Roque 78

MarkaWorks developed the brand identity, visual language and art direction for Roque 78, a contemporary grill and cocktail bar built around food, drinks, music and the rhythm of the evening.

The Challenge

Roque 78 needed to feel sophisticated without becoming formal, and nostalgic without turning into a themed retro restaurant. The identity had to support different parts of the experience: dining, cocktails, music and late-night culture, while still feeling like one coherent place with a strong point of view.

The Solution

"Taste with Character" became the organising idea behind the brand. A custom serif wordmark, expressive secondary marks and the recurring 78 device create an identity that feels established, cinematic and slightly irreverent. Deep burgundy, cream, tobacco brown and muted blue build an intimate evening palette, while handwritten typography and illustration introduce a more spontaneous, human layer.

The Process

The Roque wordmark was developed around distinctive custom letterforms, with the extended Q giving the logo its most recognisable gesture. The number 78 was turned into a flexible secondary identifier, appearing as badges, stamps, coasters and the 78 RPM device that connects the restaurant directly to music culture.

Rather than relying on a single rigid logo system, the identity was designed as a collection of marks and visual signatures. Oval restaurant stamps, handwritten phrases, cocktail illustrations and typographic lockups allow the brand to shift naturally between menus, signage, uniforms, takeaway packaging and social content.

The wider visual language takes cues from classic restaurants, record sleeves, cocktail culture and late-night editorial photography. Velvet textures, warm lighting, flash photography and deep shadows establish an atmosphere that feels intimate and lived-in rather than staged. Music becomes part of the identity through turntables, vinyl references and phrases such as "Let your evening groove" and "78 RPM."

Menus and printed materials keep the system restrained and tactile, while campaign imagery becomes more expressive. This contrast allows Roque 78 to feel polished at the table and more playful as the night progresses.

The Outcome

Roque 78 turns a restaurant identity into a complete evening world where food, cocktails, music and atmosphere operate as one experience. The system gives the brand a distinctive presence across signage, menus, interiors, social media and physical touchpoints, while remaining flexible enough to evolve with changing events, seasonal menus and late-night programming.