Grounds Keeper Cafe – AAMI Stadium

DETAILS

CLIENT

Melbourne and Olympic Park Trust

Design: Ewert Leaf

We delivered a hospitality furniture project for the Grounds Keeper Café at Melbourne’s Sports and Entertainment Precinct, supplying carefully curated seating and tables designed for high-traffic, dynamic environments.

About the location

Positioned steps away from major sporting and entertainment destinations, Groundskeeper Café engages with a lively mix of patrons, from local regulars to event attendees seeking relaxed dining and social connection. The precinct’s constant activity and rich sporting history make it a prominent Melbourne destination that blends community energy with cosmopolitan flair.

This context informed the design intent — to create a space that feels both rooted in Melbourne’s sporting culture and welcoming as a neighbourhood café.

How the furniture was selected

Designed by Ewert Leaf, the interior of Groundskeeper Café draws inspiration from the site’s athletic surroundings. The colour palette references the bold stadium seating found throughout the precinct, translating those vibrant tones into layered hues and rich finishes that bring energy and cohesion to the space.

The furniture was carefully selected to balance visual impact with everyday comfort and practicality. Tactile surfaces and curated pieces complement the broader material story, creating a lively yet unified environment where guests can relax before or after events. Seating and tables were chosen for their durability and hospitality performance, ensuring comfort across diverse uses — from casual coffee stops to longer meals — while reinforcing the design narrative. This thoughtful selection helps the café feel both contemporary and enduring, echoing the precinct’s rhythm and pace.

Overall, the project reflects an adaptive design approach that celebrates location, experience and atmosphere — creating a vibrant hospitality venue that resonates with its unique Melbourne context.

About the project

This project focused on enhancing the Groundskeeper Café interiors through considered furniture selection—supporting high-traffic use while creating a vibrant, welcoming environment.

Our approach drew inspiration from the surrounding stadium seating, introducing furniture that feels contemporary, durable, and inviting. Each piece was chosen to support how the café is used day to day, from casual coffees to larger gatherings during major sporting and entertainment events.

Indoors, Icho stools and Savoy chairs with upholstery were paired with solid tables, combining comfort, style, and resilience. Outdoors, Zaneti Brighton chairs, Greta stools, and planters were selected for their weather-resistant construction, ease of movement, and suitability for high-traffic areas. Together, the indoor and outdoor selections create a cohesive flow across the café’s spaces.

The result is a balanced, hard-wearing solution that elevates the hospitality experience, reinforcing the café’s connection to its dynamic sporting precinct while ensuring both comfort and longevity for everyday visitors and event-goers alike.