Chilean culture has a new standard-bearer in London, as Fitzrovia‘s Great Portland Street sees the opening of impressive new restaurant, Mareida. Founded by Prenay Agarwal and a team of creative talent from across Chile, the restaurant distills the country’s varied regions — from its coastlines, mountains, and mining towns — into a contemporary dining experience that extends beyond the plate.
Named after Amereida, a poetic journey across the Chilean landscape, the space draws inspiration from that spirit of exploration and exchange. Santiago-based architect Macarena Aguilar leads the interior design, with an emphasis on natural textures and strong material identity. Bespoke wooden tables are fused with copper details, and a backlit wall of uncut stone greets diners at the entrance; a visual homage to the raw geography of the Andes.
Custom tiles crafted from Combarbalita, a rare volcanic rock from Chile, give the space a quietly sculptural energy. Designed in collaboration with architect Mále Uribe, these tiles are composed of stone powder, quartz, and copper tailings; a merging of craftsmanship and industry that grounds the restaurant firmly in its origins. The colour palette throughout is tonal and earthy, echoes the striated patterns of mountain ridges, while hand-dyed fabrics, bespoke linens, and embroidered uniforms thread regional symbolism into every surface.
Head chef Trinidad Vial Della Maggiora teams up with Carolina Bazán for a launch menu that balances seafood and land, tradition and modernity. Dishes like Chupe de Jaiba, a rich crab stew, and Lengua Nogada, tender tongue in walnut sauce, offer glimpses into a cuisine still relatively unknown on this side of the world.
The sonic landscape is curated by London-based Chilean producer DJ Raff, whose downtempo compositions channel Andean rhythms with ambient textures. Meanwhile, a wine list curated by sommelier Rosario Onetto celebrates Chile’s terroir through small-batch producers and regional spirits.
As founder Agarwal puts it: “Mareida is a celebration of Chile, a melting pot of talent from the country that considers every detail of the experience to really immerse our guests into this unexplored cuisine from the Andean South and its incredibly diverse regions.”
Just as Peruvian food took London by storm, Mareida raises the question: could this bold and brilliant expression of the country’s culture see Chilean cuisine next?
Mareida London Photography, Matthew Hague.
