A restaurant that feels less like a business and more like an invitation into someone's home? We’re sold. This is the philosophy at the heart of Keli, the newly unveiled restaurant designed by the Rockwell Group in Madrid's elegant Salamanca neighbourhood.
Occupying a three-storey, 600-square-metre building, the 224-seat destination was conceived for restaurateur Kike Sierra as a celebration of hospitality, storytelling and contemporary Spanish culture. The name itself offers the first clue. Keli is Spanish slang for house, while ‘vente a mi keli’ translates loosely to "come to my house" – an expression that captures the warmth and generosity that define the project.
Rather than designing a conventional restaurant, Rockwell Group imagined Keli as the residence of a worldly host, with each room revealing a different chapter of their life through colour, materiality, art and atmosphere.
A Restaurant Designed Like a Home
From the outset, Rockwell Group's Madrid studio approached the project as a sequence of domestic spaces rather than formal dining rooms. Guests move through the restaurant much as they would through a private residence, discovering intimate corners, collected objects and unexpected moments along the way.
The design draws heavily from Madrid itself, weaving together references to the city's architecture, street life and creative heritage. Throughout the interiors, bold colour combinations and geometric motifs nod to the cinematic worlds of Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, while tactile materials create a sense of comfort and familiarity.
"For this project, we drew inspiration from our city's domestic charm, art traditions and vibrant street culture," says Eva Longoria, Partner at Rockwell Group's Madrid office. "Combining these elements into a layered collage of colour, geometry and texture has created a restaurant that feels both cosmopolitan and deeply personal."
Restored Heritage Meets Contemporary Design
The journey begins on the mezzanine level, where an original Versailles parquet floor has been meticulously restored. Here, the open kitchen establishes an informal, convivial atmosphere through communal tables and striking geometric blue-and-white tiling.
Above, a satin-finished blue ceiling draws the eye upward to an oversized yellow lacquered metal light fitting that playfully references a traditional kitchen hood.
Elsewhere, Rockwell Group juxtaposes contemporary interventions with existing architectural elements, creating layers of history and character that reinforce the feeling of a home accumulated over time rather than a newly completed commercial project.
The Library Lounge and Main Dining Room
One of Keli's most inviting spaces is the library lounge and bar, conceived as a collector's retreat. Wood shelving, curated artworks, leather detailing and tactile fabrics create an environment that encourages guests to linger long after dinner.
The bar itself features a leather tambour front topped with stone, while bespoke chandeliers inspired by Madrid's historic streetlamps add a distinctly local touch.
Ascending from the library, visitors arrive at the second-floor dining room, where the palette becomes richer and more immersive. Fluted red-painted timber walls are paired with golden-yellow drapery, creating a dramatic backdrop for relaxed seating arrangements and informal dining.
A black-and-white marble floor anchors the space, while a wraparound red-and-white upholstered banquette is punctuated by portraits of celebrated Spanish figures.
The adjacent wine cellar takes a more enveloping approach. Entirely clad in cork, it creates an intimate cocoon softened by burgundy upholstery and glossy black lacquered surfaces.
A Secret World Below Ground
If the upper levels celebrate gathering and conversation, the basement embraces playfulness and after-dark energy. Hidden behind a concealed door lies a games and music room that transforms the restaurant into something closer to a private members' club. Here, vibrant reds dominate the palette. Velvet-clad walls, plush upholstery, red carpeting and marble-topped tables create a sensory-rich environment designed for leisure and entertainment.
The adjoining music room adopts a darker, moodier character. Warm timber surfaces, record displays and curated artefacts create an atmosphere reminiscent of a collector's listening room. A blue-and-black chequered carpet introduces graphic contrast, while reflective stainless-steel lighting amplifies movement and energy throughout the space.
Art as the Heart of the Experience
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of Keli is its ambitious art programme, which transforms the restaurant into a living gallery.
Rather than treating art as decoration, Rockwell Group and Kike Sierra have integrated works throughout the interiors as an essential part of the narrative. Each room introduces a new artist and perspective, creating moments of discovery as guests move through the building.
On the mezzanine, Javier de Juan's specially commissioned mural reimagines the gods of Olympus navigating contemporary Madrid, while Luis Úrculo contributes a series of cobalt-blue tile murals depicting kitchen utensils that blur the boundary between art and craftsmanship.
The dining areas showcase works by Coco Dávez, known for her vibrant portraits of cultural icons, while photography from Sonic Editions animates the basement's games and music rooms.
A New Design Destination in Madrid
Keli arrives at a moment when hospitality design is increasingly moving beyond aesthetics alone. Today's most successful restaurants offer narrative, immersion and emotional connection alongside food and drink.
This project embodies this shift. Through its layered interiors, cinematic use of colour and thoughtfully curated art collection, Keli creates an experience that feels deeply rooted in place while remaining universally welcoming.
More than simply a restaurant, it is a portrait of Madrid itself – vibrant, creative, sociable and endlessly surprising. As guests wander through its rooms, discovering artworks, hidden spaces and carefully crafted details, they become participants in a story that unfolds one floor at a time. And like any memorable home, Keli leaves visitors wanting to return.
