Snackbar Martino, Belgium

Snackbar Martino has been an icon in Ghent for more than half a century. Generations of students, artists, celebrities, tourists and locals have made this their regular stop for a quick but honest bite. With the new generation taking over, the question arose: how do you update a beloved snackbar without losing its raw charm? Therefore, the lighting concept started from Martino’s brand identity: unpolished, popular and a little rock and roll.

The restaurant is just 70 m² and with the challenges of a tight budget and a short construction timeframe, our lighting design team collaborated closely with the interior design agency and local lighting manufacturers for custom solutions. We integrated the lighting into architectural elements such as wall features, ceiling coves and furniture millwork. The 2700K general lighting is deliberately restrained so that the predominantly dark materials form a calm background. From this darkness, focused accents reveal the soul of the place.

Behind the counter, a rail with mini spotlights (dia 1 cm) and different angles was used to provide necessary functional lighting and accentuate specific objects. Due to the difference in ceiling heights above the counter top, downlights with a beam angle of 11° (with an UGR lower than 16) were combined with orientable spotlights of 13° with honeycomb to obtain the same light dimensions on the counter. Both lighting solutions possess a CRI of 90+ to enhances the colours of the dishes. The wine bottles are meticulously accentuated with indirect light from the millwork down-up.

Walls were painted with a rough texture; in a minimal cove we added grazing light to enhance both texture and atmosphere. In the seating areas, architectural downlights with COB modules and anti-glare optics provide an intimate setting which allows guests to naturally slow down and linger. Overall, a DALI dimming system was put in place to automatically switch between atmospheres throughout the course of the evening; even the curtains at the street windows follow this switch.

The iconic neon’s in the ceiling were preserved and we created a cove to conceal spots for functional table lighting, appearing almost absent: you feel the light, without seeing it. Posters and memorabilia from Martino’s rich history are highlighted with slim framer spotlights (dia 39mm) so each poster becomes a trip down memory lane.

Within the tight budget, we made maximum use of existing connection points, meticulously concealed in the ceiling, along with track systems and energy-efficient LED luminaires with high quality drivers. Using a limited number of carefully positioned fittings that are easy to dim, we created a layered lighting scheme that can adapt throughout the evening.

Martino now feels like an intimate cocoon, a small bubble of light in the night where seeing and being seen go hand in hand. Recently crowned with the ‘H!P of the Year ’26’ award by Gault&Millau Belgium, the snackbar remains the same beloved place, but the lighting now tells a new chapter in which brand, experience, function and atmosphere blend seamlessly.