Inspired by African cultures and traditions, The Meat & Wine Co restaurants in Australia are known for their unique designs that blend the spirit of Ubuntu with the surroundings of each location. The Palace Hotel, a magnificent heritage-listed building in the heart of the CBD, narrowly avoided demolition in 1972 and was transformed into a bank and office space by Alan Bond in 1988. After its interior was restored by Woods Bagot in 2016, the eastern-states restaurant chain gave the building a new lease of life as a premium steakhouse, offering a menu and décor that pay homage to South Africa.
Design Partnership faced the challenge of marrying the heritage-listed interior with the modern African-inspired aesthetic of the steakhouse. The grand heritage room of the restaurant, which seats 140 guests, retains the building's rich history and offers a unique dining experience, according to Callie van der Merwe - Founder of Design Partnership.
The challenge was to marry the heritage-listed Federation Free Classical building’s interior with the restaurant’s contemporary, African-inspired aesthetic.
