Design of the family-friendly Italian restaurant “Pinocchio”

This family-friendly Italian restaurant in Limassol, Cyprus, is conceived as a welcoming and vibrant space that channels the atmosphere of a bustling southern festival. Opening directly onto the scenic promenade, the venue is designed in an Italian classical style with country elements and distinct retro undertones. The core concept centers on warm Mediterranean hospitality, where the clinking of wine jugs, the aroma of freshly baked pizza, and genuine laughter blend into a cozy interior scenario for both adults and children.

The main entrance greets guests with a monumental glass arch illuminated by warm marquee lights, reminiscent of vintage circus signs, while cascades of authentic clay amphorae adorn the base of the terrace. Inside the main hall, Maria Green recreated the look of Pinocchio’s fairy-tale room in a contemporary design interpretation. The ceiling is draped in rich burgundy fabrics to resemble a pavilion tent, complemented by an installation of cascading greenery and numerous retro lamps. Professional ropes for aerial silk performances are secured just beneath the vault. A refined gray-blue palette of columns with elegant fluting and shimmering gold-leaf accents effectively contrasts with exposed brickwork, shelving filled with terracotta dishware, and a bar counter base crafted from wine barrels. The focal point of the dining room is a dark fireplace portal featuring a glowing hearth and a boiling cauldron, while a cult red soda machine and decorative golden keys on the pillars accentuate the venue’s vintage charm.

An open kitchen is organized on the spacious summer terrace under huge white umbrellas and striped awnings, with massive dome ovens finished in sheets of patinated chased brass serving as the main visual anchor. Sleek shelving units stacked with firewood logs match the chef’s counter made of aged wine wood and a retro gelato cart. The restaurant space is clearly zoned: an interactive kids’ room with ropes and vibrant patchwork panels provides a dedicated area for games and animation, allowing young guests to enjoy their gelato without disrupting the privacy of adults. The project is logically completed by the restroom areas, finished in contrasting terracotta and azure tones that evoke a resort spa aesthetic with complex tile geometry and soft contour lighting.