2021 Gallery

There’s an inevitability to Little Prince Wine, where it’s difficult to imagine this space being designed any differently. Slotted beneath St Kilda’s iconic Prince Hotel off Acland Street, this intimate wine bar effortlessly blends the old and the new. It’s in the detail – the fibreglass champagne tub that greets guests upon arrival, the mirrored specials board, the Art Deco-inspired light fittings – but also the easy blend of beautiful curves with striking textures such as dark tiles, handsome vertical timber panelling and exposed concrete beams. The seamless incorporation of a retail element underlines the harmony of the space, but it’s Little Prince’s capacity to encourage punters to dwell that registered with the jury: the easy transition from natural to artificial light, the interplay between soft and hard textures, the clever sight lines, and the sense of discovery from one space to the next. A clear standout in the bar category.