Polonsky & Friends designs narrow taco restaurant in New York's Soho

Mexico City taqueria meets New York City diner at this compact eatery in Lower Manhattan, designed by local studio Polonsky & Friends.

Santo Taco occupies a sliver of a building facing Kenmare Street in Soho, beside La Esquina, and was launched by restaurateur Santiago Perez, who’s behind the popular restaurant Cosme.

Polonsky & Friends tackled the narrow space by refreshing typical diner tropes and dialling up the graphic intensity.

“The interiors stage a vibrant dialogue between Mexico City’s taquerias and the easy charm of New York’s diner culture,” said studio founder Anna Polonsky.

Mint green walls are trimmed with bright red lacquer, matching glossy Formica counters and circular stool seats.

Floors are laid with cork tiles, while the ceiling is covered with mirrored stainless-steel panels that create distorted reflections of the scene below.

Wall-mounted shelving and cabinets surround a board displaying the menu, above a green mosaic-tiled ledge that discreetly incorporates waste disposal.

Details such as red sconces, metalwork edges and original artworks all add to the nostalgic feel of the interior.

“The design rejects kitsch in favor of tone – warm, open, and energised,” said Polonsky. “Every detail supports flow, function, and the fast, convivial rhythm of a neighbourhood taquería.”

Given its compact footprint, the space is designed to feel lively and bustling thanks to the open kitchen, where chefs preparing just five taco options are on full view.

Diners are encouraged to spill out onto the street, where additional seating is provided under an awning in front of the large metal-framed windows.

“It’s a taquería made for neighbors and night owls alike – where Mexico City meets downtown New York, and where every element pulses with present-tense energy,” Polonsky said.

The designer and her team were also behind the interiors of a tiny New York omakase restaurant, which features burl wood veneer panels and feather-hued surfaces.

Another Mexican restaurant to recently open in NYC, Ánimo!, was designed by Jordan Maisie to reference the country’s craft traditions.

The photography is by Gentl & Hyers, unless stated otherwise.

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