Asadito de Mar Escenaria reinterprets the essence of the Mexican coast within the urban setting of Plaza Escenaria in Mexico City. The project is based on a clear premise: to create a seafood restaurant that moves away from the conventional clichés of the typology and establishes a contemporary identity inspired by the aesthetics of Acapulco's Golden Age. The result is an architectural language that defines a distinctive identity for the brand while serving as a replicable model for future locations.
Developed on a single level, the restaurant is organized through a clear and efficient layout that incorporates two entrances with their respective reception areas, a spacious dining room, kitchen, restrooms, and service areas. The generous ceiling height presented one of the project's greatest design challenges. Rather than simply filling the floor plan with tables, the design focuses on creating a balanced spatial experience through a thoughtful layout, abundant greenery, and a series of architectural elements that visually break down the scale of the dining room, resulting in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
At the heart of the restaurant, a large island dedicated to beverage preparation serves as the central gathering point. Behind it, a floor-to-ceiling display showcases an extensive selection of bottles, responding to operational needs while organizing the space visually and adding depth to the interior.
The color palette, dominated by shades of blue and white, evokes the coastal landscape through a contemporary interpretation. Wood-look porcelain tiles introduce warmth throughout the space, while the concrete breeze blocks, inspired by the architectural language of mid-twentieth-century Acapulco, reinterpret one of the era's defining elements, bringing texture, rhythm, and depth to the walls.
In contrast, blue perforated metal panels perform an essential acoustic function. Seamlessly integrated into the design, they help reduce the reverberation typical of a large restaurant, enhancing acoustic comfort without compromising the clean visual language of the space.
Oversized woven pendant lights recall traditional palapas and have become one of the project's defining features. Together with woven natural-fiber chairs, abundant indoor vegetation, curated artwork, and soft drapery, they create an atmosphere reminiscent of a seaside home. The curtains also provide flexibility, allowing portions of the restaurant to be enclosed during quieter hours or transformed into private event spaces, making the expansive interior feel more intimate while accommodating different operational needs.
Rather than recreating a themed environment, Asadito de Mar Escenaria reinterprets the hospitality, freshness, and effortless elegance of the Mexican coast through a contemporary architectural approach. The project demonstrates how careful attention to scale, materiality, and user experience can transform a large-format space into an inviting, recognizable, and easily replicable environment, establishing a cohesive architectural identity that supports the brand's future growth.
