Door 226

Door 226 is an intimate private-dining concept in Amsterdam, created by chefs from well-known local fine dining restaurants who share a passion for food, storytelling, and personal connection. The menu was designed not as a list of dishes, but as a printed object — a menu that stands, folds, and stays. Guests are invited to take it home and repurpose it as a bookmark, turning a moment at the table into a lasting memory of the experience.

Services

Editorial & menu design

Print & folding exploration

Client collaboration

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud, Paper, Printer

Image courtesy of Restaurant Arles’ official Instagram (@restaurantarles)

Used for design reference and presentation purposes only.

Main Challenge

Door 226's identity lives in the atmosphere the chefs create — the warmth, the personality, the intimacy of the space. Translating that into a printed object meant the design had to feel as considered and personal as the dining experience itself.

The menu needed to strike a balance: clean and practical for daily service, yet distinctive enough to leave a strong visual impression. Working closely with the chef and founder, I was given plenty of space to explore, bringing the concept from a blank page to a finished object entirely on my own terms.

Solution

I spent time with the chefs in the kitchen observing their rhythm, understanding their personalities, and tasting the dishes that inspired the menu. That proximity shaped every design decision, from the typographic tone to the folding structure. I was also invited to photograph a full private dining evening, capturing the experience firsthand and studying how guests interacted with the menu in context.

The result is a lightweight, playful printed object that reflects the chefs' energy and the restaurant's character. Its striking form creates a strong brand image at the table, while its second life as a bookmark extends the guest experience well beyond the meal.