Sierra Madre Taquería — Vigo, Spain

It’s almost a case of gastronomic reverse engineering when a taqueria opens in Spain, its MO an unabashed homage to Mexican street food.
Here, a former bar and cafeteria in a nondescript building in central Vigo has been reworked into Sierra Madre Taquería by Erbalunga. Taking its cue from the port city’s newfound buzzy vibe, especially in its haul of concert halls and lively bars, the Galicia-based studio applied layers of volumes over the relatively small space. The colour scheme is pure Mexico in the vibrant hues of burnt orange and sand which subliminally enlarge the scale, while translucency is achieved by way of geometric breeze bricks, hollow grid ceiling fixtures, and cut-out room dividers that lead the eye into a sequence of bijoux zones.
Executive chef Jose Fernández Cerqueira channels the slow food movement while adding contemporary touches to familiar Mexican standards. Nachos de la Sierra, for instance, may have its foundations in tortilla chips, guacamole and melted cheese, but pico de gallo, jalapeños and the smoky notes of barbecued meat add an unexpected depth. Meanwhile, tacos are rendered campechas-style with a mix of arrachera (a cut favoured in Mexico) and Spanish chorizo that’s finished with avocado cream spiked with lime, cilantro, radish and cheese.
ADDRESS
Alfonso XII Street number 13
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.
-
Buccellati’s one-of-a-kind jewelled evening bags draw on a rich design history
The high jewellery house revisits intricate velvet clutch bag designs, originally created by Mario Buccellati in the 1920s and 1930s
-
A colossal ‘ship’ in Shanghai honours Louis Vuitton’s travel legacy
Louis Vuitton’s The Louis is an OMA-designed hub combining retail, culture and dining in the heart of Nanjing West Road
-
Los Angeles’ best bars for craft cocktails and A-list design
From glamorous old Hollywood haunts to trend-setting neighbourhood hangouts, these hotspots serve excellent drinks in an atmosphere unlike anywhere else
-
The most stylish hotel takeovers to pop up at this summer
From Capri to Ibiza, luxury fashion brands are taking over seaside resorts with exclusive boutique pop-ups and bespoke poolside accessories
-
Ten lesser-known gems you shouldn’t miss in Madrid
Celebrated for its Beaux-Arts architecture, art museums and culinary creativity, Madrid continues to reinvent itself thanks to a buoyant cultural scene
-
Wallpaper* checks in at The Palace Madrid: an old soul with new sparkle
Once a haunt for intellectuals and artists, Madrid’s grand dame navigates a new era of luxury following a four-year-long renovation by Lázaro Rosa-Violán Studio
-
Sun-soaked European destinations to visit in spring
Dreaming of Florentine palazzos and Greek islands now that the weather is starting to turn? Check into one of these beautiful European hotels and holiday homes
-
Esperit Roca is a restaurant of delicious brutalism and six-course desserts
In Girona, the Roca brothers dish up daring, sensory cuisine amid a 19th-century fortress reimagined by Andreu Carulla Studio
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy design
There’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
-
‘I explored Benidorm with an open mind’: the famous Spanish seaside town is captured in a new photo book
From neon lights to pink sunburns, photographer Rob Ball turns his lens on Benidorm to see what remains of a ‘pan-European holiday utopia’
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Brach Madrid: a hotel of love and passion
Brach Madrid, part of Evok Collection, is a charming city-centre bolthole designed by Philippe Starck