Local Hot Spot: Lima Tapas Bar

WORDS Michaela Stehr

The new Lima Tapas Bar in Johannesburg offers tasty Latin American fusion cuisine with striking decor to match.

The interiors were designed by Tristan du Plessis of local interior design firm StudioA Signature Projects. “The brief was to create an experiential design in which a patron is immersed in feeling that exudes Latin American sexiness, while also having a contemporary design edge,” explains Tristan.

Their aim was to create a moody atmosphere, with highlights of deep reds and blues to add richness to the decor. Custom-made furniture and one-off pieces designed especially for LIMA give the restaurant an authentic feel – even the feature inlay floor tiles were imported especially from Mexico.

Two giant black, grey and gold murals by Tristan and Justin Badenhorst are statement features within the multi-faceted space. “The overall mood has a sultry South American feel with a modern twist,” says Tristan. “It’s a big restaurant, but it feels more like an exploration – with different rooms and passageways created to break up the space.”

Lima is situated at U58, Montecasino, Fourways, Johannesburg. Trading hours are Monday to Sunday from 11am to midnight. For reservations, visit limatapasbar.co.za.

We’ve featured a number of Tristan’s projects before, including the Friends Bakery in Glenhazel, Rosebank’s News Cafe, Hell’s Kitchen in Melville, Fuel at IBM’s headquarters, Dakota Lee Tattoo Parlour in Kramerville, Arque Champagne Crescent in Sandton and Gemelli Cucina Bar in Bryanston.