Art Deco Revival: The Charles’ elegant dining room and bar

The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar is the latest hospitality venture to blend old-world opulence with contemporary flair, bringing a sense of European glamour to Sydney’s CBD.

A collaboration between COX Architecture and H&E Architects, the venue is housed within the heritage-listed 1930s ACA building, a site now reimagined as a vibrant three-part hospitality experience for Etymon Projects.

GALLERY  

With a design narrative centred on “Future Nostalgia,” COX helmed the interior design while H&E provided interior architecture and construction services. COX Director Brooke Lloyd notes the brief was to honour the building’s rich past while elevating it for modern use. “All three venues, while unique in offering, create an evocative sensorial experience,” says Lloyd.

Entering from King Street, guests are met with velvet drapes and moody lighting, heightening anticipation before being ushered to either the grand dining room or the more intimate bar à vin. A sculptural timber stair anchors the space, leading the eye up through the double-height brasserie – a volume punctuated by a central Tibero stone banquette and an open kitchen designed for visual theatre.

The bar à vin is a street-facing sanctuary, where walls of wine create an inviting buffer between the outside world and the refined interior. Guests can flow from glass to plate to nightcap, with each zone encouraging a progressive experience throughout the venue.

Below, the subterranean Tiva lounge contrasts the classic charm above with raw textures, exposed concrete, and plush detailing. “Integrating four new kitchens and bars into a heritage building was not without its challenges,” says H&E Director Chris Grinham. “We focused on circulation, services and honouring the building’s bones.”

Tiva is designed for late-night sophistication, with curved banquettes and a voyeuristic layout that nods to the indulgent spirit of Art Deco nightlife. Across all three spaces, attention to detail, flow and mood culminate in a venue that celebrates Sydney’s growing appetite for high-end hospitality with a European soul.

Images by Anson Smart and Steven Woodburn via ArchDaily

The Charles Grand Brasserie & Bar is the latest hospitality venture to blend old-world opulence with contemporary flair, ...