Mama Manana Georgian Restaurant

Mama Manana is more than just a Georgian restaurant. It is a place where khachapuri and khinkali are served in an interior that feels like a journey in itself. Opened in 2023 within the Respublika residential complex in Kyiv’s Teremky district, the restaurant occupies a standalone building of approximately 250 square metres, where every detail reflects a love for Georgian culture and a respect for craftsmanship, materials and hospitality traditions.

The concept begins with the name itself. Manana is imagined as a generous Georgian hostess welcoming guests into her home, inviting them to gather around the table and share food, conversation and time together. This image became the foundation of the entire design approach, shaping a space that feels warm, open and deeply personal rather than overtly thematic.

Interior Design: Georgia Through the Language of Form

The interior was designed by Kyiv-based Mardanova Design Studio with the aim of conveying the spirit of Georgia through architectural references, textures and materials rather than through literal ethnic decoration. The result is a contemporary restaurant where cultural identity is expressed subtly through form, atmosphere and carefully curated details.

The building’s most distinctive feature is its floor-to-ceiling glazing. Instead of conventional walls, panoramic windows surround the dining room, filling the space with natural light throughout the day and creating a strong connection between the interior and its surroundings. This transparency became both a challenge and an opportunity for the designers. Guest seating areas were arranged around the perimeter, while service functions were concentrated in the centre, creating a clear and highly organised layout where every zone has a defined purpose.

The structural steel columns were transformed into sculptural focal points within the interior. Their organic, wave-like texture references both Georgian and Moroccan architectural traditions, cultures that share a surprisingly similar appreciation for tactile surfaces and handcrafted forms. Ceramic vases and planters echo the same shapes and rhythms, extending the visual language throughout the restaurant.

The flooring is finished with geometric encaustic-style tiles in a warm palette of ochre, terracotta and soft cream tones. Tables with solid wood tops featuring natural live edges, leather banquettes with cowhide-inspired patterns, dried branches used as sculptural accents and conical rattan pendant lights all contribute to an atmosphere where nature and craftsmanship coexist harmoniously. The materials feel authentic, tactile and timeless.

The bar area naturally becomes the centre of gravity within the space. An illuminated wine display and a substantial counter crafted from raw stone create a strong visual anchor, while a suspended installation of small wooden fish introduces an unexpected sense of lightness and poetry. The composition feels playful yet refined, adding another layer to the restaurant’s narrative.

Furniture as Part of the Concept

Restaurant furniture was selected to reflect the spirit of the venue — diverse in form yet unified by the warmth and honesty of natural materials.

At the heart of the dining room are bentwood chairs by the Polish manufacturer Paged. A classic of European contract furniture, the bentwood chair feels entirely at home in this environment. Steam-bent timber, woven rattan seats and backs, and elegant proportions have made this type of chair an enduring archetype of hospitality design.

Different finishes — from natural beech and dark walnut to coloured lacquered versions — are distributed throughout the restaurant in a deliberate and carefully balanced way. Rather than creating uniformity, they establish a dynamic rhythm across the dining room, helping to define different seating zones while maintaining a cohesive visual identity.

The combination of bentwood chairs with upholstered sofas, leather armchairs and fabric-covered seating creates the diversity that characterises a genuine Georgian feast. There is no single seating experience; instead, guests can choose from a variety of settings depending on their mood, group size or dining occasion. This flexibility contributes to the welcoming, residential atmosphere that defines Mama Manana.

More than a restaurant, Mama Manana demonstrates how thoughtful interior design can translate cultural values into a contemporary hospitality environment. Through light, materials, furniture and carefully considered details, the project creates a modern interpretation of Georgian warmth and generosity — one that feels authentic, inviting and memorable.