L’Olio Colto: www.oliocolto.it Talk about being ‘of a place’. L’Olio Colto restaurant, in the Italian countryside municipality of Taggia, is surrounded by two things — olive trees and stones. Consequently, the restaurant is primarily constructed of wood, stone, smatterings of iron, and a shade of grey-green that isn’t olive green only because it’s meant to
Gotham: 35 Oxford St, Darlinghurst NSW (02) 9283 1891 or www.gotham.net.au The owners behind Gotham Bar weren’t fussed about buying into the idea of laneways. They figured, why hide down a laneway when you can set up shop on one of the most famous streets in the city — Oxford Street. They’ve dubbed it a
XO Lounge: Exchange Plaza, 2 The Esplanade, Perth WA www.xolounge.com.au Hospitality young-guns Sam and Rob Franchina (aged 29 and 27 respectively) have spotted a niche in Perth. It’s the ‘best of everything’ top-shelf niche — certainly a nice niche if you can fill it. The brothers have been on the Perth scene since kicking off
Marble Bar @ The Hilton: 488 George Street, Sydney NSW (02) 9265 6072 or www.marblebarsydney.com.au Sydney’s Marble Bar originally opened in 1893. Funding for the venue was raised from NSW horse racing sweeps – as profitable then as they are now – and the venue cost a staggering 32,000 pounds to build. Marble Bar was
The Atlantic Restaurant: Crown Entertainment Complex (03) 8623 9615 or www.theatlantic.com.au The Atlantic restaurant at Crown is almost here. The big fish will surface next week on March 14th. From then on, you’ll be able to sample chef Donovan Cooke’s seafood-heavy menu, which, according to Con Andronis, co-owner of the The Atlantic, will be about
Neil Perry doesn’t wait around, but he understands that sometimes his customers have to. Situated in Crown Towers is Neil Perry’s version of a hotel bar, The Waiting Room. Designed by architect Grant Cheyne in association with 1:1 Architects, it’s naturally more than a simple lobby bar, but a collection of inspiration from places like
Canvas Club: 16B Logan Rd, Woolloongabba, QLD (07) 3891 2111 or www.canvasclub.com.au It seems Brisbane finds a new pocket of territory to forge a hot spot every few weeks. Canvas Club is one of the first to come together in Woolloongabba under Brisbane City Council’s new small bar license. Forging on from her amazing work
The Millswyn: 131-133 Domain Road, South Yarra VIC (03) 9866 5627 or www.themillswyn.com.au Octogenarian Paul Lynch left some big shoes to fill, especially for 21-year- old Davis Yu — the son of property developer David Yu, and once Olympic slalom hopeful. Lynch’s, his South Yarra restaurant on the fringe of the Botanical, was an institution.
Dee Why Hotel: 834 Pittwater Road, Dee Why, NSW (02) 9982 1797 or www.deewhyhotel.com.au Photography: Shannon Mcgrath The Dee Why Hotel was famous as a beachside rock ‘n’ roll stopover for a lot of classic Australian and touring international rock acts that rolled through town. But recent plans for the surrounding area meant the old
Colonial Hotel: 156 Victoria Rd, Werrington NSW (02) 9623 1384 or www.vlandisgroup.com.au The Vlandis Group is rounding up its cattle and re-‘branding it’. Last time we checked in, Vlandis had overhauled The Three Swallows in Bankstown and now it’s the Colonial Hotel’s turn. Bergstrom Architects took care of the transformation. Being way out West (of