Reno’s by RADS
Operating within the ground floor of a commercial tower, the venue challenges the assumption that cafés belong to daylight hours, instead proposing a setting that feels equally considered from early morning through to late-night aperitivo.
Conceived as a third-party hospitality offering within a corporate precinct, Reno’s negotiates the boundary between private lobby and public café. It caters to office tenants and city visitors alike, giving the building a social pulse after hours while supporting the quick turnover of weekday coffees, informal meetings and quieter moments of observation. This dual role required an interior capable of handling heavy foot traffic without slipping into anonymity.
RADS draws heavily on Italian references, filtering ’70s Milanese gloss, chrome detailing and suburban deli culture through a contemporary lens shaped by Italo futurism. These cues establish a strong visual identity that distinguishes the bistro from its corporate surroundings, while still feeling embedded in the daily life of the city.
Materiality anchors the project. High-gloss timber surfaces introduce warmth and familiarity, recalling classic trattorias and neighbourhood cafés, while polished steel elements sharpen the palette with a modern edge. Tactile tilework adds depth and durability, supporting the demands of a high-use hospitality venue while reinforcing its handcrafted character.
Reno’s Bistro by RADS has opened in Adelaide’s Central Business District as a lobby café that moves fluidly between morning espresso service, long lunches and evening events.
Light plays a critical role in shaping atmosphere over the course of the day. In the morning, reflective finishes heighten clarity and energy, responding to the pace of the espresso rush. As daylight fades and artificial lighting takes over, deeper reds, warm browns and reflective surfaces combine to create a more intimate evening mood, allowing the bistro to transition seamlessly into a social destination after work hours.
Part of a broader office-tower upgrade, Reno’s contributes meaningfully to the public life of the building. Rather than functioning as a transient stop-through, it establishes a lasting presence that connects workplace culture with the surrounding urban fabric. In doing so, the project adds to the evolving hospitality landscape of Adelaide’s CBD, demonstrating how interior architecture can extend the life and relevance of commercial buildings well beyond office hours.
