Tradition on the plate and in the space

By Editorial Staff - 6 September 2023

At Cozinha Das Flores, the cuisine of Nuno Mendes – one of the most acclaimed Portuguese chefs at the moment – combines local products and inspiration taken from the territory with new and experimental techniques. Space Copenhagen was asked to create a restaurant that conveys the same principles through the environment and its materials.

This space occupied by Cozinha das Flores and the adjacent Flôr bar is in the center of Porto, in the historical Largo de São Domingos, stretching across five different buildings, two of which date to the 17^th century. The two buildings involved directly overlook the Largo: formerly residences, they have undergone numerous transformations and use changes over the years. History has been layered into the architecture, and the designers’ first steps were to recover the past, in order to create an architectural narrative that recounts tradition and craftsmanship while looking towards design and modernity.

Ristorante Cozinha das Flores e bar Flôr - Joachim Wichmann, courtesy Space Copenhagen

A dinner at Cozinha das Flores means immersing oneself in the culture and traditions of Porto: a multisensory journey that passes not only through taste but also sight, touch and smell. Local materials were selected for the interiors: stone, metal, wood and typical Portuguese ceramics invade the space and are juxtaposed with decorative elements, dishware and typical local furniture. Emphasizing the historical building’s finishes, aged stone, and burnished wood in particular, the architects introduced plastered walls colored in earthy tones and filled the space through a calibrated use of light, to highlight focal points and create more intimate corners.

In the main room, which seats 50, the open kitchen was custom-built around a fireplace and allows guests to participate in the culinary preparations, bringing them closer to local cuisine. In the adjacent room, ceramics are used as the wall cladding. A large bench carved inside a wall perfectly frames a wall decoration that depicts street musicians, commissioned from the architect Álvaro Siza. These hand-painted ceramic tiles echo Porto’s tradition of painting the stories of residents and the city on its walls.

Next to the entrance to the restaurant is the entrance to Flôr, a sophisticated bar that serves an extensive cocktail menu and some dishes, designed by Space Copenhagen as a cozy setting that evokes the atmosphere of a 19^th century café. In this space, a horseshoe-shaped bar with a stone counter is surrounded by high stools and topped by a metal structure in the same shape that provides lighting and shelving.

Ristorante Cozinha das Flores e bar Flôr - Joachim Wichmann, courtesy Space Copenhagen Una delle pareti è decorata con un’opera di Álvaro Siza: un disegno a mano raffigurante musicisti di strada, poi riprodotto su ceramica, che riprende la tradizione locale di raccontare le storie della città attraverso disegni murali.

The focal point of the space is a large window that covers the back wall behind the bar: illuminated by diffused light, its hues evoke the light of Porto at sunrise and sunset.

A dinner at Cozinha das Flores means immersing oneself in the culture and traditions of Porto: a multisensory journey that passes not only through taste but also sight, touch and smell.

Cozinha das Flores Restaurant and Flôr bar - Joachim Wichmann, courtesy of Space Copenhagen

Cozinha das Flores Restaurant and Flôr bar - Joachim Wichmann, courtesy of Space Copenhagen | A work by Álvaro Siza decorates one of the walls: the hand drawing depicting street musicians was reproduced on ceramic tiles, as part of the local tradition that recounts stories of the city through drawings on its walls.

Cozinha das Flores Restaurant and Flôr bar - Joachim Wichmann, courtesy of Space Copenhagen | The elements and materials of the historical building are still evident in the rooms: the natural stone and metal are juxtaposed with the plastered surfaces and contemporary furnishings.

Location: Porto, Portugal
Client and Main Contractor: Annasurra
Completion: 2023 Gross Floor Area: 300 m²
Architect and Interior Designer: Space Copenhagen

Photography: Joachim Wichmann, courtesy of Space Copenhagen

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