Charlotte, North Carolina, one of the Southeast’s fastest-growing urban centers, is now home to a striking new culinary and design destination that bridges the worlds of classic European refinement and American viticultural history. Designed by FictionWorks, the newly opened Napa Bistro and Wine Bar Stonecrest breathes fresh life into a once-ordinary restaurant space, transforming it into an immersive environment that honors both the aesthetics of a traditional French bistro and the rustic, welcoming charm of a Napa Valley farmhouse.
At the heart of the restaurant’s conceptual identity is a profound historical reference: the landmark 1976 Paris Wine Tasting, a legendary blind tasting competition that famously shattered global preconceptions by placing Californian wines on the international map. For the design team at FictionWorks, led by co-founders Andrea De Camps and Olivia King, that defining moment of unexpected triumph and disruption served as the guiding philosophy for the entire interior architecture and spatial narrative.
“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. Rather than merely recreating history, the design aims to honor and reimagine the spirit of transformation that defined the 1976 event, encouraging patrons to challenge expectations and experience dining through a lens of appreciation for both food and heritage.
Executing this ambitious vision required navigating a significant structural hurdle. The project, which was completed in under nine months, involved taking over a flat, open layout that previously housed a casual taco restaurant. Working closely with architecture firm In Situ Studio, FictionWorks had to overcome the spatial limitations of the existing structure to create a warm, wine-focused sanctuary spanning 6,500 square feet.
To achieve this transformation within a strict timeframe and budget, the design team relied on a clear hierarchy of investments. They strategically allocated resources toward high-impact elements that would instantly establish the venue’s moody, tactile atmosphere, while keeping secondary elements more practical.
“We put the money into the details that would really make an impact—the stained-glass installation, custom lighting, and millwork,” the FictionWorks team notes, “and we stayed more practical with the secondary elements—the tabletops, mosaic flooring, thrifted artwork, and accessories.”
This thoughtful approach is immediately evident upon entering the space. In Situ Studio and FictionWorks organized the expansive 6,500-square-foot floor plan into a series of connected, intimately scaled rooms, each imbued with its own distinct character. To counter the potential echo and noise of a bustling dining environment, the architects incorporated a curved, vaulted ceiling featuring an acoustic system by Baswa Acoustics. This specialized installation not only softens ambient sound levels for diners but also contributes significantly to the interior’s rhythmic spatial flow.
The spatial journey through the restaurant is underscored by a carefully curated color palette that draws inspiration from three primary influences: the lush, verdant vineyards of Napa Valley, the rich, tactile warmth of 1970s interior design, and the timeless elegance of a Parisian neighborhood bistro. Deep greens and warm wood tones dominate the palette, accented by subtle flashes of amber and bronze that evoke the visual richness and depth of aged wine without tipping into a dated aesthetic. Grounding these tones underfoot is a classic black-and-white mosaic floor pattern from Daltile’s Keystone collection, providing a crisp graphic contrast to the room’s softer, more natural materials.
Throughout the dining rooms, guests are invited to settle into comfortable, intimate seating areas outfitted with worn leather upholstery, long banquettes, and round wooden tables. One of the space’s standout bespoke features is a custom stained-glass installation crafted from hand-blown rondels. Referencing 1970s glasswork traditions, the piece abstractly takes the form of a wine bottle punt, serving as a subtle nod to the restaurant’s vinous focus.
This custom lighting strategy extends across the venue, where a combination of linen pendant fixtures and sculptural chandeliers are meticulously arranged to complement the natural light filtering through the building. The resulting interplay of illumination creates a series of moody, intimate vignettes across the interconnected dining spaces.
To further weave the restaurant into the fabric of its regional home while honoring its Californian inspiration, the design incorporates a diverse collection of artwork. A series of distinctive photographs and digital pieces by California-based artist Julia Crane hang alongside works created by local creatives from Charlotte. This blending of distant inspiration and local talent ensures that the restaurant’s materiality tells a multi-layered story that stretches far beyond the offerings on the menu.
Ultimately, Napa Bistro and Wine Bar Stonecrest stands as a testament to the power of strategic interior architecture and historical storytelling. For De Camps, King, and the broader collaborative team, every single design decision—from the foundational architecture and custom material selections to the curated artwork and the overall guest experience—has been deliberately crafted to support a deeper appreciation of food, wine, and the cultural milestones that inspired the brand’s inception.
