Madrid’s Chamberí district now has a bar where the sunset never sets. Myo, a hand roll temaki spot designed by local studio Plutarco, bathes its counter in a permanent golden glow—warm ambers and ochres that refuse to dim, no matter the time of day.
The bar as the main act
The studio’s brief was clear: the bar had to be the star. It sits raised on an oak platform, its surface stained a deep nori green. A stainless steel counter tops the structure, with integrated spotlights that frame each hand roll as it arrives—turning the food into a still life under the glow.
That glow is no accident. Backlit fabrics create a continuous gradient of warm tones, a deliberate contrast to the raw surroundings. Exposed piping and more stainless steel keep the space industrial, but the lighting softens the edges. The steel, usually cold, becomes a canvas for warmth when the lights hit it.
A space that shifts with the hour
Myo operates as both a daytime quick bite and a nighttime hangout. The interiors adapt accordingly—bright and open at lunch, moodier and more intimate after dark. A metal shelving unit acts as a room divider, guiding guests toward the entrance and bathrooms while subtly changing character under the shifting light. An artwork by Fuensanta Sobejano adds a layer of visual intrigue.
The kitchen is partially hidden behind a wooden frame and translucent yellow glass, a design choice Plutarco calls “seeing without being seen.” It hints at the action behind the counter without giving everything away.
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Color wasn’t an afterthought. The palette—dark green, orange-red, and blue—was pulled directly from the menu. Seaweed, salmon, tuna, and white fish inspired the tones, which carry through to Irene Girona’s graphic identity for the space.
This isn’t Plutarco’s first time using color as a structural element. The studio, founded by Ana Arana and Enrique Ventosa, has a reputation for turning small spaces into stories. Their portfolio includes a 13-square-meter creperie, but Myo’s hand roll bar feels like a natural evolution—one where the setting is as carefully considered as the food.
The name Plutarco comes from the Greek biographer known for his storytelling. It’s a fitting choice for a studio that treats architecture as narrative, where every material and light source has a role to play. At Myo, that narrative is simple: the bar isn’t just a place to eat. It’s the reason you stay.
Photography by Pablo Zamora.
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