Gimlet restaurant by Acme & Co

Set at street level in Cavendish House, a handsome 1920s tower of neo-georgian and Art Deco detailing on Melbourne’s tree-lined Russell Street, Gimlet captures a nostalgic glamour to comfort and delight. Sydney design studio Acme & Co designed the interiors, which combine elements of club bistro, French brasserie, showpiece bar and elegant restaurant. A private dining area for 12 is tucked away at the top of a rear staircase. The central kitchen and bar open onto a polished room, replete with denatured mirrors, geometric tiles, rich textures of leather and patterned velvet, and a bar-top of black marble veined with gold. Sheer linen curtains filter soft-focus sunlight for added atmosphere by day; custom Art Deco-influenced lighting sets the mood at night.

Photography — Sharyn Cairns Acme & Co — acme-co.com.au