Grossi Florentino

Grossi Florentino represents the careful revitalisation of one of Melbourne’s most iconic dining institutions. For MGA, the project was an exercise in restraint and respect; balancing the building’s layered heritage with the expectations of contemporary hospitality. The design approach sought to preserve the restaurant’s deep cultural memory while refining its spatial experience for a new generation.

Working closely with the client and lead chef Guy Grossi, MGA reinterpreted grandeur through craftsmanship: textured walls, soft lighting, rich timbers, and custom detailing evoke timeless European elegance without nostalgia. Each dining space was reconsidered as a sequence of intimate moments; entrance, bar, grill, and the famed upstairs dining room, each unified through material warmth and proportion.

The project demanded sensitive integration of new services, accessibility, and acoustic performance within a heritage shell, ensuring comfort without compromising character. Ultimately, the architecture was designed to amplify what has always defined Florentino: ritual, theatre, and enduring hospitality. It is both a preservation and a renewal of the contemporary expression of Melbourne’s culinary heritage that honours its past while ensuring its continued relevance in the city’s cultural fabric.

People dining at outdoor tables in front of GROSSI FIORENTINO restaurant with a large black door, a tree on the right, and a street scene reflected in the glass
Interior of a sophisticated bar with a black marble counter, glass-fronted liquor shelves, and elegant decor.
Interior view of a bar area with a black counter, glass-fronted shelves of bottles, brass faucet, and mustard yellow curtains with a geometric pattern.
Interior of a restaurant with a staircase leading to the upstairs area. There is a black cylindrical wall with the words 'Grossi Florentino Upstairs' and a logo on it. Two people, a man and a woman, are descending the staircase, captured in motion blur.
Elegant restaurant interior with round tables covered in white tablecloths, set with glassware, plates, and napkins. Brown leather chairs surround the tables. The walls feature dark wood paneling and large historic paintings with figures and architecture. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling, and small red lamps provide accent lighting.
Elegant restaurant dining room with white tablecloth-covered tables set with glassware and plates, brown leather chairs, ornate ceiling moldings, chandeliers, and large murals on the walls.
A restaurant with large stained glass windows, several empty tables set with white tablecloths, glassware, plates, and utensils, and two people enjoying a meal at one table.
Wine bottles stored on metal racks in a wine cellar.
Interior of a stylish restaurant or bar with decorative ceiling, dark tiled floor, a wine display on the left, a black bar counter area on the right, and a small table with chairs visible through an open wooden door.
A cozy dining area with six beige chairs around an oval wooden table, decorated with a small centerpiece of cherry tomatoes and basil. Behind the table, a large glass wine cabinet filled with bottles extends to the ceiling. On the wall, there is a framed painting of a Jesus-like figure handing something to a man with two other figures observing. The room has a modern chandelier with multiple exposed bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
A formal dining table set with wine glasses, a centerpiece of tomatoes on a log, a plate with an appetizer, and a salad in the background, in a room with paneled wall decor.
Elegant round dining table set for a meal in a restaurant with six brown leather chairs, a white tablecloth, wine glasses, rolled napkins, a small cluster of red tomatoes, and a wooden paneled wall with wall sconces and a large mural depicting a historical scene.