Richly Detailed – Dame by Bergman & Co.

Presenting as part boudoir, part supper club, Dame by Bergman & Co. is a fitting addition to the ‘Paris end’ of Collins Street in Melbourne’s CBD. Inspired by a fictitious 80s female muse, ‘Dame’, the all-day dining space is mysterious and enveloping, with the interior taking cues from the surrounding architecture of Collins Place, designed by I M Pei and Bates Smart in 1981.

Separated from the adjoining lobby by a theatrically draped curtain and bathed in rose and burgundy hues, the materiality is layered and richly detailed; think undulating curves of blushtoned marble, quilted upholstery and 80s-inspired furniture. Custom pendants designed by local industrial designer Please Please Please hang from the ceiling like delicate pieces of jewellery, while communal tables with glass block ends recall the gridded structure of the precinct’s iconic architecture. The finishing touch is a custom portrait of the venue’s fictional namesake, painted by Melbourne artist Stacey Rees, hanging above the bar.

Dame has a powerful personality. Bergman & Co. has confidently conveyed a sense of this beguiling identity through the design of the charming venue.