Trail Practice Organizes Ypseli Hybrid Dining Space in Central Paris
Ypseli is a combined restaurant and deli located in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, France. The project occupies the ground floor of a 19th-century Beaux-Arts building, within proximity to the commercial area of Rue Montorgueil. The design introduces a contemporary interior within the existing historic structure, establishing a distinct spatial identity through material, color, and organization.
Developed by Trail Practice in collaboration with founders Syméon Kamsizoglou, Delphine Pique, and chef Fragiskos Dandoulakis, the project combines hospitality, retail, and dining functions within a single layout. The existing architectural shell is retained, with structural elements such as exposed concrete blocks left visible. Within this framework, a freestanding steel shelving grid is introduced as a primary organizational system. The grid defines the deli area as a three-dimensional field of display, allowing for flexible arrangement and future adaptation.
Ypseli Restaurant designed by Trail Practice | all images by The Social Food
Red Floor and Sculptural Volumes Shape Ypseli’s Interior Layout
A central design element is a continuous red surface that forms an independent spatial layer within the interior. This intervention operates as both floor and organizational device, structuring circulation and defining zones. Sculptural volumes integrated into this red base accommodate service functions and guide movement along a peripheral route that leads to the central bar.
The spatial sequence is further articulated through a linear mirror suspended above the bar. This element reflects activity across the space, visually extending the interior while establishing a connection between the restaurant and deli areas. Due to the compact and polygonal layout, circulation is organized along four primary axes, allowing clear movement between different zones. Large facade openings introduce natural light and maintain visual continuity with the surrounding streetscape.
The design team at Trail Practice opts for a material selection that references Mediterranean construction without direct replication. The red flooring is combined with ochre tones, while marble surfaces are sourced from quarries in Dionysos, Tinos, and Eretria. Steel elements and reused marble components contribute to a consistent material palette across the project. The design integrates dining, retail, and storage functions within a unified spatial system. Through its organization and material strategy, Ypseli translates elements of Greek hospitality into a contemporary interior framework.
a restaurant and deli integrated within a Beaux-Arts ground floor
a contemporary interior inserted within a historic shell
dining, retail, and deli functions combined in one layout
the bar of Ypseli features three types of upcycled marble