Hot and colourful. Two words to describe Indonesia — and Indonesian food especially — so the folks of Seminyak, Bali, should get on great with a new restaurant called Motel Mexicola, from the same team behind Adelaide’s similarly-named Africola. You could apply the same description to Mexican food of course, and there’s all sorts of that being prepared in the busy kitchen. The pass — a window opening onto one end of the dining room — is reminiscent of the taqueria-style street food trucks, as is the swing-down hatch at the front surrounded by a wonderfully ornate tiled facade. The Mexicola menu follows suit with a host of humble favourites of both the bar snack and main meal variety.
Aussie architects Studio-Gram have packed some serious colour into this design job — rich, vibrant, energetic, and exotic. Ornate flower patterns spread their tendrils around doorways, across beams overhead and underfoot. Geometric patterns also play their part in the outdoors area, and the mezzanine is similarly splendid to look at. Votive offerings and Catholic symbolism forms another subtle but key element that contributes to the “real” feel of of Motel Mexicola. Expect to see the locals swapping their scooter helmets for sombreros before you know it.
Photography, Nicole Ramsey
