In times of high refinement and pared-back simplicity you don’t tend to hear the term ‘kitsch’ thrown about on a daily basis. For the vibrantly charming cocktail bar, Peaches, it’s the perfect definition for a vivid hospitality space located in the heart of Melbourne. This two-level whimsical wonder is a young and playful journey that takes you back to the wonders of 60s Modernism and 80s disco, with a splash of 90s noise.

Melbourne-based studio Pierce Widera, headed up by Amy Pierce and Nat Widera, worked closely with Peaches’ owners, Sam and Tom Peasnell and Adam Goldblatt, to create an opulent, peach-hued experience. This collaborative relationship saw the project team develop a brief that was fun, fresh and welcoming – a reflection of Peaches’ innovative cocktail and food offering. In a city saturated by top-quality hospitality experiences, the team looked to push the boundaries of conventional bar design and offer something distinctly different.

Peaches takes over the second level and rooftop of a larger three-level hospitality project. Upon entry an illuminated gold-trimmed staircase pulls the individual upwards into a rich and peachy universe. It exists in a stark and pleasing contrast to the industrial palette and grey notes of Swanson Street, below.

Painted with plush tones and textured with earthy, brassy accents, Peaches channels a picturesque disco-vibe scene. Suspended pendant globes hang from the ceiling, resonating with the form of ripe peaches on a tree. Semi-private booths line the perimeter, upholstered in velvety blush fabric and underlined with recessed lighting.

Candy-coloured terrazzo table tops create a linear pathway to a central table setting, while the plush moss-green freestanding stools guide you to the bar. A bold green-veined onyx bartop sits up front – the servery to a creative cocktail roster.

Above the peach haze sits the avant-garde, eccentric and extravagant rooftop cocktail bar, a re-entry into the hustle and bustle of the city’s concrete jungle. Here, the space is finished in a pared-back, minimal palette of whitewashed pastel-blue walls and timber decking. Carefully placed foliage brings added softness to the space for that summer oasis vibe.

Pierce Widera put real emphasis on creating a cohesive design narrative that would straddle these two very different levels. Modernist artistry is imbued into every corner of the venue and the individual is enticed to immerse themselves in a modern disco of frivolity and charm.

Photography by Derek Swalwell. 

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