The Royal Academy of Arts Restaurant has reopened following a redesign sympathetic to the original building by McInnes Usher McKnight Architects (MUMA).

It is only the third time the restaurant has been redesigned since Norman Shaw’s Refreshment Room opened in 1885.

The new look allows for the display of celebrated murals, sculptures from the Royal Academy of Arts’ permanent collection and work from private collections.

High backed black leather curved banquettes divide the servery from the dining area and on Friday evenings – when the restaurant is open until 10pm – can be rotated through 90 degrees to provide a separate area for a wine and cocktail bar serving pre-dinner drinks.

The restaurant’s general manager, Julian Keirle said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming customers to the new surroundings. Our menus will focus on fresh seasonal ingredients and will change regularly.

“There will be themed dishes to coincide with the Royal Academy of Arts diverse exhibition programme – starting with Turkish dishes in January 2005 to tie in with the blockbuster Turks exhibition.”

MUMA was also responsible for the design of the V&A Museum’s new Medieval and Renaissance galleries and Cornwall’s Newlyn Art Gallery.