Cappo Sociale is a reimagined restaurant/bar with four distinct dining spaces tied together by the new Italian offering and striking use of a black and white palette. Particular attention is focused on the individual dining experience through private booth seating, personal lighting, playful furniture and simple textural surfaces.

Almost every surface within the main restaurant and dining hall has been retained from the existing building shell, re-invented in a new black finish. This seeks to control the mood and unite the existing bluestone, brick, timber and steel materials – whilst still celebrating the building’s heritage.

On entry, a curved dividing wall directs patrons whilst separating the first dining area from the bar and high stool seating. Here, the introduction of private dining booths with high semi-circular walls of super-matt finish laminate and low hanging spotlights creates private nooks for groups within a buzzing room. In the main dining hall, a continuous plush natural leather booth circuits the walls allowing flexible dining arrangements within. The kitchen is divided off again by low level walls, remaining completely on display with a marble fronted preparation zone and pass. The external covered terrace is filled with lush green planting with bright green powder-coated furniture giving moments of colour to the black scheme that continues outside.

The design delivered a maximum impact dining experience into the existing building in a relatively short period during Melbourne’s lockdowns, maintaining much of the main bar and kitchen infrastructure, only updating the guest experience.

Cappo Sociale uses the best qualities of the existing building fabric for a sharply refocused dining experience. The open kitchen and soft lighting warm the internal dining spaces for an intimate experience with your closest friends and family

Awards:

2022 Eat Drink Awards Shortlist