The joy of a restaurant – not just any old restaurant.

The joy of a restaurant – not just any old restaurant. The British are known for being painfully polite and restrained, self-effacing and inhibited which can lead them to situations from which they can’t extricate themselves. In a post-corona world, there really is no space for the ordinary and what we want will need to be vocalised in a much more forthright manner. Everything we used to do in our daily lives without much thought or out of a sense of duty or politeness will be re-evaluated.

One of the key questions we should perhaps be asking is – does this spark joy. If not, don’t do it.

Visiting a restaurant has got to be very high on the list of things we long to do post lockdown. For the food – something not home cooked or from the takeaway – but the décor and ambience is in many ways just as important adding to the experience. It doesn’t have to be glossy and new – just in keeping with the food and vibe whether it’s a local trattoria that is simple and clean or with vintage fixtures and fittings or one that packs a design punch.

High on the list is La Terraza Del Casino in Madrid. The Spanish avant-garde chef, Paco Roncero was awarded two Michelin stars for his work and the menu is a pretentious free take on favourites such as pizza, taco, curry and thai with thoughtful wine pairings that complement the sensory experience.

Set in the centre of historic Madrid, the contemporary roof top interiors, brilliantly remodelled by Hayons Studio blurr the lines between art, playful decoration and design encompassing a renaissance in finely-crafted, intricate objects within the context of contemporary design.

Working in various fields of furniture, products, interiors, sculptures and art installations, Hayon has the perfect mix of artwork curated by Klunderbie, handcrafted statement lights and catch chairs that are elegant and comfortable by the Spanish artist and designer himself. Designboom featured the artist at home in his studio in 2015 posting pictures of his own kitchen – the riffed off harlequin black and white tiles are understated but effective and have clearly been an influence in the rest of his work both at La Terraza and in his ceramics in which he has designed furniture and decorative items in collaboration with the Italian brand Bosa.

For La Terraza del Casino, Hayon has brightened the colour palette into a vivid tropical palette of blue and yellow accents set against a pale green interior. Ceramics, handcrafted bespoke furniture, decorative crafts and banana leaf palms add depth, texture and energy, combining to create a contemporary sense of glamour.