Wanting to steer away from the standard coastal aesthetic, this café interior design project explores a lesser-known history of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Positioned along the Fairy Bower coastal walk, The Bower Café acts as both destination and pit-stop for locals and visitors alike. The brief called for retaining the existing coffee service while introducing a casual yet elevated hospitality fitout that could transition seamlessly into intimate evening dining, all while accommodating coastal conditions and exposure to weather. Although based in Sydney, the design reflects a broader shift toward layered, narrative-driven hospitality interiors across Australia.
The concept originated from research into the site’s history and the dual meaning behind “Bower”:
A bowerbird’s nest, a rugged yet ornate structure arranged with blue and lustrous objects.
“Bower” as a colloquial term for women’s quarters, with a historical reference to silent film actress Sylvia Bremer, who lived along Manly’s esplanade in the 1910s.
The re-imagined Bower Café balances rugged finishes with refined touches, walls and floors durable enough to withstand salt air and sandy feet, contrasted by decorative nods to the bowerbird’s habits and early 20th-century ornamentation. Gold candelabras are reinterpreted as contemporary brass lighting; classic four-poster bed silhouettes inform the booth seating, layered with sheer drapery and custom cushions. Striped seating references vintage dressing screens, while a marble-and-brass display counter elevates cakes as if presented within a jewellery box.
A new entry sequence separates takeaway customers from dine-in patrons, allowing meals to be enjoyed uninterrupted while improving operations during windy conditions. The concrete floor remains intentionally raw, able to withstand coastal wear. Above, a Venetian plaster ceiling introduces warmth, creating a sheltered, atmospheric dining environment.
The project received awards at both the LIV Hospitality Awards for Café Design and the IDA Design Awards for Commercial Lighting Design.
The Bower Cafe
Cafe Interior Design
Commercial | Hospitality - Manly NSW
Cafe Interior Design
Commercial | Hospitality - Manly NSW
Wanting to steer away from the standard coastal aesthetic, this café interior design project explores a lesser-known history of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. Positioned along the Fairy Bower coastal walk, The Bower Café acts as both destination and pit-stop for locals and visitors alike. The brief called for retaining the existing coffee service while introducing a casual yet elevated hospitality fitout that could transition seamlessly into intimate evening dining, all while accommodating coastal conditions and exposure to weather. Although based in Sydney, the design reflects a broader shift toward layered, narrative-driven hospitality interiors across Australia.
The concept originated from research into the site’s history and the dual meaning behind “Bower”:
A bowerbird’s nest, a rugged yet ornate structure arranged with blue and lustrous objects.
“Bower” as a colloquial term for women’s quarters, with a historical reference to silent film actress Sylvia Bremer, who lived along Manly’s esplanade in the 1910s.
The re-imagined Bower Café balances rugged finishes with refined touches, walls and floors durable enough to withstand salt air and sandy feet, contrasted by decorative nods to the bowerbird’s habits and early 20th-century ornamentation. Gold candelabras are reinterpreted as contemporary brass lighting; classic four-poster bed silhouettes inform the booth seating, layered with sheer drapery and custom cushions. Striped seating references vintage dressing screens, while a marble-and-brass display counter elevates cakes as if presented within a jewellery box.
A new entry sequence separates takeaway customers from dine-in patrons, allowing meals to be enjoyed uninterrupted while improving operations during windy conditions. The concrete floor remains intentionally raw, able to withstand coastal wear. Above, a Venetian plaster ceiling introduces warmth, creating a sheltered, atmospheric dining environment.
The project received awards at both the LIV Hospitality Awards for Café Design and the IDA Design Awards for Commercial Lighting Design.