Four personalities in one venue. Shell House is journey upward through four innovations on Australian hospitality– each melding sophistication, spontaneity and theatricality into new genres of inner-city escapism. Each space—Menzies Bar, Dining Room & Terrace, Clocktower Bar and Sky Bar—was designed to be enjoyed for its standalone sophistication or experienced from one to the next in a journey of discovery and indulgence. Shell House historically monumental—it’s the only surviving palazzo-style sandstone building in Sydney clad with glazed terracotta tiles, now carefully restored to its former grandeur. 

Standing at 65.5 metres high, Shell house’s façade is also one of the tallest retained heritage facades in the world. This enduring commitment to quality and in turn longevity holds a place in Sydney’s past and presence. It was necessary to provide an interior with equal quality and sense of permanence. This is a fitout designed to be lovingly worn and maintained, not refurbished. The choice of marble floors and quality timber, marble and steel bars that will patina with use allows the venue to age with grace as the great bars and restaurants of Europe. 

The design of Shell House has been driven by an eclectic mix of multifaceted organic tones and textures. Bespoke furniture, vintage pieces and natural materials in neutral colours are used throughout to allude to an all-new perspective on inner-city dining. The entire venue is a canvas for artist-in-residence Mikey Freedom, whose work merges the frivolity and indulgence of past with present. More than a backdrop, Freedom’s vivid, curated art is installed on the walls, ceilings and in furniture – there’s hieroglyphic walls, mosaic tiled tables, murals, canvases and sculptures. The venue exists as an amalgam. It recalls what once was, but also offers something entirely new to Australian hospitality. One venue that carries Sydneysiders up and through many modes of relaxation. 

For Sydneysiders in search of an intimate atmosphere and timeless charm, Shell House weaves together history, hospitality and good times. The warm yellows of the Menzies, the tonal layering of the Dining Room and Terraces, the richness of the Jarrah lined Clocktower Bar and the sunset colours of the Sky Bar are drawn together with the thread of the burgundy feature stair and wine room. The custom light fittings and furniture throughout afford the venue with its own sense of place. However, it is the open kitchen, the curation of found objects, the flowers and the warmth of the staff that nurture the sense of being welcomed into a private home. As a sequence, Shell House weaves a grand narrative of theatricality and escapism, distilling a storied history and transporting us to a time when people lingered. As standalones, each venue finds its own flavour of this timelessness.