Located atop a nationally-landmarked Art Deco skyscraper in lower Manhattan’s Financial District, the two Michelin-starred SAGA is the first fine-dining restaurant for former Eleven Madison Park Executive Chef James Kent. Completed in 2021, the design repurposes the three uppermost floors of the landmarked property, which boasts unobstructed views across New York City. Welcoming guests into a private, luxurious world inspired by the secret residence of a 1930s bonvivant and world traveler, each floor of the venue unfolds into its own enveloping atmosphere.
Further design inspiration for the space was the Turin home of the famed Italian designer Carlo Mollino, which he is rumored to have worked on for 20 years yet never lived in nor shown to the public. The experience is heightened through art by the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat, Egon Schiele and Victor Vasarely as elements of the imagined home, rather than works at which to marvel. The finishing touch of a pair of striking handmade silk pendant lights anchor the dining spaces, envisioned as pieces purchased during travels abroad.