The Boa Nova Tea House was one of Álvaro Siza’s first completed projects, and it served as a restaurant for many years. Located about 300 meters from the road in Motosinhos to the north of Porto, the restaurant enjoys a close relationship with the ocean. Over the course of 50 years the building fell into disrepair, so Siza set out to restore his project and make it beautiful and operational. The new Boa Nova Tea House opened in July 2014 led by Portuguese Chef Rui Paula.
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The restaurant has a butterfly floor plan with two main rooms opening up to the west and to the ocean. Diners arrive at the restaurant via an ascending system of platforms and stairs and then enter a double-height atrium with access to a swanky bar. The kitchen, storage and employee areas are sunken in the back, and a large mast-like chimney rises above the terracotta tile roof. The building’s original elements were all restored – including the white-plastered masonry walls, exposed concrete pillars, red African ‘Afizelia’ wood finishes, the ceiling, and even the furniture, which was also designed by Siza.
Images ©Joao Morgado
