Naldham House: A Grand UnveilingNaldham House: A Grand Unveiling Andrew Baturo, co-owner of DAP & Co., expresses his calmness and organization ahead of the grand opening of Naldham House, his most ambitious project to date. The multi-storey venue encompasses a brasserie, a supper club, and an undisclosed location on the third floor. Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace occupies the ground floor of the stunning 140-year-old heritage building. The interior, designed by Anna Spiro, boasts vibrant colors, patterns, and textiles. Chef Douglas Keyte helms the kitchen, offering starters such as beetroot tart and beef cheek bourguignon pithiviers. The terrace features an extensive menu with chicken skin chips, croquettes, and a Wagyu cheeseburger. Club Felix, located on the first floor, operates as a late night supper club with cocktails and an extensive champagne selection. The atmospheric ambiance is enhanced by dark blue tones, sofas, and original woodwork. Guests can enjoy snacks and dishes like ham and comté toasties, potato pavé fingers with caviar, and salted cod croquettes. The building’s restoration has been a labor of love for Baturo. “It was a once-in-two-lifetime opportunity,” he says. The exterior remains largely unchanged, while the interior has been transformed into a modern masterpiece. Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace
33 Felix Street, Brisbane City
(07) 3187 7815 Hours:
Brasserie: Mon to Sat 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00
Terrace: Mon to Sat 11:30am–11pm
Club Felix: Wed to Sat 5pm–2am Website: www.naldhamhouse.com.au
Instagram: @naldhamhouse
“I feel like this is the calmest, most organized opening I’ve ever done,” says Andrew Baturo, co-owner of DAP & Co, just days before the big reveal of the most ambitious opening of his career.
It’s a bold statement considering the scale of the project: a multi-storey venue with Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace on the ground floor, Club Felix on the first floor and a yet-to-be-announced location on the third floor. But after four years of planning, everything has fallen into place.
“We thought about it for a long time and nothing feels contrived,” he continues. “Everything feels exactly where it should be, which is rare at this stage of opening.”
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On Thursday, DAP & Co (Popolo Italian Kitchen, The Gresham, Walter’s Steakhouse) will open Naldham House on the corner of Mary and Felix Streets. The stunning 140-year-old heritage building, which for 25 years was home to the members-only Brisbane Polo Club, has been vacant for nine years. Four years ago, property firm Dexus approached DAP & Co about taking over the space.
“It was a once-in-two-lifetime opportunity, really,” Baturo says. “You feel like fate had a hand in it. We were at the right stage of our collaboration as a group and we had a lot of heritage experience at that time.”
Now the building has been restored to its former glory. While the exterior of the building remains largely unchanged, the interior by designer Anna Spiro is bursting with vibrant colours, patterns and textiles.
On the ground floor is Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace, inspired by the grand hotel lobbies of the world and European brasseries. There is outdoor seating and approximately 95 seats inside with a mix of table and bench seating, centred around a grand piano.
In the kitchen, chef Douglas Keyte (formerly of Grill Americano in Melbourne) serves starters such as a beetroot tart with goat’s cheese, ricotta and hazelnut, followed by beef cheek bourguignon pithiviers, market fish with lemon butter and capers and a hearty 800g côte de boeuf.
Outside, the 120-seat terrace has its own menu, including chicken skin chips with cod roe and caviar, potato and mortadella croquettes and a Wagyu cheeseburger.
Club Felix, on the first floor, offers a late night supper club experience with cocktails and an extensive champagne menu. Open until 2am, it is atmospheric with dark blue tones and large sofas and original woodwork.
Upstairs, snacks and sharing dishes include ham and comté toasties, a fried whiting sandwich with herb mayonnaise, potato pavé fingers with caviar and crème fraîche, and salted cod and potato croquettes.
For cocktails, order the Cafe Felix (spiced rum, coffee, vanilla syrup, Brookie’s mac cream and grated chocolate) or the Newton’s Law (vodka, apple liqueur, apple juice, citric acid and milk). A Coravin system allows guests to sample premium wines like Krug and Chateau d’Yquem by the glass.
For Baturo, the journey of working with a heritage building like Naldham House has been long but rewarding. “If it was easy, everyone would do it – it takes a long time (with) a lot of delays,” he says. “But the excitement is showing the beautiful features of the building to people who might not otherwise get the chance to see them.”
Naldham House Brasserie & Terrace
33 Felix Street, Brisbane City
(07) 3187 7815
Hours
Brasserie: Mon to Sat 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00
Terrace: Mon to Sat 11:30am–11pm
Club Felix: Wed to Sat 5pm–2am
www.naldhamhouse.com.au
@naldhamhouse
