7 Café and Restaurant Interiors that will set your heart aflutter in Ōtautahi

From dizzying heights to a subterranean speakeasy, Austin Club on High Street is next on our list. The intimate bar exudes a mysterious, clandestine vibe that’s only enhanced by its interior design. Bask in the moody ambience made possible by the low wood-panelled ceiling, art deco inspired lighting, vintage artworks and midnight coloured drapery. A green neon sign emblazoned with “Austin Club” acts as a retro reminder of where you find yourself. Everything has been perfectly considered and the result is a late-night bar you won’t want to leave.

Describing Saturdays’ interior is a bit like describing a tub of goody goody gumdrops. A kaleidoscope of pastel colours adorns the walls, table and exposed fixtures to create a joyful (and very stylish) aesthetic. The polished concrete floor adds a utilitarian and contemporary feel that juxtaposes cleverly with the colour. Dimension comes from an embellished counter with a quirky zig-zag pattern made from baby pink and jade green ceramic tiles. Their La Marzocco coffee machine got the memo too, decked out in a suitably appropriate colourway of purple and blue.

Child Sister’s interior was designed by Sydney-based architect-turned-furniture-designer Jun Kim. The interior is a celebration of the building's natural form with minimalist white walls, exposed beams and large windows allowing natural light to pour in. An L-shaped rust coloured bench seat adds a pop of colour, with iconic Marcel Breuer chairs and white metal stools interspersed around. A curved wooden counter adds shape and functionality to the centre of the space which is otherwise a giant-sized box. Unshowy and effortlessly cool.

Arbour Woodfire Pizza is undeniably in “port”. An old Lyttelton fishing boat – adorned with cast iron mermaid – has been reclaimed and repurposed as a centrepiece bar. This bespoke seafaring vessel makes the space feel cosy and familiar. The architectural design, by Catherine Ellen Goodwin, is thoughtful and modern evoking a sort of wooden greenhouse. The clear roof offers tons of natural light, there’s a jungle of indoor plants and a covetable industrial lighting arrangement. The pizzas are out-of-this-world too.

Somewhat modest in appearance, Gatherings’ interior is like a fine wine that gets better with age. An eclectic mix of memorabilia and wine bottles can be found dotted around the room serving as mementos to the many collabs and events the restaurant has hosted. They act like a sort of nostalgic memory lane; idiosyncratic and unique to Gatherings. We love the paired back arrangement and the incredible seasonal food. It’s a happy partnership alright.

You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d stepped into a botanical hothouse when crossing the threshold into Six Ounces on Papanui Road. The place is bursting at the seams with indoor plants, scattered high and low, pots on the ground and shelves all around. Their vintage furniture is punctuated amongst the greenery, and on the walls you’ll find charcoal line drawings created by the owner Lois’s mother, who lives in England. By dusk when the candles are lit, Six Ounces serves wine into the evening and truly encapsulates the feeling of hygge. 

The interior of gin gin on New Regent Street is exemplary. Blessed with swoon-worthy bone structure - in the form of Spanish Mission architecture - the rapture doesn’t end there. The space is elevated to another dimension with its clever palette of pastel and bold colours, textures and shapes. We love the undulating bench sitting, pendant lighting, arched doorways and playful whimsy. And we haven’t even mentioned the cocktails yet - they are excellent too. Well played, gin gin.