The latest addition to Sydney’s Northern Beaches restaurant scene is Rosa; a casual yet elegant contemporary Mexican offering inspired by venues in Tulum. Conway engaged local design studio Pattern to bring this unique eatery to life. Conway did not come to Pattern armed with a very fixed design brief. Rather, he explained that his vision for Rosa was to bring contemporary Mexican fare, inspired in particular by Tulum, to Sydney-siders in a casual beachside setting.

Details such as the bar’s patterned floor, featuring exquisite Italian tumbled stone tiles, and natural plaster rendered walls, conjure visions of the Mediterranean. Sumptuous curves in the bar evoke a Spanish sensibility; reminiscent of the organic forms celebrated across islands such as Ibiza or Mallorca. Rendered joinery speaks to the elegant resortstyle of Mexican locales Tulum and Oaxaca City. 

The second main driver behind the design of the space was to respond sensitively to the heritage site. Pattern’s fitout is designed to complement the building’s original details such as sandstone walls and leadlight windows; with no new element of the space competing uncomfortably for attention. The interior palette overall is fresh and light; whiting out the building’s timber joists and floorboards helps to balance the heft brought by the golden sandstone prevalent throughout the ground floor space. Patterned upholstery details add a layer of visual interest and a resortstyle elegance. 

Experientially, Pattern wanted to blur boundaries between front and back of house; offering diners glimpses into the kitchen and showcasing features such as the epic wood-fired oven. Pickled and preserved exotic ingredients sit proudly on display in oversized-glass vats; bringing an authentic celebration of the Mexican cuisine to the interior. Detailing of the building’s staircase is refined and contemporary in style; diners ascend the steps into a lofty and light-filled first floor. This ample volume of this area coupled with nearly all-white finishes offers significant contrast to the cosier, more textured sandstone and concrete space below. 

Illumination is by way of oversized pendants from Ay Illuminate and hand-made ceramic wall sconces from Porch Ceramics. Furniture throughout is a slightly eclectic mix; blonde timber classics from Thonet sit alongside more sculptural teak and rattan dining chairs. Cacti and chillis bring colour, form, and texture to the space. Here, the fitout doesn’t take centre stage; rather it happily provides the backdrop against which many long lunches and summer evenings will unfold.