A house with a garden where the city comes to a standstill for a moment.
In the heart of Barcelona, the Mercader Eixample restaurant is housed in a Modernist building known above all for its garden: a small urban oasis that has been part of the neighborhood’s identity for years.
The renovation project builds precisely on this characteristic, seeking to update the space without losing the homey, intimate, and timeless feel that has always defined it.
The renovation preserves the garden as one of the restaurant’s main features, but redefines its look to give it a lush, fresh appearance. The new corporate color—a terracotta red—appears on awnings, ceramic accents, and furniture elements, while the new pieces—more comfortable and striking—replace the previous lightweight outdoor furniture that lacked character. The existing vegetation continues to envelop the space and reinforce the feeling of an oasis within the city.
Inside, the renovation is based on two clearly distinct atmospheres.
The main floor features a brighter, more stately design, while maintaining a domestic scale. One of the project’s key decisions was to relocate the old beverage and cold-prep counters—originally situated next to the entrance—to open up the entryway. The arrival at the restaurant is completely transformed: after ascending the staircase, diners no longer enter a service area, but rather a cozy dining room, designed almost like the rooms of a home.
The dining room is arranged in an L-shape and maintains visual connections with the kitchen and the bar, incorporating the culinary process into the experience without fully exposing it. The layout of the furniture allows the tables to be reconfigured to accommodate different group sizes, from meals for two to larger parties.
A soft green hue runs along the walls, ceilings, and technical elements, chromatically extending the garden’s presence into the interior. Against this backdrop, natural wood, dark flooring, and brown leather are combined with surfaces in terracotta lacquer, white, and travertine. Stainless steel introduces a more contemporary counterpoint and appears selectively on tables, chairs, light fixtures, and details, balancing the warmth of the overall design.
The lighting design plays an essential role in creating the atmosphere. Wall sconces cast an indirect, enveloping light, while various pendant lights highlight specific tables and corners. In the center of the dining room, a large, faceted chandelier serves as the focal point and establishes a visual connection with the outdoor garden.
The new floor-to-ceiling display cases deliberately reinforce the restaurant’s domestic character. Inspired by the cabinets where tableware was traditionally stored at home, they showcase glassware, objects, and decorative pieces, making the tableware itself part of the interior design. Black-and-white photographs, a large mirror, and various objects complete a setting that aims to feel as though it has been built up over time rather than simply decorated.
In contrast to the brightness of the main floor, the lower level offers a radically different experience. Stone walls, vaulted ceilings, and more subdued lighting transform the basement into a sort of urban wine cellar—intimate and quiet. Large mink-colored velvet curtains, large-format photographs, and flexible furnishings allow this space to be transformed according to the needs of each occasion, making it the ideal venue for private groups and special celebrations.
The renovation of Mercader Eixample does not seek to transform the essence of the restaurant, but rather to reinforce what has always made it unique: the feeling of having discovered a hidden gem in the heart of Barcelona, surrounded by greenery, where you can walk in, sit down, and linger a little longer.
Team:
Creative Director: Ricard Trenchs
Project Manager: Mariona Guàrdia
Contributors: Lorena Martínez
Client: Mercader Eixample
Photography: Maria Algara
Styling: Elefante Studio
