IL Bacaro by Chris Connell Design
Melbourne, Victoria

We are coming to the end of a significant year for Il Bacaro and it’s time we felt we shared this news - just one more time - and reflected on the significance of Chris Connell receiving the Hall of Fame award at the 2016 Eat Drink Design Awards for his design of our dining room, built 20 years ago.

Chris has given Il Bacaro timelessness and identity, two factors intrinsically entwined into who we are. We are a traditional yet contemporary Italian restaurant. We thrive on our buzzing location and every day we pay respect to the foundation of our Italian heritage.

Regarding Il Bacaro, the jury for the awards noted:

“In an industry that seems to mow through its own ranks on a regular basis, subjecting itself to constant churn and renewal, Il Bacaro is a hospitality survivor and an institution. It is the quintessential example of that particular but rare Melbourne species: the classic, timeless, character-filled Italian dining interior, and it continues to please critics and the public alike. In fact, on Il Bacaro’s twentieth anniversary last year, a reviewer for Australian Gourmet Traveller half-jokingly noted that the restaurant might just qualify for heritage listing.”

Thanks to Chris Connell and to the Il Bacaro team over the last 20 years. We’ve worked and toiled, charmed and laughed through the small room of warm woods, white cloths and dark timber venetian blinds. We plan to do that for another 20 years.

Salute!