In the heart of Melbourne’s beloved Collingwood, restaurant connoisseurs and history aficionados alike will be delighted to find Orlo. A community-centred restaurant, designed by McCluskey Studio, that reimagines a heritage-listed former cordial factory that pays homage to the pleasure of sharing Mediterranean cuisine.

Owner of Orlo, James Klapanis – known for Young’s Wine Bar and St Cloud – invited McCluskey Studio to collaborate on the redesign. Together, the design team endeavoured to maintain the charisma of the heritage building while designing an environment that felt inherently connected to its surroundings. “We wanted Orlo to feel as though it has always been there,” says Kate McCluskey Kyle, Founder and Director of McCluskey Studio.

Spread across three distinct levels, Orlo features a ground-floor dining room and European-style courtyard, a private dining mezzanine and an eclectic basement bar. The brief was simple: elevate the 1880s red brick building with a sophisticated yet relaxed finish. Familiarity and approachability were at the heart of the design process. The design team balanced historic and contemporary features, linking the four spaces and integrating James’ collection of reclaimed and vintage furniture pieces.

Upon entry, the main dining space comprises a bar with table and bench seating, orientated around a bustling open kitchen. The room evokes comfort and nostalgia, with burgundy marble, wainscot panelling and timber-clad walls accentuating the raw, historic tactility. Recycled timber ceiling beams, sourced by James, enhance this feeling of authenticity.

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At the rear, an enclosed courtyard brimming with olive trees and vines provides respite. “It offers a destination venue and a place to retire once dinner is finished,” explains McCluskey Kyle. Reclaimed cast iron windows, vintage doors and arched brickwork serve as a backdrop, complemented by classic bistro chairs, white linen and fine glassware. A retractable roof ensures this alfresco dining space is operable in all weather conditions, evolving from a sunlit rooftop to a protected terrace.

A steel spiral staircase leads patrons to the mezzanine – a setting overlooking the activity of the entryway. This elevated position allows guests to engage with the historic grand arched windows and frames a unique vantage point.

In contrast, the underground cocktail bar, aptly named ‘Cordial’ in tribute to the origin of the building, provides an intimate enclave for pre-or-post-dinner drinks. Checkerboard flooring, burgundy marble mosaic tiles, fluted timber cladding and pink marble accents foster a layered and tactile atmosphere, where “European elegance is accentuated by warm pendant lighting,” as McCluskey Kyle describes it.

McCluskey Studio
mccluskeystudio.com.au

Photography
Timothy Kaye

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