Design: Ellivo Architects
Photography: Mindi Cooke

This vibrant, new restaurant and bar is located in the heart of South Brisbane’s trendy and emerging arts district. Ellivo Architects was tasked with designing a flexible yet welcoming and engaging venue that would accommodate breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as casual cocktails and privately hosted events. In such a pedestrian-oriented area, it was necessary for the design to draw people in to compete in an already bustling area.

The fit-out includes approximately 400 sqm of interior space as well as a small exterior seating area. Inside, the designers created a dazzling new bar and lounge, full-service dining area, private event space, back of house kitchen, and all required amenities. The interiors aim to create an engaging and non-pretentious venue to enjoy the modern Australian cuisine and unique cocktails while also encouraging visitors to admire and enjoy their surroundings, creating a truly unique and dynamic dining experience.

The eye-catching feature wallpaper located throughout the main dining space is the Original Martinique Wallpaper, created by decorator Don Loper in 1942 for the famous Beverly Hills Hotel, and was flown in from the U.S. The large murals throughout the restaurant were done by artist Gus Eagleton and represent members of the owners’ own families and serve as “a representation of Polynesian heritage and culture.”

To compliment the iconic wallpaper, black features were selected, including lighting, tiles, chalkboard paint and movable furniture. Softer, custom designed banquette seating and accessories were designed and chosen to also complement the wallpaper and tie the different spaces of the restaurant together. Durable “timber look” vinyl flooring, Marblo “stone look” benchtops , and custom-designed laser cut screens were used throughout the restaurant giving a nod to the tropical motif.

Feature pendant lighting (incorporating a combination of salmon pink and mint green tiles) was utilized throughout the space in a random arrangement so the clients could change the seating layout at any time to suit various dining and entertaining experiences.