A 100-headed dragon guards over the enchanted Ladon steakhouse inside the Fantasia Bahia Principe Hotel in Tenerife, Spain. Designed by estudi{H}ac based in Valencia, Spain, the inspiration for the restaurant comes from Greek mythology. The Ladon is the 100-headed dragon that coils around a tree in the Garden of Hesperides to guard its golden apples.
There are also many design nods to the restaurant’s location, Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands. It’s dominated by Mt. Teide, a dormant volcano that is Spain’s tallest peak.
The 660-square-meter restaurant was designed to bring elements of this dramatic myth to life using textures and colors. Tables and custom-made benches adapt each part of the legend to create an atmosphere or fantasy and dreams.
The color scheme is dominated by ash and splashes of earth tones, green and red. Volcanic stone walls and floors, copper structures, black ceramic scales and a large image of a dragon’s skin come together to create drama and excitement at the entrance from the hotel’s lobby.
The restaurant recalls Tenerife’s architecture and local crafts via a system of lattices around the outdoor terrace. The floor is reminiscent of a large black sand beach with custom-designed graphics.
Images courtesy of Adrian Mora Morato