Big Esso by Common

► Located at Federation Square, on the land of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples, Big Esso is the first formal dining venue by Mabu Mabu, a catering and restaurant supply company owned and run by chef Nornie Bero, who is originally from Mer Island in the Torres Strait. Melbourne studio Common, previously known as NAAU, has designed the all-day bar and kitchen with reference to the open, breezy atmosphere of pubs in Australia’s far north. Bamboo rattan lines the walls, banquette seating and overbar elements, and white metalwork is reminiscent of the intricate lacework of vernacular architecture in the Top End. Bright colours capture the freshness of tropical landscapes, while a mural by emerging Indigenous artist Aretha Brown is the hero of the project. Photography — Tanja Milbourne Common — common.site