Gertrude Hotel Fitzroy by Pepper & Well

Situated on a corner block on Fitzroy’s beloved Gertrude Street, Gertrude Hotel by Pepper & Well infuses Australian pub culture with a European sensibility felt through the venue’s design, which is brimming with familiarity, warmth and quality.

Prior to its rejuvenation, Gertrude Hotel was a pub awaiting a new chapter to be told. Due to various kitsch refurbishments over time, it had long lost its charm, yet the new owners, seeing a spark within the structure, envisioned a neighbourhood local that felt warm, bright, contemporary and textural.

The venue is a wholesome endeavour, and diners enjoy seasonal dishes made from ingredients gathered from local farmers and producers.

The venue is a wholesome endeavour, and diners enjoy seasonal dishes made from ingredients gathered from local farmers and producers. Iza Dawkins, the hotel’s managing director and co-owner, has a deep passion for Italian cuisine, and travelled extensively to source products, recipes and art for the venue.

“Italian food is perfect for sharing: antipasti, pizza and pasta. There’s nothing better,” he says. “The way Melburnians enjoy pubs these days is the same; they join friends for a meal and a laugh. We feel like we’re offering the best of both worlds.”

“The way Melburnians enjoy pubs these days is the same; they join friends for a meal and a laugh. We feel like we’re offering the best of both worlds.”

The design of the venue is inspired by the character and culture of Fitzroy, and Pepper & Well also took inspiration from the clients’ love of art. Upon arrival, there is kerbside dining underneath the cover of white cedar trees and, inside, a light-filled bar. A sophisticated and moody allure is created through walls adorned with European artwork and navy velvet curtains that surround the private wine room, while the remainder of the ground floor features an intimate dining room.

Upstairs, there are two private function rooms, a large outdoor terrace and Drewery Bar – named after the site’s original pub and where a feature wall bears the building’s original bluestone with an 1850snewspaper left between the rocks.

Pepper & Well used the existing bones of the historic pub and brought in numerous brightening white textures. These elements, alongside earthy terrazzo flooring, timber joinery and tan and navy accents, resemble a 600-year-old French dwelling that the clients visited early in the design process – now emulated for the patrons of Gertrude Hotel.

Architecture and interior design by Pepper & Well.