THE NEW SUPPER CLUB
PENELOPE
Tucked into Brisbane’s iconic James Street, the site PENELOPE now calls home had seen a succession of food and beverage operators over the years, none able to truly anchor themselves in the area. With an existing bar, kitchen infrastructure, and a cold, utilitarian palette of materials, the site presented both a challenge and an opportunity; a blank canvas with a story waiting to be rewritten.
The brief was to create something that would cut through the noise of Fortitude Valley’s established culinary scene—a place with charm, identity, and atmosphere. Penelope needed to feel like more than a restaurant; it needed to be a destination. The Coates Group came to us with a vision shaped by years of thought: to create an experience reminiscent of the golden age of Manhattan supper clubs. A place that doesn’t just serve food, but transports people—somewhere nostalgic, yet unfamiliar; intimate, yet electric.
Some projects challenge convention. Others transport you. Penelope does both.
From the outset, the design intent was clear: this wasn’t about trend, but timelessness. Penelope was to be immersive—drawing inspiration from mid-century Manhattan, while grounding itself firmly in the context of a contemporary Brisbane dining scene. Every move was deliberate, from reworking the spatial configuration to crafting layers of detail that would allow the venue to evolve through the day and into the night.
We softened the existing hard textures, layering in rich materials, warm lighting, plush upholstery and curved forms. Intimate booth seating and veiled thresholds helped define moments of privacy within a bustling environment. The spatial planning was guided by the rhythm of the evening—entry, arrival, interaction, retreat. The result is an experience that unfolds gradually, like the chapters of a good novel.
Working with the Coats Group was a rare and rewarding collaboration. Their obsessive attention to detail elevated every decision—Penelope is not the product of compromise, but of vision followed through to its finest expression.
Breaking into James Street is no small feat. But Penelope does so with poise and presence, establishing itself as a restaurant for all kinds of moments—romantic, social, spontaneous, or celebratory. It’s a space where the atmosphere is just as memorable as the food, and where every visit feels like the beginning of a story worth telling.
