Amano

One of Auckland’s most beloved dining destinations, Amano is known for its rustic Italian fare, chic industrial setting, and effortlessly elegant atmosphere. But behind that sense of warmth and timelessness lies a layer of genuine European history thanks to Baran de Bordeaux, the French and Italian antique specialists invited by Savor Group to refine the restaurant’s interior. Owners Chrystelle Baran and Nick Ferneyhough were brought in to bring authenticity and atmosphere to Amano’s final design stages. “We wanted to add pieces that felt real, objects with life, patina, and purpose,” says Chrystelle. “It’s about texture and soul, not decoration per se.” Among their contributions is an extraordinary 19th-century four-metre-long French farmhouse table, the kind that once hosted generations of family gatherings. Its weathered surface instantly grounds the dining space with warmth and gravitas. Nearby, a 19th-century French bank of drawers, repurposed for everyday restaurant use, now stores cutlery and linens during each service — a beautiful blend of old-world craftsmanship and modern functionality. Scattered throughout Amano, antique French confit pots and tian bowls bring soft tones of ochre and cream, echoing the restaurant’s connection to food, history, and the handmade. These humble, food-related antiques feel entirely at home in a space devoted to artisanal cooking. The result is a restaurant that feels both polished and soulful — where contemporary design meets the quiet beauty of timeworn authenticity. “These pieces don’t try too hard,” says Chrystelle. “They just belong.” At Amano, every surface and vessel now tells a story; a celebration of history, craft, and the shared joy of the table. Following the success of the Amano collaboration, Baran de Bordeaux has also been engaged by other leading venues, including Alma, Non Solo Pizza, and Bivacco, to introduce similar European decorative accents such as antique terracotta pots, rustic wooden breadboards, and vintage glass wine vessels, continuing their signature blend of authenticity and atmosphere across Auckland’s dining scene.