A Train Station, a Giant Tree, and a Campground in the New Themed Restaurant in Alicante

Who hasn't thought at some point about taking a train that stops in another part of the world? Especially if at the destination awaits an idyllic place, like a wild paradise in the middle of nature where you can stay for a few days in a tent. This is what will soon arrive in Alicante with the opening of its first themed restaurant by Voltereta.

The Valencian restaurant company is about to open its doors in the city of Alicante and has already offered a preview of what its seventh restaurant on the peninsula will contain. Still under construction, three major milestones can already be seen that allow, with much imagination, to speculate about the chosen destination.

Thus, it will not be necessary to buy a ticket to travel to another part of the world, although it will be necessary to book in advance. At least to indulge in a gastronomic and visual journey that evokes an escape hundreds of kilometers from the land of Benacantil. This is Voltereta's goal in Alicante: to open its doors to access a distant paradise, beyond the Mediterranean waters.

This restaurant will be located at the site of the former Navas Cinemas, which -after being inaugurated in the 70s- were dismantled in February 2022 with the intention of housing the first Voltereta establishment in Alicante. Its 650 seats have been removed to convert the projection room into the main hall, which will recreate a space in full nature.

The dimensions of the historic cinemas have allowed creating "the largest restaurant" of the six Voltereta already active. Four in Valencia, one in Zaragoza, and another in Seville. All of them with a thematic component that recreates different continents: Bali with Southeast Asia, Manhattan with the United States and America, Kyoto with Japan and the Far East, Welcome Home for the Mediterranean, New Zealand with Oceania, and Paris of the 70s for Central Europe.

This time, "we have been inspired by a completely different place in the world," remark from Voltereta. Imagination, and crossing off continents, suggests that the opening in Alicante could lead to an African theme, despite fans of the Valencian company thinking it is themed around 'Harry Potter' or 'Narnia'. And it's because the big tree that will serve as an entrance to the main hall -in addition to other multiple spaces that will recreate the wonders of the destination- of the restaurant resembles, in its first branches, a baobab.

This is not the only clue. The main entrance to the restaurant will be a train station. And yes, although it may not seem so at first glance, locomotives do run through Africa, like the railway connecting Cape Town with Cairo. This is another premise given by early views of the venue, with a platform that will be located where once were ticket offices of the old Navas Cinemas in Alicante.

The third clue Voltereta has given about its new restaurant in Alicante is that its tables will be located in a campground amidst nature, which will rise under this tree's branches and a new roof. The establishment has replaced the old cinema roof with a large skylight that will allow natural light to enter as happens in their Bali-themed location.

For now, conversion works on Navas Cinemas into Voltereta's new restaurant show many mirrors placed under the large glass ceiling, also present in the train station hall. Corridors guiding locals and visitors inside can also be seen, as well as rocky walls that may emit water like waterfalls over wooden corridors and railings.