There are very few sandwich shops on earth that wouldn’t benefit from an atmosphere upgrade. Rey Montagu, a small Argentine joint named for John Montagu, the Earl of Sandwich, knows this. Its founders hired brother-sister architects Lucila and Federico Grizzo of Grizzo Studio, along with graphic designer Rocio Martinez Serra, to elevate its shop in the Palermo section Buenos Aires to a space fit for royal gatherings.

They began with a fashionable rhomboid motif, which appears on the front façade, counter, floors and tabletops in various shades of limestone, polished marble and terrazzo. Curved archways and unlacquered brass hardware bring in hints of glamour and Art Deco style while wallpapered feature walls and bits of fringing add a feminine touch.

Pushing the design slightly over the top is a kitschy ceiling mural retelling Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam with a winged sandwich and Air Jordans. One narrow room is trussed up like a Belmond dining car.

The elements come together with a cohesive palette that encourages patrons to stay with one of its nine speciality gin cocktails. The tongue-in-cheek concept shouldn’t distract from Rey Montagu’s menu, however – a finger-food fiesta including croquetas, fish’n’chips and massive sarnies barely held together by toothpicks.

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