Hangout or Hideout – Poodle Bar & Bistro by Berman & Co.

Step off bustling Gertrude Street into Poodle Bar & Bistro in Melbourne’s inner north and you’re met by an alluring dance between light and shadow. Described as a modern interpretation of ‘chiaroscuro’ – the study of light and shade in drawing and painting – by designers Bergman & Co., the interiors of this eatery immediately envelop and transport you to another time and place.

Dark timber wall panelling, leather banquet seating and a teal and white checkerboard tile floor suggest a French colonial influence and venetian blinds temper the light, adding to the intrigue. This refined and moody palette is livened by a curated collection of contemporary art and design accompanied by plenty of greenery.

In Bergman & Co.’s words, Poodle offers “spaces to hangout or hideout”; drinks and dinner could be intimate, boisterous or a bit of both.

Dark timber wall panelling, leather banquet seating and a teal and white checkerboard tile floor suggest a French colonial influence and venetian blinds temper the light, adding to the intrigue.