For Ocean Road Magazine

I always get excited when the Gold Coast welcomes a new stylish eatery for no other reason than I am a Gold Coaster and good on the Gold Coast being a regional town with world class dining offerings.

When Jupiter’s opened the new Garden Kitchen and Bar at the end of last year (2015), they really upped the ante and while I can confirm that the food is superb, it is the design and decoration that always grabs my interest. I was so taken by the fit-out that I made a point of speaking with the those responsible.

I chat to Catherine Phillips, associate and interior designer for internationally acclaimed, multi-disciplinary design firm, DBI Design.

How do you describe the design of the new Garden Kitchen & Bar?

The venue is unique in character and defines a new sustainable garden aesthetic that does not rely on the ubiquitous, green wall currently seen in the built environment. The interior design solution celebrates Queensland’s unique, welcoming, relaxed lifestyle and the existing site’s abundance of natural assets.

What was your brief?

Our client’s aspirations were to create an approachable, engaging dining experience that offers a relaxed atmosphere and to form a seamless connection to the site’s established gardens and rich bird life.

Creating a new face for the restaurant to capture and engage guests from the exterior grounds was also important. The bespoke outdoor conservatory, monumental in scale and iconic in form, creates this new face, inviting guests through the garden to retreat to a truly unique dining experience.

Where did you seek inspiration for the design?

Drawing inspiration from Queensland vernacular coastal design, mixed with a contemporary translation of old-world charm detailing the restaurant aesthetic takes cues from the existing landscaped gardens. Varied greened vistas and the transmission of natural light are the key attributes of the design solution.

Skylights filter light over the indoor trellis and bar and the perimeter of the new build restaurant portion opens onto an external deck. An abundance of foliage adorns the restaurant interior and aspires to bring the outdoors in, reinforcing the notion that the interior spaces have a connection with the local fresh produce menu offering. 

Are elements such as the VJ panelling and turquoise bar stools representative of Queensland/Gold Coast?

The VJ panelling is quintessentially Queensland used extensively throughout “Queenslanders”, the vernacular housing of the eastern coast of Queensland. The turquoise colour of the bar stools and outdoor bar references the natural colours of the south eastern Queensland coastal palette but the styling of the stools reflects old world glamour, comfort and charm to create a sense of nostalgia for the Gold Coast which was a burgeoning holiday destination during the 1920’s era.

What aspect of the design are you most proud of?

The outdoor conservatory is our favourite space in the restaurant. We have received feedback that this space is the most popular in the restaurant which is satisfying for the design team. 

Garden Kitchen and Bar is well worth a visit if you are seeking more than just a bite to eat but rather a dining experience. For this reason, and the central location of the venue on the Gold Coast, the restaurant will prove to be a hotspot celebratory dinners, ladies’ lunches, date nights, and functions. And my tip to potential patrons, be sure to check out the bathrooms. You won’t be disappointed.

Carlene xx