Frida Escobedo Designs Cantina Contramar Restaurant at Fontainebleau Las Vegas

Architect Frida Escobedo has designed Cantina Contramar, a new restaurant at the Fontainebleau resort in Las Vegas, following an invitation from chef Gabriela Cámara. Cámara, who founded the original Contramar in Mexico City in 1998 while studying at Universidad Iberoamericana, sought Escobedo's collaboration for this Las Vegas venture. The two have been friends and contemporaries within Mexico City's creative circles. Escobedo's interest in Las Vegas dates back to 2008 when she visited with students after reading the architectural text 'Learning from Las Vegas,' and she was particularly struck by the Hoover Dam's infrastructure. The restaurant design incorporates materials sourced directly from Mexican artisans, including hand-glazed volcanic stone tiles, hammered copper from Santa Clara del Cobre, handmade tiles from San José de Gracia, chairs by designer Oscar Hagerman, and plateware by ceramist Perla Valtierra. The octagonal dining room features ochre earthen flooring and lighting designed in collaboration with L'Observatoire International to create a perpetual golden hour atmosphere. The space emphasizes democratic seating without hierarchy, reflecting the traditional Mexican cantina spirit. The menu expands beyond the original's seafood focus to include indulgent dinner items like a Tomahawk platter and braised pork shank, alongside a beverage program featuring 50 tequilas and 15 mezcals developed with Casa Dragones co-founder Bertha González Nieves. Escobedo aimed to bring authentic Mexican craftsmanship to Las Vegas while maintaining the simplicity and cultural heritage central to Cámara's culinary philosophy.