The tiny southwest London enclave of Balham has just been injected with a shot of Latin magic with the arrival of Piraña, a bold new bar and restaurant with a South American flavour. Amongst the genteel family-friendly cafes and restaurants of Bedford Hill enters a cacophony of colour, conceptualised by brothers Alastair and Nicholas Heathcote and designed by Sella Concept.
Every corner of the space is touched by a bold, retro theme courtesy of Sella Concept co-founders Tatjana von Stein and Gayle Noonan, who have created a series of subtly different moods for the multifaceted outlet, which includes a chef’s table, bar, banquettes and a secluded nook featuring a private bar hatch. Bypassing obvious visual references to South America in favour of a focus on a rich and sensory palette and materials, Piraña’s design narrative is playful and adventurous. Here, timber panelled walls and bespoke jade terrazzo flooring reign supreme amongst deep red framework and upholstery, and custom furniture in a measured departure from Sella Concept’s usual penchant for pastels.
It all amounts to a striking venue, which, despite its compact size, is peppered with subdivided areas, each with a personality its own. Ideal then, for Piraña’s dual functionality as a restaurant and bar, which sees tacos, ceviches and empanadas sent out at the same time as creative cocktails like ‘An Englishman in Chile’, a concoction of gin, smoked lavender and Abba Pisco.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
76 Bedford Hill
-
Inside Valentino’s glamorous new Sloane Street store, inspired by the art of haute coutureThe latest in Valentino’s ‘The New Maison’ store concept opens on London’s Sloane Street this week, offering an enveloping marble and carpet-clad space of ‘intimacy and uniqueness’
-
Aesop’s Salone del Mobile 2024 installations in Milan are multisensory experiencesAesop has partnered with Salone del Mobile to launch a series of installations across Milan, tapping into sight, touch, taste, and scent
-
Dial into the Boring Phone and more smartphone alternativesFrom the deliberately dull new Boring Phone to Honor’s latest hook-up with Porsche, a host of new devices that do the phone thing slightly differently
-
Step inside Juno Omakase, London’s smallest counter dining experienceJuno Omakase, inside Los Mochis Notting Hill, offers a one-of-a-kind tasting menu in which Tokyo meets Tulum
-
Revel in 007 glamour at Raffles London at The OWORaffles London at The OWO opens its doors after a majestic six-year restoration
-
Rent British musician Imogen Holst’s home via Modernist EstatesDiscover Imogen Holst’s home, designed by H.T. Cadbury Brown, in the seaside town of Aldeburgh, Suffolk
-
Mimosa at The Langham brings French Riviera flavour to LondonMimosa, the new restaurant at The Langham hotel, London, boasts a menu and interiors infused with Riviera style
-
Mayfair’s Murano offers beautiful design and incisively cooked foodAngela Hartnett’s Murano celebrates 15 years of Italian supremacy in London with a fresh look by Fabled Studio
-
Dine amid old-school glamour at The Dover in London’s MayfairThe Dover, founded by Martin Kuczmarski and designed by Quincoces-Dragò & Partners, is where 1970s Brooklyn meets classic Italian charm
-
Morchella, in Clerkenwell, serves Mediterranean classics and Old World wineMorchella restaurant and wine bar brings finely crafted cosy chic to a former bank near Exmouth Market, London
-
The Blue Pelican in Deal is part restaurant, part wellness studioThe Blue Pelican is a seafront townhouse in Deal, offering Japanese-inspired dishes, natural wines and a boutique yoga studio
