CantorMasters latest project with the Brindisa team breaks new ground with a 500-year-old site being transformed into a restaurant in the heart of vibrant Barcelona.
The restaurant, named La Bellvitje, opens in late April on a site brimming with history and character. It originally welcomed travellers to Barcelona and the virgin of Bellvitje is the patron of the building.
This is Brindisa’s first project outside the UK and the first in Barcelona for CantorMasters, although they recently completed a residential apartment in Valencia. The restaurant will be drawing on Brindisa’s 25 years of experience offering the finest Castilian gastronomy and is the latest addition to their growing portfolio.
The charming building consists of two inter-connecting vaulted stone rooms, similar to ancient railway arches, and the restaurant’s tunnel like interior lends itself to a palette of soft natural materials to complement the existing finishes.
Historic Andalusian patterned tiles have been used for the floors and the walls are of ancient stone with a rough plaster render and deep, rust red wall tiles. The bespoke lighting is modern in design yet made from traditional materials such as hot rolled blackened steel and patinated copper.
Furniture in the restaurant is also bespoke – following a similar theme to the lighting – while the table bases are of blackened steel, and some of the tables tops are made of ancient pine and others of patinated copper. The banquettes and waiter stations are a mixed palette of dark oak, aged leather and local Arabascato marble.
Together with Brindisa founder, Monika Linton, a collection of dramatically modern photographs has been selected to adorn the restaurant area walls, while the bar walls, have been decorated with murals made by local art students as part of a community based project.
CantorMasters also worked on the flagship restaurant, Morada Brindisa Asador, in Rupert Street, Piccadilly, which opened in March.
