A Welcoming Trattoria – Tippy-Tay by Technē Architecture + Interior Design and Eleisha Gray Design

Tippy-Tay transports patrons from the cold and grey of Melbourne’s Flinders Lane to a dazzling candy-coloured alfresco spot on the Italian Riviera. Technē and Eleisha Gray’s design is described by Executive Chef Ash Hicks and Head Chef Dylan Evans as a love letter to the vibrant Italian coastline. Conceived during lockdown, the restaurant counters the monotony and difficulty of that period with a bursting sense of optimism.

Nasturtiums and succulents in terracotta pots standing atop ocean green tiles introduce a rustic charm from the outset. Then, entering through the green and yellow arch, you’re greeted by neon lights and a vibrant wall of peach schnapps-coloured tiles. Stepping inside is a visual overload; every item has been painstakingly selected for its authenticity, including more than 3,000 vintage glass bottles, hand painted plates and second-hand furniture and curios, all of which decisively references the 1960s and 70s era of the Italian Riviera. The flair and abundance of that period is immediately palpable in the riot of colour, texture, pattern and detail.

Stepping inside is a visual overload; every item has been painstakingly selected for its authenticity, including more than 3,000 vintage glass bottles, hand painted plates and second-hand furniture and curios, all of which decisively references the 1960s and 70s era of the Italian Riviera.

Conceived as a welcoming trattoria that doesn’t take itself too seriously, the aesthetic, while almost overwhelmingly busy, has the effect of creating the opposite sensation. Here, one feels an easy-going relaxation. Intentionally mismatched rattan and timber chairs convey to the diner, ‘we’re not trying to be fancy, so neither should you’. From the brightly striped cushions and beaded curtains to the rendered walls painted, appropriately, in ‘pleasure pink’, a bustling festive ambience in a provincial setting is cultivated.

The mix of bamboo, rattan and pleated ceramic light fixtures radiate soft warm light, bouncing off the pink walls and red accents to evoke the light and mood of watching the sun set, as hanging swathes of bougainvillea and strings of floral flags complete the alfresco scene.

The vibrantly eclectic design is united by a familiar Mediterranean palette of limestone white, aquamarine, Pacific blue and terracotta. Natural fibres are interrupted by splashes of colour from the floral arrangements and eye-catching patterns in the hand painted tableware and tiles. The surfaces, notably of the booths and the bar, are softened in hand-finished stucco, with inlaid patterned tiles and striped cushions perfectly evoking an Italian seaside villa. The mix of bamboo, rattan and pleated ceramic light fixtures radiate soft warm light, bouncing off the pink walls and red accents to evoke the light and mood of watching the sun set, as hanging swathes of bougainvillea and strings of floral flags complete the alfresco scene.

The complete covering of every surface in eye-catching and authentic detail ensures that romantic moments are brought to life at every turn. Technē Architecture + Interior Design and Eleisha Gray Design have created a setting so colourful and rich in verisimilitude that the Melbourne CBD melts away and a balmy evening on the Italian Riviera unfolds before one’s very eyes.