Project Team

design: Allistar Cox
brand identty:
A Friend of Mine

Suppliers

water: Vestal

Tucked away off Carlton’s main thoroughfare, the narrow space that The Town Mouse inhabits on Drummond Street has long been a Melbourne dining haunt. However all ghosts of eateries past have been stripped away and an extensive facelift has taken place.

The sleek black tiled & green-bordered walls contrast to the high original ceiling, while an easy to perch to bar in the middle brings an almost metropolitan feel. Although it may be named for an age-old fable of urban opulence, the designers of The Town Mouse were conscious of establishing a space that appears as though it could have come from any decade.

Past the bold dark interior there’s plenty of quirky little details at this small and cosy restaurant. Whether it’s the almost quaint pendant lighting hanging throughout, seating at higher than usual, custom

American oak tables or the gilded gold leaf on the windows (intended to patina with time), there’s a certain twinkle and cheekiness in the interior. It skirts a line between glamour and comfort; it’s fine dining without being a big deal.

Better known for his hospitality design in New Zealand, The Town Mouse is the first project for Allistar Cox in Melbourne’s vibrant restaurant scene. However it’s also the latest result of an enduring relationship between the architectural practice and ex-pat restaurateur Christian McCabe, originating with Wellington’s internationally celebrated Matterhorn.

With a planned expansion to include upstairs & courtyard dining, the partnership looks set to continue, taking this little celebration of excess long into the future.