Eat Drink Design Awards: Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar inducted into national hall of fame

Hospo institution Pellegrini’s has been inducted into a national design hall of fame, with a slick CBD newcomer also recognised.

Pellegrini's Espresso Bar is just about the same as it was when it opened in 1954.

Melbourne hospitality institution Pellegrini’s Espresso Bar has been inducted into a national design hall of fame, with a slick CBD newcomer also recognised.

The 2022 Eat Drink Design Awards, held Thursday night, have been dominated by the Victorian capital, which took out five out of eight main awards, plus the Pellegrini’s honour.

Pellegrini’s proprietor David Malaspina said the space’s initial 1954 design still held true.

“We haven’t altered anything because the design works with the flow and the customers tell us not to change it, because it’s warm and welcoming on the inside,” he said.

“It’s important to us that the customers feel comfortable, and they enjoy sitting up on the bar among all the action, watching all the amazing coffees being made, and feel a part of it.”

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Nino Pangrazio and the late Sisto Malaspina made it a Melbourne institution.

Vintage vibes inside the iconic venue.

Sisto watches over.

David Malaspina among his happy customers. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Music Room by Dion Hall, part of the nascent, six-level HER complex on Lonsdale St, was awarded Best Bar Design for its immersive listening-oriented, light-up interior.

The team behind Arbory and its limelight stealing pontoon sister Arbory Afloat launched the multi-venue building, also including BKK, Her Bar and Her Rooftop, at the start of the year.

Di Stasio Carlton, by Hassell, won Best Restaurant Design, while Rocco’s Bologna Discoteca by Congrats Agency was Best Identity Design.

Baker Bleu Hawksburn by IF Architecture, in Prahran, and Pronto by Via Porta by Studio Esteta, in Kew, were co-winners of Best Retail Design.

Music Room was designed as an immersive listening space. Pictures: Earl Carter

Vinyl is central to the vibe.

The lights change with the music.

The 2022 jury consisted of celebrity chef Shannon Bennett, March Studio director Rodney Eggleston, Masterchef’s Melissa Leong, Fiona Lynch Office’s eponymous founder and Artichoke editor Cassie Hansen, who collectively wrote warmly of Pellegrino’s.

“There is a magic in this modest place that is simultaneously difficult, and yet not that difficult, to pin down,” the jury state.

“It’s simple. It never changes, because it doesn’t have to.”

Pronto won Best Retail Space.

Joined by Baker Bleu Hawksburn.

Inside the warm tones of Roccos Bologna Discoteca.

In 1972, the two brothers who gave the 1954 venue its name sold their espresso bar to friends Nino Pangrazio and the late Sisto Malaspina, whose son David Malaspina is now proprietor.

The cafe joins the Robin Boyd-designed Jimmy Watson’s Wine Bar on Lygon St, St Kilda’s Cafe Di Stasio, the CBD’s Cookie, inside another six-floor hospo behemoth on Swanston St, Cumulus Inc, Gin Palace, and Meyers Place as other Melbourne hall of famers.

Di Stasio Carlton was awarded Best Restaurant Design.

A Mediterranean touch outside.

Best Installation Design was won by Adelaide Festival Pavilion, The Summerhouse by CO-AP, Best Hotel Design, by Ace Hotel Sydney by Flack Studio in Sydney, and Best Café Design by The Common by Sullivan Skinner, Brisbane Airport.

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