# Upscale Fast Food Cafes This Fast Food Restaurant Design Encourages Lounging By Laura McQuarrie | Published 2013-07-06 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-food-restaurant-design References: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/readers/mccafe-in-el-zapote-guatemala-by-solis-colomer-arquitectos/) & [soliscolomer](http://soliscolomer.com/?wpb_portfolio=mccafe-el-zapote) Typically, fast food restaurant design is made to get customers in and out the door quickly, but this [McCafé](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-japan-mccafe) in Guatemala invites lounging. The gorgeous interior sets itself apart from the designs of many [McDonalds](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-japan-frappe) restaurants -- the space is flooded with natural light, and rich textures. [Solis Colomer Arquitectos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-solis) was challenged to create a new type of café experience in El Zapote, and they did just that. One of the most striking features of the space is a beautiful installation of wooden blocks that wraps the walls and ceiling of the interior. Light filters through the blocks, creating an effect that is like the canopy of a forest. Although it is like being in a forest, the square ends of the blocks feel very pixel-like and modern. Photo credit: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/readers/mccafe-in-el-zapote-guatemala-by-solis-colomer-arquitectos/) and [solis colomer arquitectos](http://soliscolomer.com/?wpb_portfolio=mccafe-el-zapote) Photo Credits: [designboom](http://www.designboom.com/readers/mccafe-in-el-zapote-guatemala-by-solis-colomer-arquitectos/), [soliscolomer](http://soliscolomer.com/?wpb_portfolio=mccafe-el-zapote) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 86% | Activity: 81% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: South America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Upscale Fast Food:** The design of this McCafé in Guatemala, which encourages lounging, shows there is a trend towards the creation of upscale fast food cafes that prioritize aesthetics and experience over fast service. - **Natural Light Restaurant Design:** The McCafé's use of natural light as part of its aesthetic shows a trend towards more natural light restaurant designs that prioritize ambiance and sustainability. - **Pixel-like Wooden Block Installations:** The pixel-like wooden block installation on the walls and ceiling of the McCafé's interior presents a trend towards creative, eye-catching wooden installations to create an aesthetic that stands out. ### Where This Applies - **Fast Food:** Fast food chains can take advantage of the trend of upscale fast food cafes by investing in and improving their restaurant designs to create a more enjoyable and aesthetically pleasing experience for customers. - **Architecture and Interior Design:** The trend towards natural light restaurant designs and creative wooden installations presents an opportunity for architects and interior designers to create unique and innovative restaurant spaces. - **Sustainability:** The trend towards natural light restaurant designs in the fast food industry presents an opportunity for fast food chains to prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency in their restaurant designs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Colorfully Interior Designed Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lackawanna-caf.md) - [Fast-Casual Industrial Style Restaurants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rale-milanga.md) - [Nostalgia-Inspired Fast Food Concepts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fast-food-concept.md) - [Digital-Oriented Restaurant Redesigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/global-next-gen.md) - [Blue-Toned Restaurant Lounges](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/agli-amici-1887.md) - [QSR Food-Inspired Door Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mcdonalds-france-1.md) - [Modernist Burger Interiors](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/omg-burger-i.md) - [Cross-Influence Fusion Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/challe-caf.md) - [Restored Cafe Culture Retailers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbucks-coffee-house.md)