Just two hours from the bustle of Mexico City, a new and already award-winning restaurant is turning heads. With an aesthetic rooted in the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, where imperfections are treated as things of beauty, Nama is an inviting and detailed space, rich with organic shapes and natural materials—wood, stone, copper, wicker—that fuse light with dark and smooth with rough to achieve thoughtful balance.
Interior designer Claudia Ornelas worked with artisans from varied regions of Mexico to bring authentic craftsmanship and a true sense of place to Nama. “We wanted to create a relaxed space with several atmospheres,” Ornelas explains. “We achieved this by configuring the restaurant with different heights marked by suspended lamps, which result in different settings due to their shapes and dimensions, and how they bathe [the varied spaces] in light.”
The unique design and atmosphere of the new eatery has not gone unnoticed. Nama was awarded first place in the restaurant category in the 2023 Premio de Interiorismo Mexicano PRISMA (PRISMA Mexican Interiors Awards).
Guests can enjoy a direct experience with the chefs as they prepare food at the Nigiris bar. Considered the most important feature in the space, its unique base was constructed using stone from the region and paired in contrast with an oak top. The wicker hanging lanterns overhead are reminiscent of traditional baskets used for lobster fishing.
An oak veneered wood structure was crafted for the ceiling and ties the space together. Its design is based on Japanese assembly techniques. Oversized circular copper lamps from La Mexicana Galeria create a different atmosphere for table seating and also serve to humanize the grand scale of the space. Made by artisans from the west of Mexico, the hammered finish of the copper serves to soften their appearance.
Made by craftsmen from the state of Guerrero, the palm-woven panels that line the staircase were created using the Japanese marbling technique called Suminagashi. The resultant undulating shapes and varying red tones add intrigue as they guide guests up the stairs. The palm weaving was crafted by HIATO Creativo and the art for it created by Claudia Montero.
Organic shapes create a relaxing atmosphere in the restroom where a backlit mirror from Astratto Espejos Finos casts a peaceful glow over stone sinks on a light wood base.
Architecture by anonimous.
Photography by Rafael Gamo.
Like what you see? Get it first with a subscription to aspire design and home magazine.