More than a meal: how great design shapes Canberra’s dining scene

Posted on 23 July, 2026

A great hospitality experience is about more than the food – it’s about the design.

From the layout to the branding, from the staffing to the interior and exterior architecture, every detail influences your dining experience – from flavour perception to how much you eat.

The design also helps to tell a story.

Take the story of Such and Such – the award-winning second venue by the team at Canberra’s most acclaimed restaurant, Pilot. Since opening in 2023, it’s made a name for itself through its relaxed but sharp approach to fine dining and locally leaning drinks program. But its design and art choices have also caught the attention of diners.

That’s why the Design Institute of Australia (DIA) ACT chapter chose the venue to host Dine & Design – a night focused on great food, great wine, and great Canberra design.

“At a venue like Such and Such, so much thought has gone into all these details, and we often don’t get to fully know the story behind it,” explains Sally Marett, councillor for DIA ACT.

“We believe it will enhance the dining experience even more to hear the origins of the restaurant concept and the relationships that built the outcome.”

Taking place on Wednesday 19 August from 6 pm, Dine & Design will take attendees through the whole design story of Such and Such – from concept to completion. It will bring together Such and Such restaurant owner Ross McQuinn, interior architect and designer Mark Brook of MYMYMY architecture, furniture designer Tom Skeehan of Skeehan Studio, and graphic designer Tim Lynch of Inklab for an evening that will see them share their part of the process.

To add to the experience, the talks will also be interspersed with Such and Such’s signature food and wines, promising a night of shared meals, stories, and creative conversation.

“Being in the space brings an added element to the story; being able to see, feel and experience all the decisions in their final outcome. Attendees will be understanding how the furniture, lighting, materials, layout, artworks, branding and more, have all come together to enhance the food, drinks and service experience,” says Sally.

“The evening will be informal, with conversation and mingling encouraged throughout the night. The event provides an opportunity to meet the designers and chat with other like-minded design enthusiasts and practitioners.”

This is the first Dine & Design event hosted by DIA ACT. Aiming to bring together local industries and promote local designers whilst fostering relationships and community, Sally says that they chose Such and Such as the focus of the evening due to its strong connection to the Canberra community.

“Canberra is built on relationships, and the design and hospitality industries very much use and celebrate these. They are also both inherently creative,” she explains.

“The size of Canberra definitely contributes to an intimacy with these relationships, and in the case of Such and Such and interior architect Mark Brook, informed the design and design process.”

As the Business Development and Marketing Manager of ck architecture, Sally also notes that it’s incredibly rare to have the owner, interior architect, furniture designer, and graphic designer all in the same room talking about a single project.

“Often one of the disciplines will present a project, but it’s rare that it happens in the space they’ve designed and even more rare that all the disciplines come together,” she says.

“What’s also unique about this project is the informal event style that allows the presentations to happen over the course of an evening, interspersed with the meal, supported by great conversation with the design community and those passionate about design and hospitality.”

But Dine & Design isn’t just for design lovers and DIA ACT members – everyone is welcome for a peek behind the curtain of what goes into the creation of a hospitality venue. The aim is that the event will inspire people to think a little more deeply about the next restaurant or bar they step in.

“We hope that they notice the little things, from the font on a menu, to the music playlist, to the fabric on the banquette seating, and we hope it enhances their experience,” says Sally.

“We also hope it encourages them to visit venues they might not otherwise try, to experience design as well as hospitality. We also hope it champions local Canberra designers and hospitality venues.”

“We want this event to highlight how, when done well, this synergy creates unforgettable experiences. We invite design and hospitality lovers and those connected with design and hospitality, to meet their community, learn, celebrate, and enjoy this relationship.”

Feature image: Such and Such. Photography: Rohan Thomson. Supplied.