What if you could dine on the steps of a deity’s temple?
Expanding from an intimate corridor into a grand subterranean room, the restaurant’s focal point is a striking grand staircase that creates a see-and-be-seen atmosphere.
The entrance corridor creates the feeling of walking into a grotto.
A visitor’s first glimpse of the 500-seat dining room.
Scale becomes part of the spectacle.
Oversized lanterns and statues echo the impressive size of the Asian-inspired Gotham speakeasy. The arms of a 20-foot-tall statue seem to move hypnotically under a veil of projected animation designed by Rockwell Group’s LAB.
Waterfalls, birds and tattoos subtly animate the Quanyin.
“We looked at how stairs add drama to the audience’s arrival at a performance venue.”
The 1,300-square-foot grand stair creates a theatrical entrance procession.
Circular banquettes flanking the steps offer a cozy vantage point for dining.
TAO’s tiered arrangement encourages social interaction.
Guests don’t go straight to their tables. They move through a series of levels that invite lingering with daybeds and lounges.
“We've created a restaurant that is less about planting yourself at a table, and more about getting up, moving around.”
What’s Going On
