Opened in September 2022, Paradisaea [para-di-s-aea] has just been announced as the recipient of The Restoration Award in La Jolla’s annual Jewel Awards for the historic preservation of locally loved Piano Building.

La Jolla’s Jewel Awards: Restoration Excellence

The restaurant is the brainchild of La Jolla locals, Eric and Zoe Kleinbub, who have been fueled with passion for fine cuisine, elevated dining experiences, warm hospitality and thoughtful design since opening the restaurant’s doors last fall.

Originally built in 1949, the Piano Building is an iconic structure that was originally designed by famed California architect, William Kesling. The building was transformed and restored by the Kleinbubs with the help of B&R Architects and interior design firm, Georgis & Mirgorodsky, the world-class architecture and interior design firm behind projects such as The Pool and The Grill in New York City’s iconic Seagram building.

While preserving the historical fabric and structural integrity of the building, the team created a refreshed aesthetic that married tropical sensibilities with the clean lines of Kesling’s revered mid-century design.

“We are truly honored to be the recipients of The Restoration Award at the prestigious Jewel Awards, a recognition that comes during Paradisaea’s inaugural year of operation,” said co-owners Eric and Zoe Kleinbub.

“From the very inception of our concept, it was clear to us that preserving Kesling’s exceptional structural design was of paramount importance and we’re proud to be recognized for those efforts while also supporting the continued revitalization of the Bird Rock community.”

Initiated in 2019, the Jewel Awards celebrate significant efforts of historic properties in the La Jolla area to preserve its buildings and the rich history of the community. The Restoration Award recognizes the efforts of owners who accurately depict the form, features, and character of a property as it appeared at a particular period of time. More info can be found here.

Paradisaea: A Tribute to Heritage

From the words of the Historical Society and Landmark Steering Committee, “We recognize that the work done by [Paradisaea] has made an important contribution to Bird Rock, refining and polishing an iconic neighborhood structure, and giving it a whole new life cycle. The thoughtful work to tie all of the street-facing elements into a cohesive whole creates an elegant building that elevates the entire block, while honoring the building’s history while retaining proportionality with the site.”

From the outset, Paradisaea was created to capture the natural beauty, vibe and spirit associated with the region, while nodding to the casual yet sophisticated nature of San Diego’s beach communities. In tandem with the tropical bird branding throughout the restaurant, diners experience a warm color palette of greens and orange-reds ranging from pale pink to deep salmon, paired alongside custom fabrics and handcrafted finds from local artisans evidenced in the long, colorful mural across the focal wall of the main dining room conceived by Los Angeles artist Eva Struble.

The restaurant is punctuated by an eclectic collection of global curiosities including Celadon painted windows, French mid-century Japanese lanterns, a large custom alabaster sconce by Paris-based Galerie Glustin, and a stained rattan wall separating the bar from the open kitchen.

For more information about Paradisaea or to book a reservation, please visit their website here or follow them on Instagram.

See you there, San Diego!