington, United States
Year: 2023
Photo Credits: Ross Eckert
Bombo Italian Kitchen & Bar welcomes guests with a warm, natural aesthetic that perfectly suits its location inside the new Seattle Convention Center. This signature restaurant, designed by Ethan Stowell, spans 4,200 square feet along the primary corridor known as the Mixing Zone, where it stands as a beacon of culinary richness and architectural craft.
A Grand Entrance and Seamless Connectivity
Large bi-fold Douglas fir doors open directly onto the convention center’s 9th Street plaza, inviting visitors into a space that blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor environments. The corner location opens its arms wide to the Paramount Theater and the vibrant activity of downtown Seattle, ensuring that guests feel connected to the pulse of the city from the moment they arrive.
Rich Natural Materials and Contemporary Craft
Inside, the design focuses on natural materials that create a comfortable and grounded atmosphere. The Woodstone Pizza oven immediately captures attention with its warmth, accented by hand-crafted terracotta tiles from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Rusticated white subway tiles and blackened steel surround this culinary focal point, while Stowell’s signature open-kitchen format invites diners to observe the artistry in every dish. Maple butcher block countertops and exposed oak shelves display everything from pristine white dishes to stacks of pizza boxes, merging functionality with design flair.
Striking Bar Areas and Social Hubs
A 22-foot-long custom wood-and-steel bar ledge runs along the main entry vestibule and into the Mixing Zone, creating an inviting space for convention guests to work, chat, or simply watch the dynamic foot traffic. Around the corner, bent metal countertops mark the final plating area, leading to the dark, rich, and inviting wood-shrouded restaurant bar. Here, ebonized wood fronts and hand-crafted terracotta tiles come together with natural white oak suspended shelves and custom concrete aggregate countertops. Some of these tiles even bear subtle cat paw prints—a remnant of their time drying under the hot Mexican sun. Three large bi-fold doors open the bar area completely to the Mixing Zone, ensuring that the space remains expansive and welcoming.
Inviting Lounge and Dynamic Lighting
Downstairs along 9th Street, The Bar at Bombo spans 2,160 square feet, divided into a lounge and a bar area. The lounge greets guests with a high-backed, tufted, sinuous leather banquette and movable tables and chairs, creating a flexible, living-room feel ideal for networking or relaxation after an event. Unique floor tiles visually delineate this space from the bar. To enhance the 26-foot-high ceiling over the lounge, a local lighting fabricator created a custom “smudge pot” light fixture. Modeled after the iconic rusted smudge pots seen in the vineyards of France and Italy, this striking fixture not only illuminates the space but also adds a distinctive, cultural touch.
Details That Inspire
Between the lounge and the bar, a wall of fritted channel glass and solid cedar columns adds visual depth, seamlessly guiding servers between spaces. Above the bar, slatted wood panels enhance intimacy and focus attention on custom steel shelves, smokey glass, and sparkling liquor bottles. The bar countertop, faced with rotating, striated grey limestone reminiscent of sea floor shells and bivalves, exudes a tactile quality enhanced by solid walnut that warmly invites touch. On pleasant days, two large bays of bi-fold Douglas fir doors open the bar onto 9th Street, offering a seamless transition to the outdoor environment and further connecting guests to the bustling energy of the convention center.
Celebrating Culinary Art and Community
Bombo Italian Kitchen & Bar not only serves exceptional Italian cuisine infused with seasonal Pacific Northwest ingredients, but it also offers a dynamic space for social interaction and cultural exchange. Guests can enjoy their meal in an environment where traditional Italian elements mingle with modern design, creating a dining experience that is both refined and lively. Whether visitors are here for a business meeting, a casual lunch, or a celebratory dinner, the restaurant’s design enhances every moment.
In addition, the restaurant frequently hosts special events and art installations that celebrate local talent and international design, making it a vibrant part of Seattle’s culinary and cultural scene. With its thoughtful design, exceptional materials, and commitment to creating a welcoming atmosphere, Bombo Italian Kitchen & Bar stands as a testament to the power of design in transforming spaces into memorable experiences.
