Rito elevates the wedding and event experience in the heart of Canberra

Posted on 25 March, 2023

Canberra has an event space ready to set a new high bar for weddings, corporate events and special occasion.

Part of the Saint Malo empire, Rito is a beautifully-styled space in the heart of the city.  Sprawling across the entire second floor, above the luxe stylings of the restaurant, it can cater to 150 people for a sit-down meal or 300 people for a standing event.

Every inch of the room, which includes an airy dining room, private bar and chic sitting area, has been considered with an eye for detail. From the massive Wiluna dried floral canopy that greets you as you step out of the elevator into the grand entry, to the sofas and statement chairs upholstered in pastels and velvet, to the marble tables and Bison glassware artfully dotted around the room, this is a place you wish you lived in.

Rito takes out the entire second floor above Saint Malo. Image by Ian Ed Robertson.

It also makes a perfect setting for a wedding, as couples can use the courtyard gardens for drinks and canapés (or even vows) before heading upstairs to feast and party.

Rito has its own fully-stocked cocktail bar which will wow guests with its Art Deco mirrors and chandeliers and will allow guests to mingle and chat prior to the formalities.

The grand dining room is an all-white affair, allowing couples to put their own stamp on the event with colour palettes and floral arrangements. Custom-made tables allow for 12 people seated on timeless Chiavari chairs, ensuring lively conversation in larger-than-usual groups.

Rito can seat 150 guests for a meal or you may want to dine al fresco downstairs. Image by Ian Ed Robertson.

Owner Rulla Bakri has spent two years bringing the event space to life with careful creative collaboration from Nik Bulum.

“It feels amazing to see this space transformed and to see my dreams become a reality,” she said.

Cutlery by Sant’andrea, glassware by Luigi Bormioli and Robert Gordon, crockery by Serax, and linen napkins all elevate the dining experience.

Meanwhile, head chef John Santos and his team are on hand to ensure Saint Malo’s signature Mediterranean feasting-style food is honed to provide a perfect event menu.

There are several function menus from which to choose or couples can create their own bespoke wedding feast in consultation with John—depending on whether the event is a three-course feast or a standing canapés-fuelled night.

Image by Ian Ed Robertson.

And if the decision-making process is all too much, a wedding coordinator is available to help coordinate all the details.

According to Rulla, the term Rito was chosen because it is derived from the Spanish word Ritual, meaning a place of worship or ceremonial experience.

“From the moment a couple enters through our 300-year-old Mediterranean oak doors, they will be transported to another destination. We know Rito is the space that will provide beautiful memories for a lifetime and we have gone to every effort to make it special.”

She added that the advantages of having such a venue located right in the heart of the city (off London Circuit to be precise) meant wedding guests could conveniently stumble to their various hotels afterwards, or access transport home with ease.

Of course, the best way to decide on a wedding venue is to walk in, sip a glass of champagne and tour the space in person.

Image by Ian Ed Robertson.

Rito will be holding its first Open House on Wednesday 29 March.

After the initial Open House, Rito will then hold ongoing open houses on the last Wednesday of every month.

Bookings are essential here and you can register by clicking on the “Event Occasion” bar and selecting “Rito Open Day”. The wedding coordinator will also make time for private tours as well as the monthly walk-through.