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Ivy Studio transforms a former auto repair shop into a tropical-themed restaurant in Montreal

Tropical-themed restaurant interior featuring plush seating, marble tables, and lush greenery in Montreal's transformed auto repair shop.

Photography by Jack Jerome, courtesy of Ivy Studio.

In a city known for its long, harsh winters, the owner of this Montreal restaurant dreamt of creating a space that would transport customers to sunnier climes.

The Jack Rose bar and eatery, located in a former auto repair shop, has been overhauled by locally-based Ivy Studio to give it a tropical theme.

A neat reminder of the restaurant’s roots has been left on a number of the exposed structural steel beams, where worn-out slogans can still be seen.

The design team has added depth and warmth, with salmon pink contrasted against dark greens and reds, while smoked mirrors have been backlit to “recall a sunset while offering softer background lighting”.

Tropical-themed restaurant interior in Montreal featuring a modern bar, stylish seating, and lush greenery.
Tropical-themed restaurant interior featuring curved seating, greenery, and warm lighting in a Montreal eatery.

“This atmosphere is created through the different textures and colours as well as an abundance of plants integrated throughout the space,” said the studio.

A natural pink lime plaster wraps around the room and complements the more organic materials such as the black stained wood and rendered walls.

In the middle of the restaurant, a central structure and curved bar divide the long rectangular space into a series of distinct areas for drinking and dining, adding to the feel of a cosy environment.

Tropical-themed restaurant interior featuring lush greenery, cozy seating, and modern decor in Montreal's vibrant dining scene.
Tropical-themed bar with green plants, colorful liquor bottles, and stylish seating in a modern Montreal restaurant.

“This configuration draws you to move around during the evening and explore the space through different angles,” said the studio.

Warm pink stools and benches echo the colours of the overhead beams and provide a mixture of high seating areas at the bar and low nooks for dining.

This subtle rainforest theme is continued with plants surrounding the curtain-backed seating booths and deep green stools dotted throughout the restaurant.

Overhead, the studio has used an abundance of greenery around the curved bar area, making it one of the most striking features of the space.

Tropical-themed restaurant interior with a marble-topped bar, plants, and winter scenery visible through large windows in Montreal.