Happy Face Pizza

Happy Face Pizza is a lively, fast-turnover restaurant designed as a cheerful counterpoint to its urban setting in King’s Cross. A green-marble bar and open kitchen showcase the log-fired oven, creating a spirited focal point for the room. Flexible booths, counters and communal tables support the restaurant’s shift from daytime hangout to bustling evening diner. A discreet door behind the kitchen links to late-night bar Supermax, creating a layered hospitality destination while preserving each venue’s distinct identity.

Location: King's Cross, London
Size: 3,230 sqft
Client: Happy Face

In Detail

Before and After

The ambition was to create a joyful, instantly welcoming pizzeria with a strong visual identity – Neapolitan-inspired but not thematic, bright yet robust enough for fast service and high turnover. The client wanted a space that felt fun, modern and energetic, rooted in simplicity rather than nostalgia. Happy Face needed to function seamlessly from morning to late evening, offering a flexible dining environment while maintaining a bold, recognisable character aligned with the Spiritland family.

A secondary ambition was to incorporate a discreet connection to Supermax, the late-night cocktail and disco bar below. This link called for a design language that could subtly shift tone – allowing Happy Face to feel lively and open, while hinting at the more intimate, nocturnal world beneath.

The green-marble topped bar forms the heart of the restaurant, partnered with a kitchen bar wrapped around the bespoke-designed oven to bring food and craft into view. Materials were selected for character and resilience, including polished surfaces, textured timber and saturated colour. Seating is varied and adaptable, supporting everything from solo lunches to larger groups and evening crowds.

Lighting was layered to create clarity during peak service and softer ambience as the day progresses, ensuring the room feels lively yet comfortable. Operational flows were refined to suit rapid turnover while keeping the energy of the space visible. The concealed door to Supermax was integrated with a light touch, offering a smooth transition to the bar below without diluting Happy Face’s identity. The result is a compact but expressive restaurant full of personality, purpose and ease.