Attached to the Hudson at Renaissance apartments just outside Wrightsville Beach, Perla Raw Bar is well situated with 150 seats to feed a constant crowd of locals. We partnered with the owner to create a functional space that showcases the raw bar while leaving ample room for indoor and outdoor dining. The front of house, back of house and bar are designed to feel like part of the multifamily sister property, but also stand on its own legs with a fresh approach to coastal cuisine.
The main feature of the restaurant is a tall glass wall that separates the prep station from the diners, allowing onlookers to watch as the pros shuck fresh Carolina oysters by the dozens. There’s also a double sided bar that opens up to the outdoor patio, giving the space an inviting indoor-outdoor flow for all seasons. The coastal interior design paired with bright artwork lends a vibrant air to the open layout.
The biggest challenge was coordinating two distinct services: multifamily and full-service restaurant. We had to combine utilities and infrastructure to make one cohesive building with separate uses, while keeping the restaurant’s mechanical systems separate. During construction residents were already living above and all around, so our goal was to keep the noise to a minimum and limit disruptions to daily life.