This West Hollywood Hot Spot Is a Japanese-Inspired Blend of Subtlety and Elegance
Ideally situated near the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Pacifique is the go-to canteen for A-list interior designers—but it has also seen its fair share of celebrities marching through its doors over the years, including John Malkovich, Diane Keaton, and Lisa Kudrow. With a French-Japanese fusion menu and chic interiors by Sean Leffers, it’s not hard to see why Pacifique is a hot spot.
Here, ELLE Decor chats with Leffers about his inspiration for the space, the challenges he encountered during the design process, and his favorite item on the menu.
ELLE Decor: What was your inspiration for Pacifique?
Sean Leffers: I’ve always been drawn to Japanese women in film and literature. Because of Pacifique’s French-Japanese cuisine, I was thinking about a young woman in Tokyo in the 1920s—a time when exotic European trends might have captured her imagination.
How does the design dovetail with the Japanese-inspired menu?
We wanted the Japanese influence to feel subtle. The bar is made of shou sugi ban wood and Meteorus granite from Brazil, which naturally has a branching cherry blossom pattern. Massive Japanese paper lanterns from Davide Groppi hang over the main dining area, and we set the black and white Ann Sacks hexagonal tiles in a sakura blossom pattern.
How did you create the individual seating areas while also maintaining a coherent aesthetic?
When you are designing an eclectic environment, coherence comes from staying true to your story. Every element is like a word in a phrase, so choose wisely. I was very lucky to spend time in several charming izakayas in Tokyo last year, which inspired the private wood-paneled booths. The Mokum fabric curtains introduce some subtle glamour, and the Louis Poulsen pendant lights have always reminded me of a pagoda—even with their Danish origin.
What was the biggest challenge you encountered with this project?
Time. Our residential projects typically run from 18 months to three years, and we had only five months from start to finish for Pacifique.
Did you take any residential ideas and tweak them for the restaurant?
Most of the Ralph Lauren, Mokum, and Kravet fabrics we used are probably more often seen in private homes because of the expense, but I found room in the budget. I wanted guests to have a luxurious experience when they are seated.
Your favorite seat in the house?
I love the Grace chairs we used from Poliform. It’s one of the most comfortable, compact dining chairs with arms on the market, and Poliform has some really fun, graphic patterns.
And your favorite item on the menu?
It’s a tie between chef Wes Whitsell’s embered sweet corn with togarashi and the freshly made black-sesame ice cream.
Are there any elements here that would translate well to home interiors?
I think the Belgrave sconce in antique faux silver from Rose Tarlow Melrose House—around the corner from Pacifique—is one of the prettiest sconces anywhere, and the seashell motif feels equally French and Japanese. Also, the Moon pendant from Davide Groppi comes in a variety of sizes and is one of the most versatile lights when a space calls for simplicity and volume. I loved it so much, I bought one for my own house.
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