STEF & CO.

 

Located in one of the regions finest and most loved locations, it was a delight to be asked to collaborate with Stefano on another project, with locals buzzing to see the creek front location lively and loved again.

Stef & Co is a day-to-night hospitality venue opening early with the bakery and café, and running though into the evenings with the Sicilian osteria and the hidden cocktail bar at creek level, tucked below both venues. The design captures the three partners Italian heritage, translating the warmth and authenticity of their family’s culinary traditions.

Guided by the idea of “morning ritual to midnight reverie,” the interior expresses a material and emotional journey, relaxed and open for mornings; layered, resonant and intimate by night.

At the osteria’s heart, hand-selected ceramics from Vito’s family in Sicily anchor the narrative. Their irregular glazes and timeworn motifs bring a sense of provenance and soul, connecting local diners to the heritage of Mediterranean hospitality.

A restrained yet rich composition with the unique colour combination, rare river gum hardwood benchtops, white travertine crazy pave and hand forged copper, creating intimacy and intrigue.  The result is a cohesive and atmospheric venue that feels effortlessly fluid across time and purpose—a tactile translation of Sicily on Australia’s east coast, where heritage, craft and conviviality converge.

A rustic dining table set with plates, glasses, and chopsticks inside a bright, airy room with large windows and greenery outside.
Decorative plates with colorful patterns and fruit images, viewed through a glass window with reflections and shadows, inside a cozy room.
A round wooden dining table set with white plates, napkins, forks, knives, and glasses, with a modern black table lamp in the center; background includes orange trees with ripe fruit and a rustic wooden sideboard.
View through a window showing a river surrounded by trees with cloudy sky.
Reflection of clouds and sky in a calm body of water.
Person holding a pink drink in a glass on a bar counter overlooking a water body with trees in the background.
Man playing electric guitar at a dimly lit restaurant or bar with people sitting at tables, decorated with posters on the wall, glasses hanging upside down overhead, and various food and drinks on the table.
A wooden shelf contains two records and a stack of magazines in between, with a potted plant on top.
A person is holding a glass of white wine with 'S.C' on it, standing at a bar with a coaster in front that shows a red and white logo with 'S.C' on it, and a map-like surface underneath.
Vinyl record covers and posters displayed indoors in a modern space with a wooden wall and metal ceiling.
A musician with curly hair and sunglasses playing an electric guitar at a dimly lit restaurant or bar with patrons seated and dining, posters on the wall, and a hanging glass rack.
A riverside restaurant with outdoor seating on a deck, surrounded by lush green trees, during sunset with a pink sky and calm water in the foreground.