In the heart of Charlotte, North Carolina—one of the Southeast’s most rapidly expanding urban centers—a once-ordinary commercial space has begun an entirely new chapter. Designed by the creative studio FictionWorks, the newly minted Napa Bistro and Wine Bar Stonecrest brings a sophisticated yet approachable hospitality experience to the region, drawing heavy conceptual inspiration from the historic 1976 Paris Wine Tasting. By merging the refined, atmospheric aesthetics of a classic French bistro with the rustic, organic charm of a Napa Valley farmhouse, the venue establishes a distinct visual and culinary identity that stands out in the city’s competitive dining scene.
The project is the result of a collaborative vision between FictionWorks co-founders Andrea De Camps and Olivia King, alongside architectural firm In Situ Studio. Together, the teams worked to overhaul a sprawling 6,500-square-foot footprint that previously operated as a casual taco restaurant. Tasked with transforming a flat, open layout into a dynamic and intimate hospitality destination, the designers had to navigate the inherent structural challenges of an existing building. Completed in a swift window of under nine months, the ambitious renovation demanded rigorous coordination, smart budgeting, and a well-defined design hierarchy to maximize impact where it mattered most.
"The goal was to create a restaurant that feels approachable enough for a casual weeknight dinner while offering the sense of occasion people look for when celebrating a great meal and a bottle of wine," De Camps and King explain.
To achieve this balance within the expansive 6,500-square-foot floor plan, In Situ Studio and FictionWorks organized the interior into a sequence of connected, human-scale rooms, each possessing its own unique character. Rather than subjecting guests to a cavernous, open-plan dining hall, the layout unfolds through a series of thoughtful vignettes. Overhead, a curved, vaulted ceiling integrated with an advanced acoustic system by Baswa Acoustics plays a dual role: it subtly softens the ambient noise typical of a bustling dining environment while establishing a rhythmic, architectural flow throughout the space.
Within these rooms, intimate seating arrangements feature worn leather upholstery and custom banquettes that encourage guests to settle into their surroundings. The material palette draws directly from three primary influences: the verdant vineyards of California’s wine country, the warm, textured interiors of the 1970s, and the timeless character of Parisian cafes. Deep forest greens and rich, warm wood tones are punctuated by flashes of amber and bronze, capturing the visual richness of aged wine without leaning into dated nostalgia. Grounding the entire spatial experience is a classic black-and-white mosaic tile floor from Daltile’s Keystone collection, providing a crisp geometric contrast to the softer, more organic materials found at eye level.
Working within the constraints of an existing structure meant that every financial and creative decision had to be carefully weighed. According to the FictionWorks team, strategic investments were prioritized for elements that would yield the highest visual and sensory return.
"We put the money into the details that would really make an impact—the stained-glass installation, custom lighting, and millwork," the designers note, adding that they adopted a more practical approach for secondary elements such as tabletops, mosaic flooring, thrifted artwork, and everyday accessories.
This hierarchy of design is perhaps most evident in the venue’s custom artistic installations. Crafted from hand-blown glass rondels, a striking stained-glass installation references 1970s glasswork traditions while taking the physical form of a wine bottle punt. This piece interacts dynamically with custom lighting, including delicate linen pendant fixtures and sculptural chandeliers that temper the natural light pouring into the rooms, cultivating an intimate, moody ambiance as day transitions into evening.
The commitment to storytelling extends deeply into the venue’s curation of art and local culture. A series of distinctive photographs and digital artworks by California-based artist Julia Crane are seamlessly intertwined with pieces contributed by creatives from Charlotte, effectively anchoring the restaurant within its host community. For De Camps and King, every single design choice—spanning architecture, material selection, curated art, and the overarching guest experience—is intended to foster a deeper appreciation of food, wine, and the historical milestones that inspired the brand’s inception.
The conceptual anchor of Napa Bistro and Wine Bar remains rooted in the spirit of the 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, a watershed moment in culinary history when blind tastings of Californian wines bested established French vineyards, permanently transforming global perceptions of New World winemaking. For FictionWorks, channeling this historic event was never about literal replication, but rather about honoring a legacy of subverting expectations and challenging the status quo.
"That same spirit shaped every aspect of the design," the team reflects. "The restaurant draws from this spirit of transformation, not to recreate history, but to honor and reimagine it." Through this meticulous integration of architecture, historical narrative, and community-driven art, Napa Bistro and Wine Bar Stonecrest offers Charlotte diners a space where materiality and storytelling run just as deep as the beverage menu.
