The Beat Goes On – Flower Drum by Studio 103

Embedded in Melbourne’s historic Chinatown precinct, Flower Drum has long been a stalwart in fine dining Cantonese cuisine. The recent addition of a Hong Kong-inspired front bar by Studio 103 is bringing Flower Drum into a new era –a spirited take on the well-loved institution.

For more than 40 years, one of the most memorable experiences of Flower Drum has been the signature first reveal – a familiar scene of the restaurant’s grand, warm-hued bustling dining hall and formally clad waitstaff. This restaurant experience has been redefined by a sumptuous front bar by Studio 103, offering a rich and ambient setting for patrons to enjoy a pre- or post-dinner drink with a few small plates.

Flower-drum, a traditional dance known for its beauty and elegance, has long been a fitting allegory for the restaurant – a reflection of its refined approach to cuisine and service.

Flower-drum, a traditional dance known for its beauty and elegance, has long been a fitting allegory for the restaurant – a reflection of its refined approach to cuisine and service. Tasked with creating a new bar, lounge and reception area, Studio 103 was keen to elevate this sentiment, finding new opportunities of expression to bolster Flower Drum’s reputation as one of Melbourne’s premium traditional Chinese restaurants.

The front bar reinterprets Flower Drum’s signature red, jade green and golden tones with a theatrical hand, grafting the new addition within the established restaurant. Finished in glazed green tiles, an opulent drinks bar anchors the site and is surrounded by lush red-velvet booth seats that form cosy nooks to dine and dwell. Gold chain-mesh curtains shroud the perimeter, with gentle illumination lending a mellow, candle-lit quality to the space.

Playing on Flower Drum’s heritage, traditional timber screens and Chinoiserie wallpaper in soft jade green bring a sense of rich embellishment. The green hues of the wallpaper forge a tonal reference to the restaurant’s original patterned glass bricks, which have been thoughtfully repurposed as a feature inset to the bar’s timber wall panelling. The restaurant’s wine collection is displayed with a gallery-like reverence in a wall of bespoke solid brass and fluted glass wine fridges, reaffirming Flower Drum’s belief in combining great food, fine wine and impeccable service.

The combined effect of these touchpoints speaks to Flower Drum’s timeless and well-loved character while adding a new experiential dimension – and after a few disruptive years for Melbourne’s hospitality scene, the proposition dials up anticipation for new and returning guests. Low-lit, seductive and inspired, Flower Drum’s front bar sets a new pace for the institution, encouraging diners to settle in and stay a while.