Casa Chica

Casa Chica is one of those great hidden gems—an open secret—a bastion of Mérida’s historic architecture and a place where the joie de vivre is celebrated every night right in the heart of the city. That is precisely the creative spirit of its owners, which breathes life into this old, stately home, now transformed into a bar for friends. Its neon lights create a surprising harmony with the stately ramón trees lining Paseo de Montejo, while inside, a relaxed dining and drinking experience is complemented by a variety of nooks for conversation and laughter—as sophisticated or as simple as the occasion calls for.

Casa Chica gets its name from a play on words. It’s our second home, where we find pleasure and joy in the best company. It’s “chica” (small) because it’s the second among our homes, and yet the spark and joy that ignite there make its dimensions grow in our imagination without us even realizing it. After all, there’s no home larger than the one that brings us a small or grand adventure.

For the branding, we created a typeface that plays with taking meanings further and dares to present the name in all caps, in a bold, large-scale way, immediately followed by a subtle interplay of curved connections and harmonious lines between the letters. Accompanying it, the flamingo isotype pays homage to the authentic tropical spirit, just as the Flamingo Spritz—the house’s signature drink—does, shining slender and captivating as the source of the unique color that ignites Casa Chica’s spirit, as cosmopolitan as it is Yucatecan.

Interior Design: Patricia Martín
Signage: Glenn Cocco
Photography: Grecia Erives, Glenn Cocco, Paola Primera