OPA Bar + Mezze, Brisbane City: Nestled against the gently lapping banks of the Brisbane River, dining at OPA Bar + Mezze is akin to a trip to the sun-soaked islands of Greece. A marquee venue of the Tassis Group, the OPA experience has been inspired by group founder Michael Tassis’ own upbringing and love of Greek cuisine. Just like the menu, the OPA space boasts the classic charms of the Mediterranean, with light-white textures, archways and climbing-bougainvillaea vines. The very best of rustic Greek architecture has been imbued throughout the space with the cobblestone flooring and terracotta-toned tiles balanced by luxe additions, like orb-shaped lights and marble-topped dining tables. Plus, the waterfront location lets the restaurant be bathed in light all-day long.

Short Grain, Fortitude Valley: Light pours through the magnificent arched windows of Thai-inspired eatery Short Grain, illuminating the corner of McLachlan and Marshall Street. Inside, you’ll find a warm yet minimalist L-shaped space, featuring exposed brick, timber tables and concrete details dappled with sparing uses of the colours orange, green and yellow. The ochre banquette seating leads to a statement artwork from Vicki Lee, while the western wall is home to a black shelving system, stocked with the restaurant’s food store of house-made provisions. Short Grain’s monolithic, 7-m-long island bench by Boffi, which acts the restaurant’s focal point. The Clui Design-envisioned and Lowry Group-built interior has fused the eatery’s brand of inner-city cool with the simplicity of the Brisbane lifestyle, making it a dreamy destination to dine. lifestyle.

Wineology, Brisbane City: Located on Adelaide Street, Wineology naturally caught the attention of oenophiles upon opening for its unique wine dispensing machines, which pumps out vino at the push of a button. This high-tech concept has been balanced with Wineology’s dark and moody interior. The entrance greets its guests with the grandeur of terrazzo tiles, while the inside is home to chic, grey-textured walls, blush-pink pops and European oak floors. The space is encircled in dark-timber cabinetry and bottle-lined shelves. The plush upholstered banquettes have been paired with burgundy-flecked marble tables and backdropped with flowing sheer curtains to craft a sophisticated space for evening drinks and tapas.

Rich & Rare, West End: Inspired by the great cosmopolitan steak houses of New York and London, Rich & Rare offers a dash of metropolitan opulence at the heart of West Village’s leafy dining precinct. The interior resembles the eatery’s premium experience with globe-shaped pendant lights, velvet seating and an abundance of ivory and black-veined marble. A most notable feature is the black-battened column with windows into Rich & Rare’s purpose-built dry-ageing room and temperature-controlled wine cellar. The striking marble bar overlooks a set of scalloped-edge tables paired with crushed-velvet seats. From the black parquet timber walls to the lush greenery, Rich & Rare has no bad seat in the house.

Yamas Greek & Drink, West End: Much like its sister venue OPA, Yamas draws inspiration from the motherland for its menu and terracotta-toned interior. A homage to the tavernas throughout Thessaloniki, Yamas makes subtle nods to the region’s neoclassical architecture with a refreshed take on clay colourways. The West Village restaurant is best known for its baby-pink details, which extend from its marbled tables to the terracotta breeze blocks and geometric-tiled floors. The venue has been stippled with curved blue dining chairs, bright-orange wired seats and lavish upholstered banquettes to embody the vibrancy of Greece. Across the stone-coloured walls, you’ll find bold artworks which complement the copper details and sea-shell-like pendant lighting. With an open-air design, Yamas is also flooded with natural light and scattered with olive trees to achieve the island experience.

This article was written in partnership with our friends at Clui Design.