Sassy younger sister Palermo adopts a contemporary twist on the age-old Argentinean tradition of sharing the finest grilled cuisine and best wine with friends, family and lovers. Continuing the legacy of one of the CBD’s most revered restaurants, San Telmo, Palermo borrows from the Meyers Place institution’s boisterous old-world charm, fusing it with a nonchalant new-world chic and penchant for th
e flamboyant. Palermo was designed by architects Ewert Leaf (Neptune, Rock Sugar, Feast of Merit) and is a nod to the vibrant and eclectic barrio of the same name in Buenos Aires, Argentina. With a mezzanine perched on the second level, Palermo’s distinctive design includes rich bespoke carpet, lots of raw timber and steel, a cow hide feature wall, retro black and white tiles, lighting fashioned using antique syphon bottles, a marble bar, and a beautiful Tuscan mural centerpiece, unearthed from the previous tenants during construction. Yet Palermo’s showpiece is undoubtedly the blistering embers of its rustic red brick Asado fire pit. Akin to the traditional tailor-made Argentinean Parrilla grill, the Asado invites both spectacle and intimacy via a bed of searing flames and charcoal. Splaying whole raised beasts, the smouldering circular redbrick fire pit exudes a bush campfire feel, with the mouth-watering slow roasting method stoking an unmistakably vibrant spirit. Called the Europe of South America, Buenos Aires’ largest and most vibrant barrio Palermo shares obvious parallels with Melbourne’s thriving laneway culture, with a similarly eclectic mix of street art, restaurants, bars and designer chic. An urban catwalk of pavement-coffee-sipping swagger, Palermo and its residents are hip. And they know it. Palermo’s logo, designed by talented calligrapher TJ Gizzard, infuses the stylised lines and blooming flowers of the Filetaedo technique – a cherished form of art from Buenos Aires used to adorn beloved ornaments and the barrios. Local design team Ewert Leaf crafted the chic 150-seat dining setting to reflect Palermo’s artistic heritage while arousing the look and feel of a classic Argentinian steakhouse – with bookings available for a large 40-seat private dining room. Lavished with Chesterfield-style banquette seating and cowhide leather features, Palermo’s interior embodies one of Argentina’s quintessential cultural icons and s*x symbol’s – glamour model and screen siren Coca Sarli. With a fire that reflects the barrio’s effortless charm and verve, Palermo is an inviting avenue for customers to share a Malbec together, engage with staff, and fuse that social spark that’s such an integral part of Argentinean culture.
