When ILIS first opened in Greenpoint back in October 2023 we had a feeling it was going to be big–the wood-fired kitchen and restaurant is the brainchild of Mads Refslund, acclaimed chef and co-founder of Copenhagen restaurant Noma, and had been years in the making. So when the World Culinary Awards named ILIS North America’s Best New Restaurant 2024 we really weren’t surprised. And now the restaurant’s interior is getting some praise as well!
Since 2015, the Prix Versailles has been celebrating innovative and aesthetically impressive architectural projects worldwide. The prestigious award ceremony highlights projects that blend creativity with sustainability, aiming to inspire high standards in design. Over the last decade the Prix Versailles has recognized projects from over 80 countries worldwide.
At the Prix Versailles’ tenth annual iteration, which took place on December 2, 2024 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, ILIS was named the World’s Most Beautiful Restaurant.
ATRA Studio, led by the visionary furniture designer Alexander Diaz Andersson, collaborated with architect Grant Blakeslee on the interior of ILIS, which is “not just a restaurant [but] a sensory experience where design and cuisine intertwine to create something extraordinary.” The 4,500-square-foot restaurant is housed in a former rubber factory warehouse and features wooden rafters, exposed brick walls, and a corner skylight. Each detail of the interior reflects ATRA’s commitment to modernism and futurism.
The restaurant’s layout complements chef Refslund’s vision of a dynamic dining space, which is evident in the fact that the centerpiece of the space is a large open kitchen with 58 wrap-around seats. Refslund had stated back when ILIS first opened that all the best dinner parties wind up in the kitchen, and that’s exactly what ILIS is meant to feel like.
Andersson stated:
Our design for ILIS is a reflection of our philosophy at ATRA Studio. We aim to create spaces that are not just visually stunning but also deeply functional and engaging for both guests and staff. We believe in creating spaces that are timeless, where every element has a purpose and a story.
As for the food, ILIS serves seasonal North American plants, seafood, and game. You can’t view the menu online so you do have to be an adventurous eater, but some past dishes have included Shigoku Oysters with green almond and cucumber, a Surf Clam fashioned into a flask and filled with a chilled clam drink, and BBQ Eel “On The Cob,” wild caught and brought to chefs live, brined for 48 hours, then smoked.
Three menus are offered: the Market Menu ($225/person) or Field Guide ($325/person), which you can choose from if dining in the main dining room, or the Cocktail Tasting ($185/person) if you’re sitting at the bar. You can also walk-in for an a la carte experience. Reservations can be made on ILIS’ website; a very select amount of lounge tables are available for walk-in and the bar is fully walk-in.