Big Mamma Opens Circolo Popolare in Barcelona
900‑Square‑Meter Italian Restaurant on Passeig de Gràcia
The Big Mamma Group is opening its new Circolo Popolare on a corner of Barcelona’s Passeig de Gràcia. The establishment spans 900 square meters, with capacity for 1,000 diners per day, and features a 140‑square‑meter kitchen specialized in metre‑long pizza of up to 80 centimeters.
Specialized Construction With a Large‑Scale Kitchen
Barcelona, 18/12/25
The prime location on Passeig de Gràcia and the size of the space make this one of the group’s most ambitious restaurants.
Construction company 4Retail has carried out the full project — including building works, installations, finishes, and kitchen — under a Project & Build model. The establishment marks a milestone for Big Mamma, which already operates venues in London, Manchester, Paris, and Madrid, although none replicate the design of another.
The construction posed significant technical challenges due to the size and operational demands of the kitchen. The culinary space had to be adapted to the specific requirements of Big Mamma’s gastronomic concept, especially to serve traditional Italian metre‑long pizza, designed for sharing at large tables created expressly for this format.
The installation required a large oven powered by both gas and wood, capable of handling extra‑large formats reaching 80 centimeters in length. According to Javier Paradell, partner at 4Retail, the collaboration with the group goes back many years after having built all their venues in Spain, and each new project represents an opportunity to grow together by contributing technical expertise and experience in hospitality spaces.
London‑Style Interior Design With Natural Materials and Greenery
London‑based Studio Kiki designed the interior, opting for a palette of natural materials that includes hand‑applied plaster finishes, wood, and natural terracotta flooring. Built‑in furniture forms plaster benches with varied geometries which, combined with colorful tables and traditional wooden and natural‑fiber chairs, create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
The design stands out for its large shelving units with illuminated shelves filled with liquor bottles arranged in chromatic compositions. Abundant greenery is another defining element of the space, present both in handcrafted ceramic pots and suspended from ceilings and walls, adding freshness and natural character to the environment.
The aesthetic proposal aims to recreate the atmosphere of a classic Italian trattoria with contemporary touches, maintaining Big Mamma’s signature visual identity while adapting it specifically to the Barcelona context. The result is a space that blends culinary tradition with modern design, offering diners a fully immersive sensory experience.
Gastronomic Offering Focused on Traditional Metre‑Long Pizza
The culinary concept centers on authentic Italian metre‑long pizza, a format that reaches up to 80 centimeters and is designed for sharing. This signature Big Mamma product requires specific infrastructure both in the kitchen and in the dining room, with appropriately sized tables and service logistics adapted to the extra‑large format.
The restaurant is equipped to serve up to 1,000 diners per day, a considerable operational volume that demands efficient organization both in the kitchen and front of house. The 140‑square‑meter kitchen allows the team to maintain the production pace needed to meet expected demand while upholding the group’s quality standards.
Circolo Popolare Barcelona thus joins Big Mamma’s international network, strengthening the group’s presence in Spain after its opening in Madrid. The establishment reflects the group’s commitment to the Catalan market and consolidates Barcelona as a strategic location for the expansion of next‑generation Italian gastronomic concepts.
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