Petiscaria O Calheta
In the heart of Calheta’s old cove—where fishing boats once carried the sea’s stories ashore—a new narrative takes shape. One where earth and fire meet in harmony, and cooking becomes a ritual of connection. Here, raw elements meet refined craft: the rich clay of São Miguel’s volcanic soil, transformed by flames into bricks and terracotta, gives body to a space that breathes memory and reinvention.
The project was born from the vision of São Miguel–born chef Hugo Ferreira and hosts Catarina and Pedro, who dreamed of an intimate, authentic place—one that could reflect the refined simplicity of their cuisine. The architectural design, developed in co-authorship with architect Paulo Vieitas, sought to honor this vision by crafting a warm, immersive atmosphere where matter and memory intertwine.
During the creative process, the team chose to move beyond familiar material stereotypes. One of the project’s generative principles emerged from a visit to a local factory producing bricks and roof tiles, still made with earth sourced from São Miguel island. It was here—in the elemental process of earth, fire, and terracotta—that the design found its core inspiration: an ancient and elemental material reinterpreted through contemporary language.
The pre-existing stone arches, revealed within the compact space, also became a key element in the spatial reading and organization of the restaurant. These curved gestures—silent inheritances of the site—play a central role in the project and were reinterpreted in the design of the central counter: a sculptural piece molded from the local bricks, anchoring the room and inviting a shared experience. The same curved lines continue subtly through the remaining furniture, establishing a cohesive and organic language.
The restaurant unfolds around two complementary kitchens: one concealed at the back, and another open to the dining room, where the chefs engage directly with guests. At the counter, dishes take shape before the diners’ eyes—through gestures, aromas, and textures that deepen the sensory experience.
A communal table, crafted from a salvaged pine beam, gathers guests beneath nine ceramic pendants, hand-shaped by artist João Rolaça, evoking the archipelago’s islands. Suspended above the monochromatic space, they illuminate not only the table, but the stories and moments shared around it.
O Calheta welcomes with the warmth of wood, the curve of stone, and the soft glow of handcrafted ceramics. It is a tribute to Azorean culture—not as a fixed image, but as a living, evolving essence—expressed in the quiet intimacy of a shared meal and in the delicate dialogue between tradition and contemporary craft.
Project: Petiscaria O Calheta
Typology: Restaurant / Bar
Year: 2023-2025
Location: Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island
Surface: 81 m2
Author: Mezzo Atelier + Paulo Vieitas
Team: Giacomo Mezzadri, Joana de Oliveira, Paulo Vieitas, Sabrina Sinelli
Construction: Azores ON
Photography: Mariana Lopes
Petiscaria O Calheta
In the heart of Calheta’s old cove—where fishing boats once carried the sea’s stories ashore—a new narrative takes shape. One where earth and fire meet in harmony, and cooking becomes a ritual of connection. Here, raw elements meet refined craft: the rich clay of São Miguel’s volcanic soil, transformed by flames into bricks and terracotta, gives body to a space that breathes memory and reinvention.
The project was born from the vision of São Miguel–born chef Hugo Ferreira and hosts Catarina and Pedro, who dreamed of an intimate, authentic place—one that could reflect the refined simplicity of their cuisine. The architectural design, developed in co-authorship with architect Paulo Vieitas, sought to honor this vision by crafting a warm, immersive atmosphere where matter and memory intertwine.
During the creative process, the team chose to move beyond familiar material stereotypes. One of the project’s generative principles emerged from a visit to a local factory producing bricks and roof tiles, still made with earth sourced from São Miguel island. It was here—in the elemental process of earth, fire, and terracotta—that the design found its core inspiration: an ancient and elemental material reinterpreted through contemporary language.
The pre-existing stone arches, revealed within the compact space, also became a key element in the spatial reading and organization of the restaurant. These curved gestures—silent inheritances of the site—play a central role in the project and were reinterpreted in the design of the central counter: a sculptural piece molded from the local bricks, anchoring the room and inviting a shared experience. The same curved lines continue subtly through the remaining furniture, establishing a cohesive and organic language.
The restaurant unfolds around two complementary kitchens: one concealed at the back, and another open to the dining room, where the chefs engage directly with guests. At the counter, dishes take shape before the diners’ eyes—through gestures, aromas, and textures that deepen the sensory experience.
A communal table, crafted from a salvaged pine beam, gathers guests beneath nine ceramic pendants, hand-shaped by artist João Rolaça, evoking the archipelago’s islands. Suspended above the monochromatic space, they illuminate not only the table, but the stories and moments shared around it.
O Calheta welcomes with the warmth of wood, the curve of stone, and the soft glow of handcrafted ceramics. It is a tribute to Azorean culture—not as a fixed image, but as a living, evolving essence—expressed in the quiet intimacy of a shared meal and in the delicate dialogue between tradition and contemporary craft.
Project: Petiscaria O Calheta
Typology: Restaurant / Bar
Year: 2023-2025
Location: Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island
Surface: 81 m2
Author: Mezzo Atelier + Paulo Vieitas
Team: Giacomo Mezzadri, Joana de Oliveira, Paulo Vieitas, Sabrina Sinelli
Construction: Azores ON
Photography: Mariana Lopes
