Flat Iron, Waterloo

Location
Mayfair, London

Client
Fonda

Status
Complete

Fonda is a bold new concept from acclaimed chef Santiago Lastra and MJMK Restaurants. The design reimagines the warmth and conviviality of Mexico’s family-run eateries and is inspired by traditional Casonas, where the kitchen is the heart of the home. We sought to create a space that feels intimate, welcoming, and deeply connected to its roots.

The restaurant is a rich, tactile environment where craftsmanship takes center stage. An amber-glazed timber entrance sets the tone, drawing visitors into a world of warmth, texture, and colour, where tradition meets contemporary design in a seamless, immersive experience.

The dining area on the ground floor is separated into two distinct areas - a “kitchen” space, opposite the warmth of the clay comal where the fresh tortillas are cooked. And a “living room” space opposite the bar and in site of the pink sloth hanging above the stairs. The sloth and the other art is a bespoke commission from the Mexican artist Fernando Laposse.

Downstairs is the private dining room and bar surrounded by the warmth of a rich timber and glass screen. The pink limewashed walls are adorned with mexican art and the space benefits from its own cocktail bar.

It is a contemporary celebration of Mexico that belongs here in London.

Designed in Collaboration with Alessio Nardi