Restaurant Branding

The logo, branding, and menu design for Manzana de Java were inspired by the meeting of Puerto Rico’s flavors and Southeast Asian culinary techniques.

Hand-painted watercolor illustrations depict the ingredients and tools essential to both cuisines — from tropical fruits to the mortar and pestle. These visuals extend across the restaurant’s printed materials, creating a cohesive and inviting dining experience.

These elements merge art and gastronomy, forming a visual system that feels handcrafted yet contemporary. The result is a brand identity that celebrates cross-cultural flavor, color, and storytelling, reflecting the restaurant’s philosophy of creativity through fusion.

⸻

Design Concept

The identity balances organic illustration with modern structure, capturing the harmony between culinary traditions. A white, fuchsia pink, and red-wine palette adds freshness and warmth — vibrant yet elegant — mirroring the restaurant’s atmosphere and expressive cuisine.

The menu design, created for in-house printing, follows the golden ratio layout principle — a concept explored in my blog on the psychology of menu design.
This structure ensures a natural reading flow, guiding attention to key dishes while maintaining balance and visual comfort.

Together, these design choices create a dining experience that feels as harmonious and intentional as the flavors it represents.