Nómada Chiado Restaurant by Spacegram: Redefining Restaurant Interior Design in Lisbon

Completed in 2020 by Spacegram, the Nómada Chiado Restaurant in Lisbon is a striking example of restaurant interior design in Lisbon. Spanning 150 m², the restaurant transforms a once barren, vault-like space into an immersive dining environment where architecture, texture, and cultural inspiration converge. Known for its innovative culinary identity, Nómada sought a design that could reflect its nomadic philosophy while creating a warm, sophisticated atmosphere for Lisbon’s thriving gastronomic scene.

Concept and Design Philosophy

The design concept reimagines the vaulted interior as an experiential journey. Spacegram approached the project with three guiding principles: warmth and welcome, comfort and intimacy, and discreet luxury inspired by Japanese minimalist aesthetics. The architectural response divides the restaurant into distinct zones, each with a unique character yet connected through material richness, sculptural interventions, and a cohesive visual narrative.

Entrance and Bar Experience

The journey begins with a tunnel-like entrance, softly illuminated to simulate a summer night’s ambience. This passage leads guests to a bespoke cocktail bar and spiral staircase crafted from custom metal structures. The staircase connects to the lower dining area, reinforcing the sense of discovery and layered spatial experience.

The Sushi Bar

At the heart of the restaurant lies a vaulted sushi bar, naturally lit and dramatically defined by its linear layout. Guests dine at four tables in direct view of the sushi kitchen, ensuring an intimate and interactive culinary experience. A custom neon light fixture, designed in collaboration with Ian Yurisch, floats overhead, evoking the wire-frame of a nomadic boat. By night, it glows amber, enhancing the room’s atmospheric depth and symbolic ties to nomadic travel.

The Cocoon Room

The signature cocoon room immerses diners in a sculptural landscape of rippling wood panels by MtWoods. Inspired by aquatic and ethereal natural forms, the generative carvings curve fluidly along the walls, veneered by hand with meticulous craftsmanship. Curved sofas complement the flowing geometry, producing a cocoon-like intimacy. At the room’s opening, an artwork inspired by global nomadic travel anchors the design, while a spiraling vortex ceiling sculpture by Artworks captures shifting light and shadow.

Private Dining Spaces

Beyond the cocoon room, a private dining area provides a secluded, cavern-like space for groups and tasting events. Although intimate, it retains visual connections to the cocoon room, extending the restaurant’s narrative of layered experiences and collective celebration.

Materiality and Atmosphere

Throughout Nómada Chiado, material choices reinforce its immersive character. The interiors embrace rusty-red hues, inspired by the Japanese tone aka, symbolizing protection and celebration. Existing pine floors were painted in a similar shade, complemented by Rojo Alicante marble, where earthy reds contrast against white and grey veins. Custom-designed round tables and minimalist velvet-upholstered chairs highlight the attention to bespoke detail, while strategically placed mirrors expand spatial perception, reflecting the restaurant’s layered journey.

A Landmark of Restaurant Interior Design in Lisbon

Nómada Chiado by Spacegram is more than a dining space—it is a curated architectural experience. Through its bold materiality, cultural references, and sculptural interiors, the project exemplifies the best of restaurant interior design in Lisbon, merging culinary innovation with atmospheric storytelling. By transforming a challenging vault-like shell into an iconic dining destination, Spacegram has cemented Nómada Chiado as both a gastronomic and architectural landmark in the city.

All Photographs are works of Francisco Nogueira