On a food tour across South-east Asia a couple of years back, the founder of Vezhlivie Ludi restaurant group, Valentin Kyziakin, was impressed by Singapore’s hawker food scene and wanted to bring some of the tastes he discovered back to Russia, where he would open a Singapore-style food establishment.
With the help of Evgeniya Lazareva, the founder and lead designer of Singapore design firm Hot Design Folks – she has lived and worked here for over six years – the interiors of Soyka Rest came to fruition, with various features of Singapore culture adorning the space, including Peranakan ceramics and colonial-inspired and tropical motifs.
Housed in a quaint heritage building, Soyka Rest has brass furnishings such as vintage globe pendant lamps and wood-backed banquette sofas that complement the exposed vaulted brick ceiling, all of which add a textural effect and contribute to a cosy dining experience. Woven rattan contrasts with the green and tangerine hues to create a space that exudes warmth, and which also incorporates a rich mix of colours.
Patterned tiles add to the overall textural aesthetics in the space.
Most materials, including Russian oak for carpentry, were sourced locally to reduce the carbon footprint of refurbishing Soyka Rest.
Pops of teal and blue help add contrast, allowing furniture and furnishings to stand out.
If you're heading to Russia, visit Soyka Rest, Ulitsa 8 Marta, 6, Yekaterinburg, https://soyka.rest.