From now on, each month I will share 5 restaurant logos that deserve some attention. Logos that are particularly creative, authentic or a very good translation of the brand behind it. I hope these logos inspire you either if you’re working with a designer on your own (next) brand, or if you’re a designer yourself. Whether you’re just starting out or are in the process of rebranding, these logos might give you the spark you were looking for. Enjoy!

1: TanteWonnie

The first logo I’d like to share with you is this logo for TanteWonnie, a restaurant located in the city of ’s-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands. I’m actually from this city but have never been to this particular restaurant.To me, the illustration clearly shows it’s a Surinam restaurant. The combination of the Surinam colors (red and green) and the name of the restaurant gives the warm feeling of a ‘family’ restaurant, Surinam style. I am definitely going to pay this place a visit next time I’m around!

“We settled on a portrait, stylised by hand, of a lady that encompasses both the warmth and openness that Surinamese culture breathes. We finished the portrait in the national colours, contrasting colours that also symbolise the diversity in Surinamese gastronomy — it being a confluence of Indian, Creole, African, Hindu and even some European influences.” – Reinoud Schuijers, designer of this logo, working for Studio Reinoud en Jules.

2: Rosi La Loca

This next logo is from one of my favorite tapas places in Madrid: Rosi La Loca. This wonderful tapas bar has its very own distinctive style. The ‘crazy’ Rosi is portrayed in their logo, and their restaurant’s interior fits this style even more by the eclectic mix of different styles.

3: Tiger Mama

This might just be one of my favorite logos for restaurants out there. In my opinion this logo has it all. It is authentic, it is modern, it grabs your attention and even though there’s quite some detail in it, it still looks clean.

4: Hoppers

The fourth logo I want to share is from Hoppers, an Indian restaurant in London. The logo is fun, playful and reminds me a little of the ghost of Aladdin (Genie). It’s a logo that is unique and you will recognize from miles away. The kind of logo you remember.

5: LIMA

And last but not least: LIMA. A Peruvian restaurant in London (2 restaurants) and Dubai (1 restaurant). A colorful logo, very recognizable and definitely different from other logos out there. I think this is something other restaurants should take in mind when working (with a designer) on their logo: be unique. Create a logo people will remember.

Gerard Saint, senior partner of Big Active, the agency behind this logo, explains: “The Lima logo has been designed to communicate a sense of modernity and freshness which echoes Lima’s acclaimed culinary approach.” And: “Each restaurant location has it’s own clearly defined colour palette. And these colours are fixed within each individual logo.” This means that, if a new LIMA restaurant will be opened, they can use the same principles and logo and still have their own unique touch of design by just adjusting the colour palette. That’s pretty smart, right?

To wrap it up

So, that’s it for this month. In two weeks I will share my 5 favorite hotel logos for November. Don’t forget to take a look at those too, they might just inspire you! Another restaurant logo inspiration (RLI) post will appear in December, as we head towards the end of the year.

> If you know any restaurant logos you think should be featured, please do share them in the comments! I love fresh inspiration and am always up to discover new styles, perspectives and designs.