Spanish designer Isern Serra has used rounded corners and curved built-in furniture to create a "relaxed and welcoming atmosphere" inside Napoli on the Road, a pizza restaurant in London's Soho area.
The central London restaurant has a pared-back, architectural interior that was inspired by chef Michele Pascarella's Italian roots.
"The project draws inspiration from vernacular Mediterranean architecture, where buildings are shaped by climate, craftsmanship, and local materials rather than trends," Serra told Dezeen. "The Mediterranean is understood here as a place where architecture is deeply connected to everyday life."
"Spaces are informal yet carefully crafted, materials are honest and timeless, and interiors encourage people to slow down, gather, and share meals," he continued.
Serra wanted the total interior design – rather than individual details – to define Napoli on the Road's Soho branch, which comprises an 80-square-metre ground floor and 35-square-metre basement.
With this aim, he kept the material palette restrained, introducing wood and stone furniture, walls made from a metal frame finished with plasterboard and flooring that functions as a neutral background.
"One of the key elements is the continuous flooring, which runs uninterrupted throughout the restaurant," Serra said.
"By avoiding changes in material or level, the floor creates a seamless landscape that visually enlarges the space while reinforcing a feeling of calm and permanence. It provides a neutral canvas upon which the rest of the architecture unfolds."
The designer also wanted to avoid, as much as possible, the use of individual pieces of furniture and instead chose to integrate some functions into the walls themselves.
"Seating, shelving and display areas become part of the walls, giving the space a sculptural quality while reducing visual noise," Serra said.
"This approach references the simplicity of vernacular Mediterranean buildings, where architecture and furniture often become one."
The deliberately pared-back design, with bare walls and simple lighting, was designed to have a soft and tactile feel, creating an interior that Serra hoped would reflect natural light.
"Instead of relying on decorative elements, the atmosphere emerges from the relationship between light, materiality and proportion," he said.
"Together, these choices create an interior that feels timeless, comfortable and deeply connected to its cultural references."
Curved and rounded openings, archways and furniture can be found throughout Napoli on the Road, another nod to the Mediterranean where "arches, softened corners, niches, and curved transitions appear naturally as a result of traditional construction techniques," Serra explained.
His aim was to reinterpret these traditional architectural shapes in a more contemporary way, while also softening the space of the two-floor restaurant and creating a sense of calm.
"Rounded corners, curved built-in furniture, and soft transitions create a continuous spatial flow that guides movement naturally through the restaurant," Serra said.
"The absence of sharp edges also generates a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, making the environment feel less formal and more intimate."
However, Napoli on the Road also features playful details, such as the dark red hue of the downstairs dining room and events space, and industrial elements including a metal bar counter – though even this has rounded edges.
"The stainless steel counter introduces a contemporary layer that balances the softness of the surrounding architecture," Serra said.
"While the rest of the project is characterised by warm textures, continuous surfaces and sculptural forms, the metal element provides precision, clarity and a subtle industrial quality."
This juxtaposition between the different materials also helps to create a more layered interior design.
"The contrast between the smooth, reflective steel and the soft mineral finishes creates a rich material dialogue that brings depth to the interior," Serra concluded.
Other recent restaurants featured on Dezeen include an eatery in Thailand enclosed by breezy louvre walls and OMA's Oberon restaurant at the New Museum in New York City.
The photography is by Adrianna Giakoumis.