Sponsored By

Creating that bare-bones aesthetic

This Guadalajara restaurant’s interior is made of 10,000 animal bones

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

March 13, 2019

1 Min Read

At first glance, the interior of Hueso ­ in Guadalajara, Mexico, which opened in 2014, looks like it’s made completely of white porcelain. But it’s not.

It’s animal bones.

Appropriately named — Hueso is Spanish for bone — the restaurant interior is entirely whitewashed and the walls are decorated from floor to ceiling with 10,000 animal bones, from common cow, bull and lamb skulls, to more exotic skeletons of whales, dolphins, tigers, and bears. The effect is an eerie mix between a science laboratory and a museum of curiosities.

Creating that bare-bones aesthetic Guadalajara Hueso restaurant

But the reasoning behind chef Alfonso Cadena’s unusual dining room décor is not as sinister or gimmicky as you might think.

“For us, hueso (bones) means flavor!” chef Cadena said about his unusual interior design choice.  

The bone-filled dining room at Hueso has won Interior Design’s 2015 Best of Casual Dining award and the Commercial Interior Design Association Best Interiors of Latin America and the Caribbean competition, among other design prizes.

Not surprisingly, the food served at the 4,844-square-foot restaurant does not shy away from meat. The shareable plates change daily, but options have included short ribs, bone marrow with scallops, and veal tongue for an average check of 850 pesos (or $44) per person.

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

Subscribe to Our Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.

You May Also Like