Nothing Plain in Spain

Located in a 170-year-old club, the sort of place where a butler might be on standby to hold a drink for a member as he takes a shot in the billiards room, the restaurant La Terraza del Casino in central Madrid reeked of stuffy formality. So it seemed like a daring choice to put the eclectic Spanish artist Jaime Hayon, known for reimagining Lladró's porcelain collectibles, in charge of the redesign. But chef Paco Roncero, who worked at the famed El Bulli, was a fan and wanted Hayon to match the restaurant's décor with the creativity of his dishes, like razor clams with coconut foam. The result is an Alice in Wonderland fantasy in which Hayon has made everything from the chandeliers and reception desk to the columns and doorknobs. Best of all, you don't need to be a Spanish aristocrat to eat there (34-915-321-275).