And that was more or less how it happened... the whole team worked non-stop on the project until the time came for Malamén's restaurant, situated in the busy Polanco neighborhood in Mexico City, to finally open its doors. And the result is stunning. From the moment you enter, it is evident that this is a very special place committed to telling Malamén’s story. Filled to the brim with her spirit, her history, her recipes and her travels, in the main room, two large seating booths face each other while the right wall is covered with memorabilia from Malamén's life. The left wall is divided by empty, white wooden frames and a few mirrors that add depth to the room. One of its best features, the ceiling, is lit by no less than 28 plaster rosettes in different scales and designs, reminiscent of those from her original house in the French District.
Further inside, the minimal design bar is made from Carrara marble while the back wall features a lighting composition of 9 bronze wall lamps designed by Panoramica. Upstairs a second dining space was created that further pays homage to the story of Malamén with a whole wall of hand painted illustrations by Marco Colin featuring milestones in her life story. Another wall beneath the staircase showcases 96 portraits also drawn by Colin. With such an artist at the helm of telling Malamén's story in terms of graphic design and illustrations, interior designers Andres Ocejo and Ricardo Casas worked together to design each and every piece of furniture and object that also reflect the heroine's character.
If this story was actually real, if Malamén was indeed a real character then we’re pretty sure she’d love the French-meets-eclectic style restaurant named and inspired by her life! As for the menu, apparently that’s another story worth telling, it’s a shame that Mexico is a tad far away...