Located within the Söğütlüçeşme Terminal in Kadıköy, developed by Akfen Holding, The Diner Restaurant reinterprets the classic American diner culture through a contemporary restaurant interior architecture approach. Designed by Toros and Partners in collaboration with MSA and Akfen Holding, the project merges the nostalgic spirit of the 1980s with a forward-looking diner concept, creating a dynamic and immersive dining environment.
The design concept draws from familiar visual memories of traditional roadside diners while integrating today’s technological possibilities into a new spatial language. The exterior features yellow and white striped awnings referencing classic American diners, complemented by chrome seating details and industrial lighting elements that introduce a contemporary character.
Inside, chrome surfaces, bold color accents, and details inspired by a “Back to the Future” aesthetic bring past and future into the same spatial narrative. Floor graphics, a music box, and a photo booth strengthen the 80s-inspired atmosphere, transforming the restaurant into an interactive and experiential environment.
Lighting plays a defining role in the project. All lighting elements were custom-designed by Toros and Partners and produced specifically for the space. Warm yellow lighting layers at the bar reinforce the retro ambiance, while integrated LED screens and digital surfaces introduce a futuristic dimension, blending nostalgia with innovation. Rather than replicating the past, the design reinterprets diner culture through contemporary technology.
Wooden elements add warmth to the interior, while metal finishes and LED applications emphasize modernity. As a result, The Diner Restaurant stands as a distinctive example of restaurant interior design in Istanbul, offering a renewed interpretation of the American diner concept through visual storytelling and immersive spatial design.
Designed by Toros and Partners, The Diner Restaurant contributes to Söğütlüçeşme Terminal’s emerging identity as a new social and gastronomic destination, where nostalgia and future-oriented design coexist within a single experience.
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