DAP & Co’s Andrew Baturo likes to think of Naldham House as Brisbane’s answer to Singapore’s Raffles Hotel.

You can see what he means. This vividly white, three-storey 1888-built edifice (with internal and external alterations in 1988 to convert it into a club) sits down by the river, its enormous arched windows and cupola standing in stark contrast to the vertiginous reflected glass of the surrounding skyscrapers. It’s a beautiful building, and a precious jewel in a city that was once a little cavalier in knocking down its heritage.

But Naldham House won’t be a hotel when it finally reopens in July, nine years after its closure as the Brisbane Polo Club. Instead, it will be an expansive, multi-level food and beverage complex with three venues, the first two being Naldham House Brasserie and Terrace, and Club Felix (the third will be announced at a later date).

“There’s almost 140 years of history in this building,” says Baturo, who co-owns DAP & Co with Paul Piticco and Denis Sheahan. “That’s what I love about it. On the outside, there’s a mark from the [1893] floods … the first floor was completely under. Can you imagine that?

“But it reminds me of that movie Up, with the old man in the house and everything being built around him.”

Naldham House Brasserie and Terrace will occupy the ground floor of the building. Inside, a typically vibrant and patterned treatment from celebrated designer Anna Spiro will stand in stark contrast to the white exteriors. Pride of place at one end of the room is the building’s original fireplace, framed by a heritage-green bookshelf and a striking painting by Melbourne-based artist Clare Dubina.

Inside, there will be space for 95, with enormous leather booths down one side of the room and a private dining space behind the fireplace. A bar at the opposite end of the room will have lounge seating. Outside, an expansive terrace with its own bar will have capacity for another 120 guests. Baturo says to expect a menu of refined pan-European food.

“The vibe we wanted to go for was similar to Raffles, I guess, where you have that inviting foyer,” he says. “It’s a really comfortable space.”

Up the first flight of stairs, the 110-seat Club Felix will be a cocktail bar and lounge open until 2am later in the week. Expect an extensive champagne list and cocktails accompanied by a French-influenced late-night food menu. It will also be available for functions.

“There’s almost 140 years of history in this building … there’s a mark from the [1893] floods … the first floor was completely under. Can you imagine that?

Andrew Baturo

“It’s expensive to keep chefs on until that time of night,” Baturo says. “But we’re going to use the kitchen to prep for both venues, and while they’re prepping, they’ll be able to push food out, to make it cost-effective. And there will be a great list of classic cocktails: Americanos, Garibaldis, Boulevardiers and Martinis, of course.”

Overseeing the food across both venues is chef Douglas Keyte, who is returning to Brisbane after running the kitchen at the two-hatted Grill Americano in Melbourne. At front of house is Steven Ham, who has 20 years’ experience working in London, including for Soho House Group. General Manager overseeing all three Naldham House venues is Christian Green (formerly Rockpool, The Botanical, Aria, Chin Chin and Longrain).

“This venue is the first in this new waterfront puzzle,” Baturo says. “There are a lot of venues opening around this area, so there’s going to be this moment, and this feels like the start of it.

“This side of town, which is so pretty and so old, with all these heritage buildings, it’s so nice to see them reanimated – it’s going to create this unbelievable precinct.”

Naldham House Brasserie and Terrace, and Club Felix will open in mid-July.