Cafe Di Stasio

“St Kilda landmark Cafe Di Stasio opens itself up to interesting possibilities”

After nearly 25 years in Melbourne’s St Kilda, restaurateur and wine grower Ronnie Di Stasio has committed to an expansion of his restaurant.

Cafe Di Stasio will take over an adjoining Fitzroy Street site to create a new, informal bar and eating space that will be separate from the restaurant dining room yet connected by narrow voids in the party wall. The new bit of Di Stasio, which will mean bigger, better kitchens for the old restaurant as well as a new private dining room, will be a design opportunity par excellence. Melbourne architect Robert Simeoni has taken the job, signalling a break from Di Stasio’s old friend and designer of the original restaurant and Di Stasio’s vineyard home, Alan Powell. Acclaimed installation artist Callum Morton will also be involved in creating a facade for the new place, as will the restaurant’s graphics man, David Pidgeon.