Costa Opens Concept Restaurant in London with Open Kitchen

When a global coffee chain rebrands and reopens in its hometown, customers notice. That’s what happened when Costa—founded in London by Italian brothers in 1978—returned to Tottenham Court Road with a new concept: Costa Fresco. This isn’t your usual Costa coffee shop. It’s a food-focused venue built around a central open kitchen, with a full visual refresh led by two specialist design agencies.

Costa Fresco is a new concept restaurant in London offering a food-heavy menu and an open kitchen where customers can watch their meals and drinks being prepared. The redesign includes a custom brand identity by Our Design Agency and interior work by Caulder Moore, creating a distinct yet familiar Costa experience.

What Is Costa Fresco?

Costa Fresco is a newly opened concept location in London on Tottenham Court Road. Unlike traditional Costa coffee shops, it focuses more on food alongside coffee and features an open kitchen that lets customers see their orders being prepared. The space is designed to feel more relaxed and modern while still retaining Costa’s core brand elements.

Who Designed the New Space?

The redesign of Costa Fresco was a collaboration between two design firms. Our Design Agency handled the brand identity, including signage, digital menus, packaging, print materials, and video ads. Caulder Moore took charge of the interior architecture and spatial design. Together, they aimed to refresh the Costa image without losing customer recognition.

What Does the New Branding Look Like?

The new branding keeps Costa’s iconic wine red as a base colour but introduces gradient aqua blue as a secondary hue. This blue appears in staff uniforms and some interior elements. The logo now features a handwritten-style “Fresco” typeface, meant to evoke a casual, countryside feel. The overall aesthetic is brighter and more relaxed compared to standard Costa outlets.

What’s Different About the Interior?

Caulder Moore designed the interior to offer a “natural and welcoming” atmosphere. Furniture, coffee machines, and other touchpoints incorporate the wine red and aqua blue palette. The open kitchen is the centrepiece of the layout, allowing transparency in food and drink preparation. Seating includes standard tables and breakfast bars with mixed red and blue chairs.

How Did the Design Agencies Approach the Project?

Our Design Agency described the project as a complete brand identity system. Every customer touchpoint—from packaging to napkins—was treated as an opportunity to express Costa Fresco’s unique personality. Sarah Westwood, the agency’s strategy director, emphasised that even small details contribute to the overall brand experience. The goal was to make every element reflect the new concept while staying true to Costa’s established identity.

Why Include an Open Kitchen?

The open kitchen is central to the Costa Fresco concept. It’s both a functional and design feature, allowing customers to watch their food and beverages being made. This adds transparency and engagement, creating a more interactive dining and coffee experience. The visibility of the kitchen supports the relaxed, fresh vibe the redesign aims to achieve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the new Costa Fresco located?

Costa Fresco is located on Tottenham Court Road in London, the same area where the Costa brothers first established their coffee business in the UK.

What makes Costa Fresco different from a regular Costa cafe?

Costa Fresco focuses more on food offerings and features an open kitchen where customers can see their meals and drinks being prepared. The branding, design, and atmosphere are also distinct, aiming for a more relaxed and modern customer experience.

Which design agencies worked on Costa Fresco?

Our Design Agency handled the brand identity elements such as signage, menus, and packaging, while Caulder Moore was responsible for the interior design and spatial layout of the restaurant.

What colours are used in the new Costa Fresco branding?

The branding retains Costa’s signature wine red and adds gradient aqua blue as a secondary colour. The new logo uses a handwritten-style “Fresco” typeface for a more casual look.

Does Costa Fresco serve only coffee or also food?

Costa Fresco serves both coffee and food, with an emphasis on a food-heavy menu in addition to beverages. The open kitchen highlights the food preparation as part of the customer experience.

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