If you’ve walked on Newark Avenue over the past few months, you most likely have noticed Raval, a new restaurant serving Spanish tapas and cocktails. The tiled benches seen through the window, reminiscent of Gaudi, caught our eye – so we decided to get the story behind the intricate build out.
Raval is owned by RDG, the same group behind Lucky 7 and Satis. Co-owner Geza Gulas was kind enough to give us a tour of the space and provide some interesting tidbits about the two floor build out. For starters, they designed the space themselves with the help of an architect, and it took them about a year to get from the beginning of the renovation to opening the restaurant.
The restaurant is inspired by the Raval neighborhood of Barcelona, which was once known for it’s grittiness, but is now more gentrified – similar to Jersey City. The restaurant’s design incorporates street art, tile, and a dark red/black color scheme, all of which pay homage to Barcelona.
At Raval it’s not just the food that’s high quality – it’s apparent that blood, sweat and tears went into the renovation, and the end product design and decor are both well thought out and constructed. We’ve included some of our favorite elements, as well as the story behind them. Check them out below, and next time you’re at Raval, spend a few minutes taking in the details of the renovation.
Visit Raval today:
136 Newark Ave
Jersey City, NJ 07302
201-209-1099
