ROTONDO CAFE || A Blue-and-Sand Sanctuary Redefining Café Culture in Buenos Aires
When a city moves as quickly as Buenos Aires, finding a quiet corner can feel like a small luxury.
Rotondo Café, designed by Muro Studio, offers just that: a pocket of calm that feels both modern and timeless.
Tucked into the lively neighbourhood of Villa Crespo, Rotondo reimagines what a café can be: not simply a stop for coffee, but a sanctuary of texture, colour, and light. Its distinctive identity begins with a confident blue façade, deep and serene, framing generous windows that open the interior to the street. The palette of rich navy and soft sand tones immediately sets a composed, balanced, and quietly uplifting mood.
A bold shade of cobalt blue sets the tone at Rotondo Café.
Inside, Muro Studio choreographs a visual rhythm between cool and warm. The deep blue of the exterior finds its counterpoint in plastered walls of golden beige, where the light catches subtle variations in texture. The designers draw the eye upward with a wave-patterned wood panel installation that adds both dimension and softness to the vertical space.
The wave-patterned wooden panels bring a sense of motion to the calm, their fluid geometry balancing precision with warmth.
Inside, Muro Studio layers soft textures and warm lighting to create a tranquil counterpoint to the energy of Villa Crespo.
The furnishings echo this harmony. Pale tabletops pair with sculptural wooden chairs in caramel tones, creating a visual warmth that softens the minimalist architecture. Outside, the patterned cushions in blue and white add a touch of playfulness, while maintaining continuity with the café’s crisp, maritime colour story. Tiny details, such as the custom coffee cups and black-and-white graphics, contribute to a sense of considered simplicity.
Lighting plays an equally essential role in shaping the experience. During the day, sunlight filters through the tall glass windows, reflecting off the polished surfaces and textured walls. As evening arrives, a soft amber glow takes over, transforming the space into an intimate refuge. This gentle transition mirrors the café’s dual rhythm: bright and social by morning, soothing and contemplative by dusk.
The bar seating blurs the boundary between inside and out, inviting guests to linger on the outer bar instead of rushing their coffee run.
Beyond aesthetics, what sets Rotondo apart is how it makes people feel. The design seems to slow time, encouraging guests to pause, take a breath, and savour the moment. The interplay of colour psychology, blue’s association with calm, beige’s with warmth, creates a balanced emotional environment. It’s a reminder that thoughtful design can influence not just what we see, but how we experience everyday rituals like grabbing our morning coffee.
At its core, Rotondo is a dialogue between modern minimalism and human comfort. Muro Studio’s approach celebrates craftsmanship through subtle gestures, like hand-finished plaster, precise carpentry, and an intuitive flow that guides guests seamlessly from counter to table to terrace. The result is an environment that feels intentional yet effortless, urban yet grounded.
Here, coffee isn’t rushed; it’s a ritual that unfolds in rhythm with the space itself.
PROJECT DETAILS
Interior Design: Muro Studio
Photography: mul.raw
