This compact dining spot in Lima is designed by local studio Ghezzi Novak as a snug space, decorated with natural materials that reflect the authenticity of the food.

Mérito recently opened in the Barranco district of the Peruvian capital, an area renowned for its arts scene and nightlife.

Serving local cuisine, the restaurant is squeezed into an old building, spread across two floors that each has a compact plan.

"Mérito is an intimate experience, where food and architecture understand each other to speak of the same idea,"

"The first floor is about action, a central table that is both dining and kitchen," Ghezzi Novak said. "The second floor is about calmness, a wrapping wooden baseboard and paper lamps that soften the light."

Lighting on both levels is dim and moody, creating a warm atmosphere with the beige and brown material palette.

These surfaces are left exposed in some areas, while others are covered in timber planks and wood panels with narrow vertical slats.

Downstairs, a central blackened-wood island is shared by diners and kitchen staff, who face each other across the stone countertop.