A California Restaurant with Sweeping Views by Olson Kundig

Landscape has an outsize influence on our experience. This is very true at Cyrus, a restaurant Geyserville, California that recently reopened with a fresh design by Olson Kundig. Crafted for chef Douglas Keane, the space is defined by its exterior environment, namely an established design by Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture. “Working with her design gave us an incredible source of inspiration,” explains design principal Tom Kundig. “It allowed us to introduce a dialogue between interior and exterior rooms, as well as the vineyards and eastern ridge beyond.”

Creating the 8,000-square-foot restaurant meant renovating an existing building, once a Sun Sweet Prune packing plant. This work was done with a careful eye on creating a dining environment that draws diners seamlessly through the spaces. After entering through a custom steel door, diners enjoy a lounge that overlooks the vineyards. Wine and appetizers are served in this space, which features a large steel table that cantilevers from an existing column. Next, they advance to an intimate eating area with U-shape table that allows for direct interaction with the chef. They then move to main dining room, which overlooks a large reflecting pool. There, guests are served a multi-course dinner while surrounded by expansive views. “The big design move on the building façade was to create a new, huge window to frame an ancient olive tree,” Kundig notes. “And make that a special moment in the dining experience.”

Throughout Cyrus, the spaces flow effortlessly into each other, and the material palette is subdued. “The experience is centered around presenting and savoring the artistry in the kitchen,” Kundig explains. The architects also created flexibility for the restaurant, as the space needed to be able to expand for larger events. In all, Olson Kundig’s design creates a noteworthy new home for a legendary California restaurant.

At Cyrus, Diners Take In Sweeping Vineyard Views