misto.cafe is a social impact cafe that opened in Lutsk in 2024.
The establishment follows a model of responsible entrepreneurship. Its 100 co-founders are dedicated to the city's development and have invested in a cafe that donates 80% of its profits to fund public and social projects in Lutsk, chosen collectively.
When developing the concept for the establishment, we started with its name. This inspired the creation of the slogan “Different people – one place”, which the team loved and eventually adopted as the motto of misto.cafe. Modern society is a blend of contrasts: different views, characters, appearances, and habits. Yet, everyone is united by “third places” – such as a favorite cafe – where you can sit at your preferred table and hear, “The usual?” We aimed to create a design that feels effortless – an environment with a sociable atmosphere and diverse seating options, allowing everyone to find their place. The color scheme echoes the signature combinations of the misto.cafe branding – orange, green, and milky white.
The space of misto.cafe is divided by a structural wall – this layout naturally led us to the idea of dividing it into two zones – day and evening, different in vibe and function.
The façade side of the establishment is the day space: there is a lot of light from the panoramic windows; the seating area has a cafeteria-style layout, and coffee, hot drinks, and pastries are served at the bar. In the back of the building, there is also an evening space with a stage, which hosts various events such as educational sessions, film screenings, and stand-up performances. This is where you want to spend more time having dinner or on a date. At the client's request, the two halls are separated by a corrugated glass partition to minimize the noise and lighting of evening events from the day zone. In the corridor leading to the evening hall, on the right, behind a curtain, is an elevator that leads to the kitchen on the cafe’s lower ground floor.
The entrance vestibule is designed as a transparent orange cube. The establishment's front windows are mirrored, obscuring the view during the day – therefore, we intentionally chose to attract the attention of passersby without introducing the visual clutter of outdoor advertising. A film was applied to the outer glazing of the vestibule to enhance its rich color, and an accent LED light in the form of a tangled ball was placed inside. The result is a vestibule that draws attention with its warm light and often appears in guests' photos. The space also includes a rail for umbrellas and bowls for dogs (as the cafe is pet-friendly).
To the left of the entrance is a soft lounge area for waiting, assembled from custom elements. The sofa is complemented by orange rotating tables, where books will be stacked. To the right is the retail area: here you can buy misto.cafe merchandise and various souvenirs from local Lutsk and Ukrainian brands. The plywood cabinet, designed based on our sketches, is divided into compartments for various functions: there is an R-Keeper and utensils for waiters, as well as closed cells for storing goods. The upper part of the cabinet serves as a shelf for a variety of indoor plants.
At the rear of the day area, along the wall, is a bar and a corridor to the evening hall. Along the front windows, we placed mobile seating – tables for two that can be moved to accommodate larger groups. The chairs’ seats are covered with soft textured fabric, the plywood back echoes the plywood finish of the tables’ ends. The countertops are finished with glazed tiles that shimmer beautifully in daylight.
A communal table with benches and chairs is located in the corner by the front windows and is in demand among visitors. The diffused warm light here is provided by a custom-made lamp composed of rice paper shades. To the right of the communal table is a small window seat with bar stools, perfect for enjoying a quick drink or waiting for friends. A mirror on the wall to the right visually expands the space; since it is the sunny side, the windows are covered with wide blinds that create an interesting dance of shadows on the floor.
The centerpiece of this area is a portrait of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, which refers to the name of the street where the community cafe is located. The painting, complemented by the motivational phrase “Don't just talk, act!”, was created according to our idea by the Lviv brand Vidro.
To accentuate the nuance of cozy colors and bright space, we created a massive concrete bar counter with a gradient texture, complemented by a rainbow metal plinth, which is echoed in the bar counter of the evening hall. Above the bar is a laconic menu sign and shelves for coffee essentials.
At the entrance to the evening hall, guests are welcomed by a corner lounge seating area, which has become one of the venue's most popular spots in terms of bookings: a small orange sofa, three armchairs, and two footstools made of burnt wood by AU HOME. A round carpet from the Ukrainian brand Kononenko Industrial Design adds to the composition.
In the evening bar, we also used metal with a rainbow finish; in addition to the base, it accents the tabletop and the curved decorative elements beneath it. Executing this idea was a challenge, as the rainbow effect diminished once the surface was coated with protective varnish. In the end, together with the project foreman, we found a solution: we covered the entire surface of the countertop with a car headlight protection film. The cut elements for the counter were sent to Dnipro city to be soaked in a special solution before being returned to Lutsk for installation. The bar is illuminated by a bespoke radial lamp crafted from stainless steel and ribbed acrylic that mirrors the shape of the counter. Behind the bar, there are shelves for alcohol on the wall; the bar's front panel is made of stainless steel, which, combined with the light reflected from the glasses, creates an interesting luminous effect. This area also features a metal side station with dishes, an R-Keeper, and an elevator.
The floor in this area is made of microcement, with accents of solid-color tiles by the Portuguese manufacturer TopCer, which imparts a sense of lasting heritage within the space. The seating and table colors are coordinated with one of the tile shades, creating a calm backdrop for the bustling hall.
Two symmetrical, framed mirrors visually expand the space: hung at an angle, they offer views of the room from unexpected perspectives. Indoor plants enhance the green tones of the furniture, adding a touch of coziness.
The focal point of the evening hall is the podium-like stage in the corner, which we highlighted in green and separated with textiles. On days when there are no events planned, the podium serves as another space with soft seating. If desired, guests can partition off the rest of the room with tulle for a more intimate atmosphere – this option is perfect for dates. Lighting in the stage area is provided by professional spotlights. Movie nights are also held in this hall, with films broadcast via two projectors.
Near the stage is the entrance to the staff room, which also serves as a dressing room – there is a large mirror with lighting to help prepare for a performance, as well as a wardrobe for staff belongings.
The entrance to the bathroom is located in the transit zone, so we decided to add interactivity for visitors and hide it. To do this, we opted for a concealed door by covering the wall with a collection of local art curated by Lutsk artist Dima Mykytenko. The client bought paintings from local artists and illustrators, some of whom created pieces specifically for misto.cafe based on our requests for format, colors, and themes. This is how we created a wall gallery with framed images in different formats that attract visitors' eyes.
The bathrooms feature three signature colors of misto.cafe – two orange cubicles, one white cubicle, and a green washbasin area, decorated with Italian Marazzi tiles. The ceiling features a composition of wine corks, echoing the theme of one of the cafe’s slogans: “Lutsk is a pleasant discovery”. The corks also symbolize the idea of uncorking new experiences. Each of the 6,500 corks was manually strung on a cable, after being tinted in several shades of green. Some of the threads cascade onto the wall, adding texture to the background for selfies in the mirror.
The entry to the bathroom and dressing room is separated from the main hall by a cabinet filled with souvenirs, books, board games, and children's toys. These details contribute to the cozy, homely atmosphere. You can also find a photo album chronicling the history of misto.cafe: after new events, it is updated by the team and the group of investors.
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Our team is deeply committed to socially responsible entrepreneurship – and misto.cafe is a prime example of it. We were thrilled to collaborate with our clients in creating a model “third place” for the residents of Lutsk – one that unites the local community and serves as a space for new connections, ideas, and experiences.
