Aztec mythology may not be the most obvious reference point for a pizza restaurant, but the team behind 400 Rabbits in London’s Crystal Palace have somehow managed to make a worthy link: according to Aztec folklore, the Centzontotochtin were the rowdy offspring of two gods, and are legends of mythology, epitomising drunkenness and good times. The venue’s interiors were created by local outfit Richardson Studio, who chose to centre the décor around a mood of conviviality, rather than the restaurant’s more obvious Italian, British and Aztec influences. The result is a contemporary space, splashed with playful pastels, where the traditional Italian restaurant aesthetics of red and green hues have been reborn into vibrant shades of pink and jade. Elsewhere, standard timbers and pegboard are combined to create a layered backdrop, while exposed breeze blocks and original metal stud partitions have been brought to fore as design features, adding further depth to the dining room. The walls and wood-fired pizza oven are decorated with Aztec-inspired patterns, which are tempered by decidedly more modern square tiles, geometric copper pendant lighting and an unmissable mint La Marzoca FB/80 coffee machine. The menu - placed in recycled tin cans - is wholly dedicated to authentic sourdough pizza and craft beer from smaller brewers across the world.
