Nestled within Sydney’s Botanic Gardens among towering trees and robust bamboo, Botanic House supports a lofty natural order with refined modern arrangements. With an interior scheme of soothing pigeon grey and whispers of pale terracotta among lime wash-finished oak – together with bursts of greenery and feature pendant lights sprouting delicate transparent canvas petals – it’s a streamlined oasis with the all accoutrements of cosmopolitan convenience.
‘The finishes touch the space lightly and sit in harmony with the gardens,’ suggests Kathryn Thompson, director of the Sydney-based Five Foot One design firm, which re-imagined both the upper and lower levels of the original Gardens Restaurant building. ‘It was designed to take on a polished and clean aesthetic to complement the fine food offering,’ she adds regarding the fusion Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese dishes devised by the illustrious chef, Luke Nguyen.
Rattan panelling adds cosseting texture to the entrance’s bar alcove, subtly nodding to the menu’s Asian origins, whilst a levitating arrangement of dried leaves created by Design by Booshi references the nearby Palm Grove and inclusions of native Australian ingredients in the dishes (including tempura saltbush adding textural crunch to grilled prawns and the fish curry’s lemon myrtle-infused coconut milk). Melbourne-based artist Jack Devereux’s single line portrait murals further compliment the offering with their curves echoed upon the Terrazzo stool outlines, arched joinery elements and atrium windows.
‘Downstairs in the Farm Cove Eatery, a more organic and earthy aesthetic was applied to create a more casual dining experience,’ enthuses Thompson of the cafés soft-edged robustness and darker timbers. The veined grey Quartzite service and bar tops plus polished brass and bronze lighting fixtures upstairs surrender to a rich soil-toned Terracotta counter and assorted hand-made ceramic pendant lights, whilst cement stools sporting deep dusty Eucalypt pink shades recall upturned garden flowerpots. Combining these elements, Botanic House is a triumph of raw beauty, authenticity, sustainability and materiality.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Mrs Macquarie Road
-
Don't miss these five artists at Art Basel Hong KongArt Basel Hong Kong—the glittering intersection of European curatorial expertise and Asia's money-fuelled art swagger—returns for its 2025 edition
-
A Costa Navarino house peeks out amidst olive groves and looks out to ocean viewsThis Greek holiday residence designed by K-Studio is a balances timeless design principles with modernist touches
-
Curv teams up with a British sports car brand to create the ultimate luxury racing simulatorThe new AMR-C01-R from Curv Racing Simulators splices Aston Martin aesthetics with a cutting edge technical specification
-
Five influential women hoteliers reflect on the changing face of hospitalityAs women continue to gain ground in the hotel sector, despite still being underrepresented in senior positions, five female moguls share their experiences of the past and projections for the future
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Melbourne Place: ‘an alchemy of colour, texture and personality’Designed by Kennedy Nolan, Melbourne Place is the Australian city’s newest independent hotel, oozing creativity and urban energy
-
All aboard the world’s most luxurious train journeysStay on track with our pick of the most luxurious train journeys around the world, whether in 1920s-style opulence or contemporary chic
-
Six hotels where you’ll find the winter sun this FebruaryFrom intimate seaside inns to lush tropical resorts, here are six Wallpaper*-approved winter sun escapes
-
2025 getaways: where Wallpaper* editors will be travelling to this yearFrom the Japanese art islands of Naoshima and Teshima to the Malaysian tropical paradise of Langkawi, here’s where Wallpaper* editors plan to travel to in 2025
-
The world’s most enticing new hotel openingsExplore the best new hotels in the world, from the revival of a grande dame in Madrid to the restoration of a gothic beauty in Prague
-
Australian surf culture merges with the charm of the Mediterranean at Il DelfinoIl Delfino, designed by Sheree Commerford, is a restored 1940s seaside inn nestled on the Yamba coastline in Australia
-
Layover in style at Melbourne Airport’s new hotelIbis Styles Melbourne Airport hotel by FK brings together elegant rooms, co-working lounges and leisure facilities in a striking aircraft wing-inspired design
