Restaurant Martha

Project: Restaurant Martha, Madrid
Interior design & creative direction: Codoo Studio
Year: 2026
Photographer: Germán Saiz

Products in the project:
Nostalgi hat/shoe rack

Codoo Studio imagined Martha as an expanded Madrid–Argentinian home

The Madrid based  Codoo Studio takes welcoming to a new level – making it the foundation of their new interiour and design project, restaurant Martha.  Martha is inspired by the founders’ grandmother – the project revives a way of understanding hospitality that seemed almost forgotten: long conversations around the table after a meal, food that brings people together, and places where no one checks the time because no one is in a hurry.

What made you go with the Nostalgi hat rack?

The Nostalgi hat rack felt perfect for Martha because it has the recognisable character and functionality of a traditional hat rack, but expressed through a much cleaner and more contemporary design. It allowed us to preserve that reference to the classic Madrid tavern while bringing it into the present.

The interesting part comes from that dialogue between old and new 

What is your secret to combining modern pieces with historic architecture?

It is actually a big part of the essence of our studio. Preserving existing elements allows us to maintain a connection with the history and identity of a place, and we believe this creates an emotional connection with people as well. The interesting part comes from that dialogue between old and new. In Martha, for example, we restored the original wooden bar and preserved elements traditionally associated with Madrid taverns, while combining them with contemporary furniture, lighting and details.

We always try to design spaces where people want to stay a little longer than they originally planned

What are your best tips for making a space feel welcoming?

For us, a welcoming space has a lot to do with creating the feeling of being at home. In Martha, this idea was fundamental. The project was conceived almost as a house that opens its doors to the public: you arrive at the bar, move towards a more intimate listening and dining area, and finally reach “+ Al Fondo”, which feels almost like a domestic living room. We always try to design spaces where people want to stay a little longer than they originally planned. For us, that is probably the best sign that a place feels truly welcoming.

What makes Martha stand out?

Martha doesn’t try to recreate a traditional tavern. It does something far more interesting: it preserves what truly mattered about them. Hospitality. A sense of belonging.

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