How Studio DADO brought boutique interiors to Norwegian Encore

Miami-based design firm was responsible for creating new dining experiences and several other venues
How Studio DADO brought boutique interiors to Norwegian Encore
Onda by Scarpetta combines elegant old-world charm with the sophistication of a Manhattan eatery (Image: Studio DADO)

By Rebecca Gibson |


Christened by Grammy Award-winning singer Kelly Clarkson on 21 November in Miami, Florida, Norwegian Cruise Line’s new Norwegian Encore has been hitting the headlines thanks to innovative onboard features like her top-deck go-kart race track and augmented reality laser tag. But they aren’t the only highlights onboard the brand’s final Breakaway Plus-class ship. Many of Norwegian Encore’s venues have been winning praise for their boutique designs and …too.

Several were created by Miami-based boutique interior design company Studio DADO, which had previously worked on several other Norwegian vessels. They include Teppanyaki, an authentic Japanese hibachi restaurant, and the Galaxy Pavilion, a space with immersive virtual reality experiences, simulator rides, an escape room with holograms and more. Another is The Social Comedy Club, which features a black and white colour palette and “whimsical touches” that create an “old Hollywood” aesthetic and guide guests through the evolution of comedy.

Studio DADO was also tasked with designing two new dining concepts for Norwegian Encore. One is Q, a Texas roadhouse-style barbeque eatery. Here, the team used raw, distressed materials to create a restaurant that feels as though it “just came together” over time.

Bringing LDV Hospitality’s Scarpetta dining experience to sea for the first time, Studio DADO also designed Onda by Scarpetta. The upscale Italian restaurant is modelled on LDV Hospitality’s seven land-based restaurants (all in the US) and has a contemporary, minimalist Italian aesthetic. The venue has expansive windows and is decorated with natural materials, such as walnut and calacatta gold marble, to evoke an “elegant old-world charm”.

“Working with Studio DADO has been one of the most efficient design processes I’ve ever been a part of; we had instant chemistry and spoke the same language,” said John Meadow, founder and president of LDV Hospitality. “Our visual aesthetics were in line since day one. The team listened and executed immaculately.”

Yohandel Ruiz, founding partner of Studio DADO, says that his team took an “uncomplicated and collaborative design approach” to create “transformative” spaces for guests.

“Understanding client expectations and their desire for the traveller experience, is key to successful design,” he said. “This is especially so when we have nuanced projects that require a great deal of thought as to not only how guests will use the space, but how they feel in the space. When design is done right, the guests are transported into another time and place.”

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