Casa Fish

This unique seafront destination deserves to remain truly one of a kind, deeply attentive to the essential character of the Athens Riviera and to the lifestyle of its current and potential clientele.

Both I. Anestidis and W. Karalasos, working together like a piano four hands duet, strived for authenticity, aiming to create a space replete with references, where everything appears to have found its natural place—imbuing the project with a fresh contemporary vitality while remaining deliberately detached from the clichés of global uniformity perpetuated by digital culture.

The entrance composition is conceived as a powerful spatial gesture for the ensemble as a whole. A deliberately elongated corridor, divided into two parallel zones by a prominent freestanding green stone wall, orchestrates the visitor’s experience and emphasizes the access points to both Casa Fish Restaurant and Vive-Mar all-day café/restaurant. In this way, each destination acquires its own distinct identity and independently addresses its respective audience.

The measured drama and theatricality of the lighting profoundly transform the exterior perception of the ensemble, recasting the entrance as a threshold to two independent and glamorous destinations.

Inside, the low-ceilinged lobby occasionally contrasts with the travertine-clad entrance portal, creating a witty play of scale that establishes a subtle dialogue between the interior and exterior design.

The chic interior of Casa Fish Restaurant reflects an extensive knowledge of the history of French design, drawing references from the works of J.-M. Frank and A. Putman, which lend the space both a soul and a sense of timelessness.

The custom-designed furniture and lighting fixtures, the unmistakable combination of brushed dark-stained oak and plain semi-gloss maple cladding—already hinted at in the curved corners of the vestibule entrance—the raffia wallpaper, the beige-orange upholstery, the dark solid oak flooring, and the articulation of the ceiling all contribute to an interior that reinterprets classical design from a contemporary perspective.

Particularly evocative is the fish display island filled with ice and set against a backdrop of mirrored grid panels, a composition that subtly reinforces the restaurant’s identity.

Two circular glass-block partitions define the transition towards the carefully composed outdoor dining areas.

The open-air seafront areas of the restaurant are defined by a meticulous selection of colours, materials, and textures, informed by the relaxed attitude of the French Riviera while retaining a sense of French finesse and wit. The result is an approachable yet distinctive interpretation of contemporary Mediterranean hospitality.

Our sensitivity to materials and light leads to daring yet refined juxtapositions: a strikingly graphic green stone surface set against the soothing warmth of wood, while sculptural pieces of custom-designed furniture ensure a balance between luxury and comfort.

The insertion of a strict geometric structure—a metallic louvered pergola attached to part of the multi-faceted perimeter of Vive-Mar’s interior—creates a sense of fluidity and diversity, generating a variety of spatial experiences within the same area. The structure is entirely clad with backlit solid oak louvers, adding warmth and depth to the composition.

The bar back serves as the focal point of the space, standing as a masterclass in contemporary bar display design. Its sleek steel structure, transparent shelving, and integrated lighting elevate the presentation of premium spirits, while contrasting with the warm timber ceiling and perimeter joinery. The result is a balanced composition that combines warmth, elegance, and visual clarity.