If you’re in the Slovak capital and looking for a place where local food can be enjoyed in an urban setting, look no further than the Otto! bistro. At Grössinglová 26, a young and fresh team serves up the flavors of vacations spent at grandma’s house and those of school canteens—the bistro offers dishes typical of the Bratislava region, influenced not only by Slovak and Czech cuisine but also by Austrian, Hungarian and Jewish culture.
The team doesn’t overcomplicate the recipes for this culinary journey but gives them just the right amount of contemporary twist to represent both the charmingly nostalgic and the trendy new wave of cuisine. The menu is a fusion of all these cultures, with dishes ranging from shakshuka to beef broth to dill sauce. Thanks to its strong concept, Otto! has been a big hit from the start, which is no surprise, as the nostalgic dishes of our childhood are reimagined with a distinctly tasteful design—from the inside out.
Whether it’s a hearty brunch with friends, a business lunch, or a romantic date, Otto! has a meal to satisfy all tastes. The traditional recipes are accompanied by organic wines, also typically from the region’s wineries, and are a noble accompaniment to both everyday and special occasions. The bistro welcomes its customers throughout the day with generous breakfasts, delicious lunch specialties, and cozy dinners, another reason why you shouldn’t miss this place no matter what time of day you are in Bratislava.
Although Otto!’s distinctive style speaks for itself, there is an extra ‘flavor’ that makes it even more unique—its design. Otto!’s visual identity is inspired by the restaurant and bistro aesthetic of the second half of the twentieth century. Hand-drawn letters, quirky typography, and a simple color palette are all classic hallmarks of the era. The approach of two Slovak graphic designers, Matej Špánik and Nice Guy, was to be unusual enough to stand out from the competition, but still stay true to the values of the concept. As a result, the visual identity blends nicely with the city’s aesthetic, yet is strong enough to attract people not only from the city center but also from beyond.
The red-and-white palette and the retro feel of the enameled dishes blend surprisingly effortlessly with the trendy urban gastronomy of the place while avoiding any forced reminiscence over the past, but showing that these dishes and the Eastern European aesthetic don’t belong to times gone by, but are an important part of our identity.
Graphic design: Matej Špánik, Nice Guy
Photos: Juraj Roháč
Otto! | Web | Facebook | Instagram
I’m deep-rooted in the East | Interview with Rafał Milach
The building that connects sea and sky
