Saddle – GRONDA
Restaurant/Bar SaddleMadrid, Spain
© José Salto

Studio Gronda was in charge to design all interior design spaces of Saddle restaurant, a new culinary center in the buzzling city of Madrid. Located over the foundations of the legendary Jockey restaurant, the IT society gathering space for global jet setters between 50 and 90. Saddle aims to continue, and enhance, the legendary gastronomic reputation that its predecessor once had.

STUDIO GRONDA’s intervention is divided into two distinctive levels. On the Ground Floor, the Lobby will welcome guests into a long and intimate lounge living room. The space if fragmented into residential-scaled seating areas aiming to celebrate intimacy and exclusivity. The different rooms are divided by means of silk-framed metal lattices that allow to enclose a couple of areas. At the end of the Lobby, the space allows to create two secluded semi-private lounges. A grand art piece and two custom made armoures anchor the small lounge privees with subtleness and elegance. This intimate and bespoke rooms can seat ten to twenty guests.

© José Salto

Then, the anteroom to the main hall, chaired Twin White Marble Bar Counters display the latest mixology and premium ingredients. The wood cladded ceiling and walls create an intimate stand-up room for casual gatherings.

© José Salto

They arrive to the main dining room with capacity for 80 people. Above guests, Gronda conceived a large vectoral sculpture that depicts a hovering cloud. This bronze sculpture screens the sun entering the room from a twelve-meter skylight. In addition, there are two semi-private areas on the slightly raised sides. On the right side, a bronze window frames a grand show kitchen featuring a custom-made Bonnet Kitchen island. Last but not least, the back of the grand room is softened by the presence of a small open-air garden featuring a live fireplace.

© José Salto

On the upper level of Saddle, The Reserved, holds four distinctive private dining rooms. Guest reach this level via a sculptural bronze staircase that drops them on a private reception hall. This welcome hall directs to the twelve-seater Grand Privé with its own private lounge. Guest may also access two intimate six-seater Privés. At the end of the hall, guests can witness the first permanent Dom Perignon Private room in Madrid.

© José Salto

STUDIO GRONDA has designed a work of art related to champagne. The private dining room allows to be split into two smaller rooms if needed.

© José Salto

STUDIO GRONDA’s sophisticated and holistic approach to hospitality also conceived a variety of design disciplines ranging from custom flatware design, flower and landscape design (in collaboration with Valentine Laperche), custom furniture and area rugs, luminare design as well the grand art features described above. A close collaboration with the owners, chefs, maîtres and mixologist allowed STUDIO GRONDA to conceive a new classic dining room in Madrid celebrating and hopefully enhancing its glorious Jockey’s reputation!

Awards:

XVII Premios Gastronómicos de Metrópoli – Winner