Steps beneath the high end luxury retailers of Sydney’s George Street sits Locali by Romeo’s a refined European inspired grocer and eatery.

Visitors enter via escalator, descending past a series of display cases where an ever-changing array of artfully arranged premium goods begin the arrival experience. Exuding Mediterranean panache and abundance, Locali by Romeo’s heightens the supermarket experience. Comprising an artisanal bakery, espresso coffee, pizzeria and dedicated cheese room opposite a central deli counter, with seated areas for casual dining adjacent to each hospitality offering. These allow a discerning lunchtime crowd to enjoy a quick counter meal between meetings, or a leisurely cheese platter which might stretch to a wine after hours. All of which has been meticulously overseen by consulting Chef, Orazio D’elia of Matteo Double Bay and DownTown.

Locali’s floor plan encourages an intuitive circular flow. On diagonally opposite corners, a wine room and sushi station are positioned at an angle to gently nudge browsing customers back into the space. The floor is punctuated by cylindrical support columns, forming a robust structural curve to inform the shape of counters and motifs. In homage to heritage, all Locali signage is written in Italian, developed in collaboration with Studio Carbon.

Each station is streamlined and convivial, featuring lines of sight into the kitchen to foster open interaction over the counter. A palette of rich green, the brand’s signature hue, is paired with continuous mosaic tiling on floors and columns, accentuated by bronze detailing. This is not the only Locali, with a second store currently under construction and due to open mid-year. Locali by Romeo’s fills its subterranean premises with the bustling joy of food in smart surroundings.

Words Sandra Tan. Photographs Robert Walsh.