Design Details: Kafeterija as a Workshop in Belgrade

Daily Coffee News Staff | October 21, 2025

Photos by Ilya Ivanov, courtesy of KIDZ Studio.

Welcome to Design Details, an ongoing editorial feature in Daily Coffee News focused on individual examples of coffee shop architecture, interior design, packaging design or branding. If you are a coffee shop owner, designer or architect and would like to submit your project for consideration, reach our editors here.

Design Details: Kafeterija on Jove Ilića

Project: Kafeterija
Location: Belgrade, Jove Ilića, Serbia
Area: 50 square meters (540 square feet)
Completed: 2024
Design: KIDZ Studio (Instagram)
Architects: Egor Bogomolov, Ruben Movsisian and Artem Lebedev
Photographer: Ilya Ivanov

Prior to their work designing a location of Kafeterija, a well-known coffee chain in Serbia, the team at KIDZ Studio often used a Kafeterija location as an alternate office, finding the setting cozy and creatively inspiring.

“The collaboration between KIDZ and the Kafeterija began with the question, ‘Can we work not only in the Kafeterija but also together with it?'” the Belgrade-based design firm recently told DCN.

Following an introductory meeting in the summer of 2023, KIDZ sought to capture the spirit of Kafeterija as a workshop, “where each product is unique and the interiors have an emphasis on craftsmanship and natural materials.”

At the Jove Ilića location, inside a historic building that previously held a bar, the first step was to “whitewash the walls and engineer in the open,” according to a project description shared by KIDZ. The primary coffee shop components — including the bar, counters and seats — were added later, then complemented by other elements that were kept or restored during the demolition and construction process.

The counter and benches were made with several types of wood that were overlaid using a patchwork technique. The lighting system involved scaffolding and metal pipe clamps, which added design features while also solving the practical problem of masking the electrical cables. Meanwhile, facade tiles on the terrace were used to add a clean and tidy feel to the space, creating a sense of unity with the surroundings.

“During the renovation process, elements of the original architecture were also discovered and restored, including a wooden door and a facade stained glass window, preserving the look of the building,” the firm said. “The result of the studio’s work is a space that combines respect for tradition and modern design solutions, reflecting the Kafeterija’s philosophy as a place where everyone can find something to suit their taste in an atmosphere of creativity and craftsmanship.”