Aphrodiziac is a restaurant born from the union of culinary desire and spatial seduction. Located in the heart of Quito as part of Casas Project 2025, the concept was developed by the Ecuadorian design studio FICTO, known for its food-centered design philosophy. The project reimagines dining as a sensorial ritual, merging intimacy, theatricality, and raw elegance in one cohesive spatial experience.
The restaurant’s design revolves around the idea of eroticism—not in its vulgar form, but as a celebration of appetite, touch, and indulgence.
Dim and warm lighting, plush textures, and sexy stone surfaces enhance the overall feeling of warmth and mystery. Our bar acts as both a performative platform and a gathering point, inviting guests to witness the choreography behind the cocktails and dishes.
Material selection was central to the project’s identity. We have a lot of rust, metal, velvet, metal and wood were combined in bold yet balanced ways, creating contrasts between rough and soft, dark and luminous. FICTO’s design team played with tactility, light, and color to spark emotion and conversation, always placing the dining experience at the center of the narrative.
The restaurant also features a sculptural installation with old cutlery. Every element, from the scent in the air to the custom lighting fixtures, was curated to immerse guests in a multi-sensory exploration.
Aphrodiziac is not just a restaurant—it’s a statement about the power of space to amplify the pleasures of food, presence, and human connection.