Borromini

A Roman Afternoon in Rittenhouse Square

This is a full identity for the Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square restaurant created by Stephen Starr and Keith McNally, which serves as a love letter to the classic Roman trattoria. This marks our third decade-long collaboration with the duo.

The identity draws inspiration from post-war Roman menu design, featuring easy-to-read, sun-warmed typography that is playful without appearing forced. Our intention was for the entire experience to evoke a relaxed afternoon in Rome—unhurried, generous, and perfect for lingering. Rather than trying to create a new interpretation of a trattoria, our goal was to design one that felt like it had always belonged in that setting.