The Big Mamma hospitality has been at it once again, opening a new restaurant in the heart of Lyons, the culinary capital of France. Called Carmelo, the dining establishment, or trattoria, is situated in the city’s historic city centre and occupies a lofty 800 sqm. (8,611 sq.ft.) ground floor space of a residential building. The interior design, once again supervised by Studio Kiki, the company’s in-house design unit, is fun-infused and joyful as always while giving a plethora of Italian clichés, including some truly iconic ones, a stylish twist. Upon entering, guests pass an old-fashioned candy counter laden with sweets, before heading to the bar. Here, the Italian vibe is boosted by playful decor which sees an elongated bar and booths against a backdrop of vintage black + white photographs sourced from a closing cinema in Bologna and a series of pendant glass bulbs. It’s followed by a wine cellar-inspired room lined from back to front with shelving laden with vintage wine bottles.
The main dining room unfolds in a La Dolce Vita manner, featuring an infusion of colour, captured by the checkered flooring, carpentry and furnishings, but mostly by an eye-catching mosaic of more than 5,000 plates covering the wall and ceiling. A large skylight, framed by lush faux greens, allows in floods of natural light. But the perhaps the most impressive room at Carmelo is the vast vaulted gallery adorned with portraits of ancestors and other decorative trinkets in the true spirit of the great Tuscan family houses. The restaurant is able to accommodate a total of 230 guests. The menu at Carmelo lists an abundance of Italian comfort food, ranging from classic bites such as mozzarella buffala and bruschetta, to various tasty pastas, pizzas and a fine selection of secondi piatti. The sumptuous food is paired with signature cocktails and an elaborate selection of fine wines from the homeland.
Carmelo
7 rue Neuve (Terraux-Cordeliers)
69001 Lyons
Publishers Note
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