Bombo Italian Kitchen & Bar designed by Graham Baba Architects, brings a rich mix of Italian tradition and Pacific Northwest flavors to the heart of Seattle’s downtown. Situated inside the new Seattle Convention Center, the restaurant offers more than just food, it creates an experience shaped by thoughtful design and culinary depth. Located along the convention center’s Mixing Zone, its doors open directly onto 9th Street Plaza, inviting guests to step into a space that balances warmth, craftsmanship, and a connection to the city.
The 4,200 square foot space embraces an open layout that draws in both convention-goers and city dwellers. Its corner placement creates an easy flow between the restaurant, the Paramount Theater, and Seattle’s energetic streets. Walking in from the plaza, guests catch a glimpse of the Bombo Bar Lounge just a half-floor below. Moving further inside, the atmosphere unfolds with rich natural materials and an inviting sense of comfort.
Layers of Texture and Craftsmanship
At the heart of the restaurant, the Woodstone pizza oven radiates warmth, framed by handcrafted terracotta tiles from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The mix of rusticated white subway tiles and blackened steel adds contrast, enhancing the depth of the space. Ethan Stowell’s signature open-kitchen concept allows guests to witness the culinary process up close, with maple butcher block countertops and exposed oak shelves displaying everything from stacked white plates to cutlery and pizza boxes.
Along the restaurant’s exterior, a 22-foot-long wood-and-steel bar ledge stretches from the main entrance vestibule to the Mixing Zone. This space offers guests a place to pause, enjoy a slice, and watch the movement of people through the convention center. Around the corner, bent metal countertops create a space for final plating, while the bar area introduces deeper, richer tones with ebonized wood, suspended white oak shelving, and custom concrete aggregate countertops. Some of the terracotta tiles embedded in the bar feature cat paw prints, a subtle detail left behind when they dried under the Mexican sun. The colorful stone aggregate of the bar surface adds another layer of depth and character.
Three large bi-fold doors open up the bar area entirely, removing barriers between the restaurant and the convention center.
A Space for Connection and Comfort
Downstairs on 9th Street, The Bar at Bombo offers a more intimate setting. Spanning 2,160 square feet, the space divides into two sections: lounge and bar. The lounge area greets visitors with a high-backed, tufted leather banquette, paired with movable tables and chairs. This setup allows flexibility, whether for a casual meeting between convention guests or a moment of quiet relaxation for solo travelers. Distinct floor tiles define this section, marking it as a space meant for comfort and conversation.
Above the lounge, a custom “smudge pot” light fixture, inspired by the vineyard heating devices of France and Italy, creates a focal point. Crafted by a local fabricator, the fixture pays homage to the warmth and craftsmanship found throughout the space. Between the lounge and the main bar, a wall of fritted channel glass and solid cedar columns adds visual layers, allowing glimpses of movement while maintaining a sense of division.
Crafted Details and a Connection to Nature
The main bar carries through the restaurant’s tactile, material-driven aesthetic. Above the counter, slatted wood panels frame a display of custom steel shelves, smoky glass, and illuminated liquor bottles. The bar front features rotating, striated grey limestone, still bearing the natural imprints of sea floor shells and bivalves. This interplay between refined design and raw material creates a space that feels both polished and connected to nature.
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A solid walnut bar top invites interaction, its smooth surface designed to be touched and experienced. When Seattle’s weather allows, two large bi-fold Douglas fir doors open onto 9th Street, extending the bar into the city. The indoor-outdoor connection transforms the space into an open-air retreat, allowing guests to engage with the energy of the street while enjoying the intimate setting of the bar.
Graham Baba Architects design team: Jim Graham (design principal), Elizabeth Kee (project manager), Francesco Borghesi (project designer)
Project team
Interior architecture and interiors: Graham Baba Architects
General contractor: Dovetail Construction
Structural: Roich Structural
Acoustical: ARUP Acoustical
Lighting: Sparklab Lighting Design
Custom lighting fabricator: Resolute Lighting
