The Kaikaya restaurant, designed by Masquespacio, is born from the fusion of two different cultures with the soul of its owner, a Valencian transferred to Brazil, who falls in love with the Nikkei-Nikkei cuisine, a blend of Japanese and Brazilian cuisine
The first Japanese arrived in Brazil at the beginning of the 20th century with the aim of working in coffee plantations. Since Japanese nutrition was completely different, there was a need to adapt to local ingredients. The result was a new gastronomy called Nikkei-Nikkei, with a strong identity that, after over a century, with its unique flavors and fusions, reached international fame.
Fusion of traditional Japan, tropical Brazil with the center of Valencian culture, Kaikaya is the result of this story: a representation of styles not only in cuisine but also in the design of its interiors
The starting scenario is an emblematic place with arches, metal beams, and exposed bricks, where the initial decision by the architects at Masquespacio was to preserve the existing elements in their current state, highlighting the beauty of imperfections left by time
The design had to contain, following the style of Masquespacio's interior design projects, a strong touch of color, along with an eclectic style that could blend the two concepts of Japan + Brazil without being conventional. So a mix of materials reminiscent of Japan, such as wood and raffia, along with elements that bring back the tropicalism from the land of samba, with its colorful styles made of mosaic tiles
At the entrance of the restaurant, you will find the raffia circles representing the hats used during rice harvesting in the Land of the Rising Sun, blending explosively here with colorful mosaic tiles and tropical plants. The bar maintains the same mix through the use of a traditional Japanese wooden counter and colorful patterns inspired by the Brazilian seventies.
