In the heart of Puerto Cancún, Mexico, a new coffee house unfolds more like a gallery than a conventional café. Swathes of burgundy wash over the space, creating a richly textured canvas that feels both intimate and expressive. It’s a space designed less for casual chatter and more for lingering conversations, quiet reflection and creative communion.
Designed by Ömer Öztürk of Omerozturkinteriors, Cafe Roja is a study in colour and craft. Granted complete creative freedom by owners looking to create a unique design-led cafe in the city, Öztürk chose to articulate the space through modest yet evocative materials: decorative plaster in a creamy coffee tone and hand-cut zellige tiles used to create tables, bar stools, shelves and even the archway. The dialogue of these textures lends the café its quiet depth.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
Photography courtesy of Omerozturkinteriors.
At Roja’s heart stands the striking zellige-tile table, which anchors the room as a visual and social focal point. Around it are stools finished in decorative plaster, their bases offset by bands of burgundy ceramic. Conceived as more than a place for coffee, the table invites connection and conversation between friends and strangers, plus the odd board game.
The palette of burgundy and rust anchors the design while nodding to the café’s name. Three generous windows invite cascades of natural light and shadow that transform the room throughout the day as they perform their subtle choreography against the plaster and tile.
‘The geometric-shaped metal chairs were specially designed for the café, and they’ve almost become a signature of my studio,’ says Öztürk. ‘Opposite the chairs are the in-built seats, their organic curves a reflection of the central bar, which also has a subtle, wave-like layout. This seating is upholstered in Dedar fabric, a brand I truly love.’
Öztürk placed large plants against the plastered wall to bring in a sense of liveliness, while green table lamps and custom spherical ceiling sconces echo their presence. To complement the room’s atmosphere, he sourced artworks by Colombian artist Shaskia Stacy Cuaspa. ‘Her bold use of colour, tone and form resonates deeply with my own design vision, creating a dialogue between art and interior.’
