How to create a successful restaurant

Hotel architecture already carries significant weight because it is necessary to create successful businesses that are a summation of well-related factors.

To achieve this, it is necessary to understand the hospitality industry and master the language that emotionally engages customers with the establishment's business strategy. The team at CM4Arquitectos architecture studio, with extensive experience in designing restaurants in various cities across the country, knows a great deal about this.

We have spoken with Javier Verdugo, Associate Architect at CM4architects who talks to us about this booming field of architecture and gives us advice on creating signature restaurants.

Lately, CM4Arquitectos has been working more on attracting attention by designing simple, discreet, and pleasant spaces, rather than flashy ones. They have realized that amidst the whirlwind of new establishments, what stands out more is the different and the simple, something that is complex given the high level of competition that exists.

Awaken customer emotion

 Nowadays, especially in Spain, we have a widespread culture of frequenting hospitality venues, which means it's increasingly difficult to evoke an emotion in a customer.

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Balance Between Restaurant Design and Needs

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The first step, before beginning with the design, is to work with clients on their functional, space, and equipment requirements. The restaurant must be functional and provide good service. There's no point in focusing only on design if the establishment doesn't function; it would close within days, and we would be out of work.

“Although design is fundamental, a certain balance must be maintained with other aspects, such as functionality, cost, or timing.”

Design with the type of kitchen in mind

The type of cuisine is usually the result of a business plan and therefore of a type of customer, a type of service, a certain customer ratio, etc.

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These factors are decisive when designing the space, selecting materials, furniture type, lighting, etc.

Achieve pleasant environments

Although trends evolve and change, there are fixed factors when creating a pleasant atmosphere. Warm-toned lights and natural materials are always synonymous with comfort.

Starting from this base, we continue to work with colors and textures depending on other aspects or sensations we wish to achieve.

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Customer experience

The client, although not directly aware of it, perceives when a space is thought out and designed. When there is an interior design project in a location, everything is placed in a specific, intentional spot; nothing in that space is casual or done on the fly.

This design work makes every visit to the establishment different, encouraging customers to return or recommend it and to want to spend time in it.

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Project onto historic buildings

In projects of this type, it's quite a challenge to work with historical constraints; we tend to be quite cautious and respectful of the environment in which we work.

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This allows us to rely on elements that we cannot “touch” and that we use to highlight them, showcase them, and combine them with contemporary solutions and materials.

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The restrooms of a restaurant

Historically, it has been the residual space, what's left in the back right, but for us, it's a perfect area to unleash our imagination.

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It's a space that occupies a fairly high percentage in the hospitality industry of the surface area of the premises to the point of not considering them and that practically all clients use.

As I mentioned before, if every space is thought out and designed, it will translate into customers commenting on their experience, sharing it, recommending it, and returning.