Italian resto by the sea features striking Calacatta Viola benchtops

A new Italian restaurant in Sydney’s south features the striking Calacatta Viola from the Sintered Collection, presenting a fresh Mediterranean look and feel.

Projecting a bold visual and colourful statement, Calacatta Viola created a stunning centrepiece in the seaside restaurant with its dramatic grape-purple veins on a white base.

Calacatta Viola is Smartstone’s interpretation of the unique and rare Italian marble characterised by intricate purple-, burgundy- and wine-coloured veins.

A stand-out in the new collection of 22 sintered stone surfaces, the vibrant, bold-veined Calacatta Viola gave every corner of the restaurant a pop of colour, providing durable benchtops to withstand the busiest areas like the main bar, kitchen, servery, and reception counters.

Extremely durable, Smartstone sintered stone surfaces are ideal not only for home kitchens but also for commercial establishments like restaurants that require both beauty and functionality.

Designed by Nic Graham & Associates, the new restaurant is a refurbishment of an older restaurant formerly called The Old Library, which used to be a Methodist church in Cronulla NSW.

Primarily focusing on hospitality, commercial and high-end residential projects, Nic Graham & Associates interior design studio is celebrated for bold use of colour, while maintaining a hands-on approach in the finishing details of each project.

“Raw terracotta tiles were added around the remodelled bar with a new striking Smartstone top. The tiles create a great warmth and softness at night like the sunset glow you experience in an Italian summer and accented by shelves of market sourced terracotta vessels”, explained Nic Graham. He added that the restaurant harnesses the Italian seaside vibe and modern dining establishment so well as set out by the owner.

Named after owner and restauranteur Matteo Margiotta’s father, Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare opened its doors for friends and family to enjoy a dining experience with a seaside vibe inspired by the coastal town of Puglia.

“At Pino's al Mare, the essence of Puglia's natural beauty surrounds you. The white rustic walls, high ceilings, terracotta ornaments, and olive trees reflect the sun-kissed shores and the vibrant life of the Italian coast”, said Matteo.

A true beauty, Calacatta Viola also served as tops for the outdoor tables for its UV-stability and provided the wine cellar a sophisticated and aesthetic appeal that is inherently Italian.

“As your focus upon entering is the private wine room at the end of the space, with timber strapped walls in terracotta and black and a wine cellar racking that envelops the guest in the owner’s passion for fine drop,” described Nic. Just like other areas in the restaurant, the wine room also features Calacatta Viola benchtops.

The second of Matteo’s Pino’s restaurants, Pino’s Vino e Cucina al Mare, as the name implies, offers a coastal menu and Italian seafood platters, in addition to a selection of house-made pasta that made the original location in Alexandria a gastronomic destination.