November 16, 2017

Text: Jesse Dorris

EstudiHac Makes a Home for César Anca

After managing restaurants in Alicante for two decades, César Anca has decided to come home to his native Chamberí region of Madrid with his new restaurant Xanverí. The foodie destination was designed, says estudiHac’s creative director José Manuel Ferrero, as a tribute to “the history of the neighborhood and its origin, which date back to Napoleonic times.”

A paper mural at the entrance honors local traditions of ceramic and stonework, while carved oak moldings in the wine cellar recreate the geometric facades of nearby buildings. La Desenfadada, the casual space, and the more formal Restaurante Gastronómico are awash in white, gold, and blue tones befitting the beaches of Madrid. Houndstooth check, historically beloved by the Castilians, covers the private Xispero Room, from the rug to the walls to the backlit sconces, bathed in light from BD Barcelona’s Olivdada chandelier, a nod to chisperos, or sparkers, the local nickname for smelters.

A custom chandelier and kaleidoscopic ceramic tiled-floor greet define the bar. Photography courtesy of estudiHac.
Carla Fuentes’ illustrations of notable locals adorn the walls of the Restaurante Gastronómico. Photography courtesy of estudiHac.
Seating in rich tones of blue embody estudiHac’s aesthetic of “mature Mediterranean.” Photography courtesy of estudiHac.
The ceilings boast a diamond pattern of timber cladding. Photography courtesy of estudiHac.
Multiple scales of houndstooth check create a buzz in The Xispero Room. Photography courtesy of estudiHac.
The first floor houses La Desenfadada, a more casual dining experience. Photography courtesy of estudiHac.
Neon houndstooth makes the “Instagram corner” of La Desenfadada a perfect selfie spot. Photography courtesy of estudiHac.

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