El Mar, a new restaurant from chef Kiko Martins, has opened on the top floor of the El Corte Inglés department store in Lisbon.
Designed by Alejandro Cateto of Cateto Cateto, the space draws inspiration from Martins’ Portuguese and Brazilian heritage, creating a layered dining experience that bridges two cultures.
Behind the design
The scenography unfolds through subtle, evocative details. Cushions recall the sweeping curves of Rio de Janeiro’s beaches, while traditional blue-and-white tiles ground the restaurant in Portuguese memory.
Sailor and sail silhouettes line the walls, establishing the maritime theme and placing the sea at the heart of El Mar’s design.
Wood envelops the restaurant, surrounding guests in a warm, cocoon-like setting reminiscent of a ship’s cabin. The palette shifts between ocean blues and sunlit golds, echoing both the Atlantic horizon and the glow of sunset. The effect is intimate and transportive, as if dining aboard a vessel charting a course between continents.
Lighting plays a crucial role in the atmosphere as well. Orb light pendants, suspended like fishing rods, double as glowing orbs that nod to the Mediterranean and, at nightfall, reflect across the windows like a series of setting suns.
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